'08 2.5i - Catalytic Converter & CEL question

[gts071]

Hey All,

So recently the CEL come on for about 2 days then it went again, I took my car into the Subaru dealer who told me the error is related to emission levels out of range (or something to that effect) and I should replace one or possibly both of my cats, oh and the car has just ticked over 120k. I nearly died at the cost, front cat $2773.54 and the other cat $2181.10 + a few other things and installation, so this is going to cost North of $5000

I called up some local exhaust shops (Berkley and Carline) and they said my car doesn't have a front cat (or they couldn't find it), just a single cat. So I am just wondering if anyone could confirm if I have 1 or 2 cats in my Subaru Liberty '08 2.5i Sedan?

Also does anyone know of a cheaper place to get cats from?

[Surge]

Stupid question, but why not consider a tune to get the car to run better with the current cat?
Maybe even an e85 tune?

Idk I'm a noob but I thought I read somewhere that it's possible that could help.

[Mat04]

Try wreckers for cats dude. But with only 120kms it might only be the o2 sensors/s. not sure about how many cats or sensors you have but on the pre facelift 2.5i without avcs there are 2 but yours has avcs so possible it's only 1

[gts071]

Thanks for the replies. I might investigate a tune and when the CEL come on again I may get a 2nd opinion in case it is just the sensor.

Cheers!

[PoidaGT]

You could get a serious after market exhaust with racing cats for half that price.

Sounds more like an O2 sensor issue than a cat converter issue.

[RX25SE]

Did they tell you the codes related to the CEL? (technically it's a MIL. Malfunction Indicator Lamp)
It could be that you just need to run a drive cycle so the system can run a 'self check'.

[gts071]

Thanks for the replies. I assumed when I took it in there that it was the O2 sensor when I dropped it off. When I collected it they said the error was emission out of range and that the Cat(s) are faulty. They didn't tell me the error code or anthing more specific. I assume it was the CEL as the engine light comes on and the cruise light flashes, so it could be called something else, that's what I mean.

[KiDo_Tuning]

Thanks for the replies. I assumed when I took it in there that it was the O2 sensor when I dropped it off. When I collected it they said the error was emission out of range and that the Cat(s) are faulty. They didn't tell me the error code or anthing more specific. I assume it was the CEL as the engine light comes on and the cruise light flashes, so it could be called something else, that's what I mean.

It would have been a P0420. Did it come on while driving at a constant speed?

[gts071]

I had just done a 3hr drive with 90% at 110km/h. It never came on during the drive but it was on when the car was started next. It may have come on at the end of the last trip after i turned cruise off but i had been using cruise control without issue.

[alexeiwoody]

Cats dont normally wear out under 200k...google that shit. 02 sensors at 120k also very early.

As for the price - racing cat costs $180. Get both fittted at a performance shop - under $800. 5k? Bs.

Find a member in tassi with a tactrix to read what the code is, or buy a code reader on ebay - pretty cheap. You'll know what the code is then we can give you possible solutions. For example - one of my vac lines popped off, causing one air sensor to miss read - and I had a CEL the next minute that my catalytic converter wasn't doing it's job. Completely unrelated CEL, for a 1 minute fix.

Also if a CEL has been cleared (issue no longer there) by the system - it will take 5 ignition restarts for it to disappear off the dash.

When was the car serviced last? Subaru mechanic?

[gts071]

Car always serviced at the Subaru dealer, last service was 5 days before the error came up on the car (I got the 125,000 service). I'll investigate getting a code reader and when it happens again i'll post up here, thanks for the help all!

[KiDo_Tuning]

Cats dont normally wear out under 200k...google that shit. 02 sensors at 120k also very early.

As for the price - racing cat costs $180. Get both fittted at a performance shop - under $800. 5k? Bs.

Find a member in tassi with a tactrix to read what the code is, or buy a code reader on ebay - pretty cheap. You'll know what the code is then we can give you possible solutions. For example - one of my vac lines popped off, causing one air sensor to miss read - and I had a CEL the next minute that my catalytic converter wasn't doing it's job. Completely unrelated CEL, for a 1 minute fix.

Also if a CEL has been cleared (issue no longer there) by the system - it will take 5 ignition restarts for it to disappear off the dash.

When was the car serviced last? Subaru mechanic?

P0420 will not clear off the dash after 5+ restarts, even 400 wont clear it. Emissions compliance fault is a 'major' code

[alexeiwoody]

Yes I know however the op stated the cel went away on it's own, so it's not emissions.

Is that right gts071? All the more reason to think cats don't need replacement.

Hey if you can get a code reader - the code might be stored in there still

[gts071]

Yep 110% sure it went away by itself.

The fully story was...

I did a 300k trip, no error. Next day the wife drove the car and the error came on, took it to the dealer but they didn't have time to fix/look at. I then did a 300k trip the next day with the error still on, and called into work to drop things off. When I drove from work to home the light never came on, the next day light was still off. This is when I took it into the dealer and advised them the light was no longer on and they came back to me with I need new cats, no specific error code but something about emissions.