Cel p0436
 

Worst case scenario buy a new cat converter?

Maybe even upgrade to Fabspeed while I'm at it?

Or is there a possibility it could be something else

EDIT: P03430

Model and year would be helpful.............but if it is an early 986, there are no DTC codes between 0430 and 0440..........

99 Base boxster 2.5

He ran the code as a VW, not sure if that helps

Actually, it explains why you have a meaningless DTC code number. Get the car rescanned, perferably with a Porsche specific tool.

Re-scanned. P0430

Catalytic convert in bank 2

If I'm doing one, may as well do the other.
Should I just replace them with factory? ($500 a piece)
Or should I take the time to find some upgrades (Fabspeed bypass?)

Thoughts? Opinions?

if you had a durametric you could monitor the signal from the o2 sensor and determine if it was the cat or the sensor that was causing the problem.

Assuming it is the catalytic converter ('99 that has never been replaced. had vacuum issues in the past), would this be a good opportunity to get more power while replacing parts?

On a side note, what are these?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Porsche-986-Boxster-2-5L-97-99-Performance-Catless-Pipe-Test-Pipe-Pipes-in-50mm-/230950744471?pt=Race_Car_Parts&hash=item35c5bcb197 &vxp=mtr

Will these solve my CEL? They claim there's no CEL with this unit.
The 986 Boxster MAXFLO 2ndary Catbypass Pipes by Fabspeed claim that it solves my CEL as well.
https://www.fabspeed.com/Boxster.html

If I can increase my power for the same price AND get rid of the CEL, that is ideal.

What I'd like to know is, the MAXFLO 2ndary Cat Bypass which claims to negate CELs... How is that different from something I'd get at a muffler shop?

ok. boxsters have three sections to the exhaust:

1 - headers
2 - mid-pipes
3 - muffler

boxsters also have two sets of 02 sensors:

1 - located on headers before any catalytic converters to monitor air/fuel mix and control engine
2- located after catalytic converters to monitor emissions (ie, to confirm cats are there and working); these produce a cel if the cats are gone of have stopped working.

97 to 99 cars have 1 set of cats located on the mid-pipes.
2000 + cars have 2 sets of cats; one set on the headers and one set on the mid-pipes.

so, on 2000 + cars you can delete the cats on the mid-pipes by putting 'test pipes' on and still have functioning cats on the headers; you will reduce the amount of restriction in your exhaust flow and not get a cel. these test pipes are just really expensive pipes with flanges. you can get this fabbed at a muffler shop no problem.

on a 97 to 99 car test pipes will cause a cel (they delete all cats in the system). in order to avoid a cel on these cars when deleting the cats you have to fool the o2 sensor or fool the computer.

note that the fvd product you link to is for 97-04 cars, so there is some mixed messaging in their ad content.

you can fool the o2 sensor by:

- just tywrapping it up under the car; it will sense clean air and think cats are working. this soln doesn't work for everyone, however.
- distancing them from the exhaust flow. there is a $150 product for this on the fvd website, or just use some spark plug anti-foulers for $8. again, this soln doesn't work for everyone.
- mini-cats. these are little cats just for the o2 sensor. very expensive and don't always work.

you can fool the ecu by:

- using a pst2 or piwis to push a euro (rest of world or 'row') flash onto your car. these flashes don't check for emissions.
- getting an aftermarket tune. expensive, $600+.

tywrapping? Maybe I'll use solution 1 and 2 to see if it works without my cat. If it does, I'll just straight pipe it.


+1 to Radium King. Lots of helpful educational material. Thanks