Hello - I am new to this forum. I joined because the CEL on my 2002 S2000 came on as I was accelerating on to the M5. Honda did a diagnostic test and told me it was a P0420 fault. They reset the light and suggested I drive 30-40 minutes on a motorway and if it came on again I would need a new catalytic converter for the modest sum of £1820.09.
It came on again before I even got to the motorway.
It appears you can buy a new cat online for less than £100: Can anyone recommend a good mechanic in the B17 Birmingham area who could help with this - I understand the P0240 code could also be the O2 sensors, or it could just be that the cat needs a bit of tlc.

 

Make sure that you get a high flow catalytic converter. I closed my garage 3 years ago, nowadays I use Newbridge motors, Kent Street Digbeth.

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Cats don't typically spontaneously stop working. The element inside isn't a mechanical part that just fails. Was it rattling at all before this cropped up?

If not I'd suspect the cat is perfectly fine and the sensor attached is faulty.

And I wouldn't trust a £100 brand new cat to be honest. I'd be more comfortable getting a low mileage used or the berk high flow.

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Cataclean-...item46144518ec
s/hand cat
swap lambda sensor
or leave^^ it it may correct itself once really hot

never used catty clean anyone ??

 

Thanks for the very useful advise. There is no rattling noise, and I have been doing a mix of town and motorway driving, with no discernible change in petrol consumption or power. I don't regularly use VTEC (bit of a wimpy lady driver)- would that be a good or bad idea with the CEL on?!
I am very tempted to try the cataclean first, and then the Digbeth garage. I'm a bit suspicious of 2nd hand converters - why would anyone want to get rid of one?

 

With regards to second hand cats, people get rid of them as they like to do something called a "decat" where they remove the cat and replace it with an empty bit of exhaust pipe. The theory is that it lets the exhaust gasses flow more easily and therefore the engine produces more power.

The good thing about this is that those of us who suffer a broken cat don't have to pay £1,800 to Honda for a new one. Second hand ones on here usually go for around £50, and it's a very cheap job to get them swapped over.

At a cost ratio of 20:1 you need to go through a lot of second hat cats before you get anywhere near the cost of a Honda one.

Alternatively, the Berk Hi Flow Cats are a good bet. You can get from one of our Traders here http://www.s2ktuning.co.uk/Exhaust.html (look for Berk Technology 63.5mm High Flow Cat at £219.99) will do just fine. They are located in Kidderminster, so may be able to have a look for you.

 

Numerous reasons - Decat, high-flow cat, breaking their car, etc.

 

Forgot to mention that I bought a Berk Hi Flow cat from the guy in Kidderminster (just round the corner from me) and Newbridge fitted it for me.


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A fair few of these cars, especially at this time of year end up in a ditch or round a lamp post, lots of parts being sold on all the time

If the CAT didn't develop a rattle the the element inside will likely be intact.

Some one with more knowledge than me can chip in if these can stop having their desired effect on the gases without breaking up. But I'd be leaning towards the sensor rather than the actual CAT.

When's your MOT due? I would think if the CAT has genuinely failed it wouldn't pass emissions.

 

Its a MOUSE, not a CAT!!!!
As recommended I took my car to Newbridge Garage, and they confirmed that the diagnostic test did not distinguish a CAT problem from an oxygen sensor problem. Then they put it up on the ramp, and it was clear that some creature had eaten almost through the green rear O2 sensor cable. I should have taken a photo - will do so when it goes back for replacement (though Honda cannot supply one until Feb/March!) And I paid the Honda dealer £45 for not doing this simple inspection!!
Many thanks for all your helpful suggestions.