Complete newb!

**lendo_21** · 12-04-2011 11:20 PM

Hi everyone!
I bought an 02 WRX this past saturday and currently I have gotten a new timing belt change as well as water pump, all the other belts changed, oil change, new spark plugs, and thermostat. I'm really excited about this car and I upgraded from a 95 civic hatch to this amazing car! And I'm completely new to subarus and the turbo and everything! So I'm going to need a lot of help!

As for now I want to keep it mostly stock bc I am a full time student. However I read that the cat in the uppipe can break and damage the turbo. I would def want to invest in a new uppipe but I live in ca and the smog laws are very difficult. So my question is, will gutting out the cat in the uppipe ruin my chances of passing smog legally or will I have to buy another cat and put it somewhere else? Right now this is My main concern as this is going to be my daily and I spent more money than I ever had to buy this car. So I need advice from my Cali people! And I want to keep it smog legit.. At least for now lol

**Monk_Knight** · 12-04-2011 11:36 PM

It's definitely a reason they could use to fail you... whether or not they would catch it would be the bigger question. I'd say pass smog then replace it and save your stock one to put back on when you have to pass smog again.

**lendo_21** · 12-05-2011 10:33 AM

Originally Posted by Monk_Knight

It's definitely a reason they could use to fail you... whether or not they would catch it would be the bigger question. I'd say pass smog then replace it and save your stock one to put back on when you have to pass smog again.

Ya I could do that but I heard it was a pain in the butt haha.. Do u have a stock one on urs? And if not do u pass smog without having to change it?

**Sinister** · 12-05-2011 10:47 AM

Gut the stock cat. Take the up pipe off, then take a screw driver, then dremel to the inside, breaking apart all of the catalyst element. then dremel it smooth, then reinstall it. Cheaper than an uppipe, will pass the visual smog inspections, and you'll get a bit of a power gain.

***TheJ*** · 12-05-2011 11:04 AM

Originally Posted by Sinister

Gut the stock cat. Take the up pipe off, then take a screw driver, then dremel to the inside, breaking apart all of the catalyst element. then dremel it smooth, then reinstall it. Cheaper than an uppipe, will pass the visual smog inspections, and you'll get a bit of a power gain.

Yep.

Welcome to Club!

**Monk_Knight** · 12-05-2011 11:10 AM

Originally Posted by lendo_21

Ya I could do that but I heard it was a pain in the butt haha.. Do u have a stock one on urs? And if not do u pass smog without having to change it?

I'm only in Tahoe for school, my car is registered in Colorado and they don't test emissions back home. So it's a non-issue for me.

**jd92677** · 12-05-2011 11:19 AM

Legally you would not pass, but even with that converter non-functional, you should still run clean enough to pass a smog test.

**lendo_21** · 12-05-2011 11:02 PM

Originally Posted by Monk_Knight

I'm only in Tahoe for school, my car is registered in Colorado and they don't test emissions back home. So it's a non-issue for me.

haha lucky!

Originally Posted by jd92677

Legally you would not pass, but even with that converter non-functional, you should still run clean enough to pass a smog test.

Ok cool, so if I gut it I can pass the visual and the emission part of it..

Another question, If I gut out the cat on the up pipe will the sensor give me a CEL? and If it does how can i avoid that or delete the code or whatever so I don't get into probs with the smog?

**EJ257** · 12-06-2011 04:11 AM

Originally Posted by lendo_21

Another question, If I gut out the cat on the up pipe will the sensor give me a CEL? and If it does how can i avoid that or delete the code or whatever so I don't get into probs with the smog?

It will trip a CEL, but that's disabled by replacing the EGT sensor with a resistor.

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**Sinister** · 12-06-2011 10:18 AM

Originally Posted by EJ257

It will trip a CEL, but that's disabled by replacing the EGT sensor with a resistor.

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Yup... a 2.2k ohm resistor if I remember correctly. Like 80 cents at radioshack.

**EJ257** · 12-06-2011 10:20 AM

Originally Posted by Sinister

Yup... a 2.2k ohm resistor if I remember correctly. Like 80 cents at radioshack.

1/2W, I believe

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**Sinister** · 12-06-2011 10:39 AM

2.2k Ohm. I win

2.2K Ohm Resistor Mod

edit... googled 2.2k ohm resistors, and found that they were all 1/2 watt. Alright. We both win.

(but 1/2 watt doesn't = 2.2k ohm. OP... make sure you get a 2.2k ohm, 1/2 watt resistor)

**jd92677** · 12-06-2011 11:05 AM

But if you're gutting the cat, you can leave the EGT in, can't you? Therefore it wouldn't throw a CEL

**Sinister** · 12-06-2011 11:14 AM

You're correct. My apologies. But the EGT sensor is only there for the cat... so might as well remove it, plug the hole with a bung plug, and not have anything in the pathway of the exhaust.

**EJ257** · 12-06-2011 01:07 PM

Originally Posted by Sinister

2.2k Ohm. I win

2.2K Ohm Resistor Mod

edit... googled 2.2k ohm resistors, and found that they were all 1/2 watt. Alright. We both win.

(but 1/2 watt doesn't = 2.2k ohm. OP... make sure you get a 2.2k ohm, 1/2 watt resistor)

Someone PMed me a while back asking whether to get ¼W or ½W versions, which is the only reason I specified. Maybe they only make ½W ones...

Originally Posted by jd92677

But if you're gutting the cat, you can leave the EGT in, can't you? Therefore it wouldn't throw a CEL

It may still throw the CEL, not sure.

Either way, remove the sensor.