Taurus96

Hi everyone,

I am asking if anyone knows if there is a "universal fit" Cat that will replace one of the Cats on my Daddy's car.
This car has a Y branch system with 2 Cats and the rear one is broken- I can hear stuff rolling around as I drive. And the darn "check engine light" came on-PO420,PO430 CAt Converter efficency below threshold-Bank 1 and 2.
The universal fit I have looked at- when I take them to a muffler Shop they say they can't weld one in as the pipe that comes out of the original Cat makes a tight bend as it goes to exhaust manifold.

Any thoughts?

Thank you all!

 

SHOZ123

You probably will need a new Y pipe. What motor is in it?

cody11650

Just had a Cat (bank 1) replaced yesterday (really !!)......cost was $275. They cut off the old and welded in a new one. No more problems, car runs great -- 96 Sable

tbird100636

Yeah, on all 1996-99 except the SHO, there are 2 cats, one to each bank(set of cylinders), welded together in a Y, Ford calls it a Dual Converter Y-Pipe. Where you have both P0420 and P0430 set both cats. are done for. SHO's also have a Dual converter Y-Pipe, but they also have a single cat behind those.
If you had both of those codes and no rattle inside of the cats. I'd suggest checking the operation of the downstream O2 sensors (after cats.). They should stay reasonably steady and not switch as much or in unison with the upstream O2 sensors (before cats.). Slightly out of whack O2 sensors can cause cat efficiency codes to set. But where you actually have rattling cats., this isn't the case, but I would recommend new downstream O2 sensors with a new Dual converter Y-Pipe.

__________________
ASE Certified Technician- still a Ford fan at heart.
1964 Thunderbird Hardtop- Chantily Beige- 390-Uncle's Car
1966 Thunderbird Convertible- Red- 390- Uncle's other car- needs a hood!!!
2001 Taurus SEL- Spruce Green- 3.0L Duratec- my first car purchase- traded it for a 2006 Dodge Charger R/T (it only made sense, I work at a Dodge Dealer{Now a Chrysler Dealer, the Dodge Dealer closed!!!})

SHOZ123

You can get a replacement Y pipe with cats here.

SHO Source

gregmy123

Good Morning,

Car has a 3.0 L OHV Fuel Flex.

I am going to replace the whole y-pipe like you both suggest.
Also the downstream O2 sensors-as tbird100636 suggests.

Thanks to you Guys for your quick reply. I will let you know how it works out.

Thanks again!

Taurus96

SHOZ123

I would contact them to make sure it fits the FFV.