Went to CSCS yesterday, got my ass handed to me by fluky, ramesh and every other s2000.

That aside, broke my cat, popped a P0141 (O2 SensorHeater Circuit Malfunction (Bank 1 Sensor 2)), car feels like it's a little down on power, but I've got about 50lbs of tools and stuff still in the car, so not sure if that's what I'm feeling at least a little. Thought it was just the sensor that broke, but heard rattling when I was pulling into my garage a few minutes ago, so I'm assuming that the cat's farked too.

Soooo ya, I don't really have 1000$ to blow on a cat and sensor right now and even if I did have the money I'd rather buy other stuff, soooo would it be stupid to go with a test pipe with CEL fix or should I try to stay with OEM/brandname parts and not get pulled over? (also will the CEL fix work if the sensors broken?)

I know I'm beating a dead horse here, but any new discussion directed specifically towards my situation would help.

TLDR:
1. Cat broke, don't have money to fix, Is a test pipe stupid or should I stay with OEM/Brandname parts?
2. Will the CEL fix for a test pipe work if the sensor's broken?

 

1. Check the sensor. If it's fine then pick up a used cat off someone. Maybe $100 to find a used cat.

2. Just run a test pipe anyway, if you don't mind the smell, it's not a big deal. I've run the car catless for 4 years now without an issue.
Went for my etest with the test pipe in there.

 

Will have a test pipe up for sale shortly if you're interested, unsure of brand thou. If the 2nd sensor is broken another cat or cel fix for test pipe won't do anything for your check engine light.

 

This. What I was getting at. You're going to have to replace the sensor if it's broken. Usually can pick one up from a wrecked car / maybe myflys2k has one

 

for basically the same money, you can get a used cat.

darcy

 

What makes a cat broken? I think I found that the ceramic material inside the cat moves a lot. Like I could shift it around with my finger. So under heavy braking and acceleration the ceramic material would just slam into the O2 sensor.

So to avoid that I guess you could go with an anti foul and a new o2 sensor, but then maybe your sensor would work as well?

 

What year is the car? Was there a tsb about this I remember?