Was in at my local exhaust shop today getting new tips, and I got to asking about how to get louder. The shop owner told me that for $35 he'd cut off the third converter, and I'd gain some significant volume. He assured me that this was perfectly legal because it comes after the O2 sensors, so I won't get any check engine lights and everything would pass emissions flawlessly. First of all, how legal is this. Secondly, how loud is it going to get?

 

not legal, in fact if a shop owner told me it was, i would NOT get my exhaust done there. At least if he had told you that it wasnt legal, that would be decent. There is no reason to mess with the cats on these rangers, there so many because they are a higher flow than they used to be. The performance gain would be negligible if anything, and the sounds wouldnt increase THAT much since on the SOHC youre already going through 3 other cats anyway (i think there are 4 total).

Bottom line is, not legal, no reason to do it, shop owner lied or is ignorant. DONT DO IT!

 

There is an O2 sensor after the last converter. Look again. It's required for the catalyst efficiency monitor -- though I'll look and see if the 4.0 is set up like that.

It won't buy you much if anything because of the design of the converters now. It's not a good idea.

Ha ha! Tell him to put a guarantee in writing that it won't affect anything on your vehicle.

 

It's a $10,000 fine per occurrence for any automotive repair facility if they get caught removing or defeating any device installed on a vehicle for emission control purposes.

 

every muffler guy knows that is GROSSLY ILLEGAL.

what a loser.

he was just trying to get another $35 out of you.

not to mention, our cats are hi-flow cats anyway...

wouldn't make a difference, really.

 

$35! that guy is pulling your leg. i know 1 cat off won't amke a difference.