I have a 2002 neon sxt with 85,000 miles and need to get a catalytic converter. The check engine light is on with p0420 code. I was told I need a converter and downstream o2 sensor. The car has L.E.V emissions compliant with california. Where is a good place to get these replacement parts. I was thinking of getting the magnaflow high flow cat but am not sure if that will work with the emissions system. The o2 sensor on the magnaflow is in a different location from the stock cat. It is located after the converter . The stock location is in the middle of the cat.I want to make sure it is fixed right and the check engine light will not come back.Any help would be appreciated.

 

Well if you wanted to stick with the strict LEV California emissions and not break any rules, or have the possibility of any problems, then you could just order the replacement cat from the dealer and swap it yourself. I do not think an aftermarket cat, (or better yet, a high-flow cat) would cause a big issue, but then again there's always a small chance that something can go wrong every time something gets changed or modded different than it was compared to OEM or stock. Sometimes it's better, a lot of times it's the same, once in a while things get worse.

If I were you I would go with the OEM replacement, or a high-quality aftermarket product like you mentioned. When it comes to cats and things like that, I wouldn't look to a junkyard or Ebay... I'd buy new straight from the source, but that's just my opinion.

 

Also, forgot to mention this... 85,000 miles is about right for an O2 sensor to fail, but you might want to make sure BEFORE you replace these items that you don't have yet another problem... make sure you're not running your car too rich, have a goofy timing issue, or might be getting some bad gas from the gas station or something. It would be a shame to replace something like a cat just to see the new one fail again on you. Whenever I run into situations like these, I always like to research the root of the problem, if there is one, to make sure it doesn't hit my wallet any more than it has to.

 

www.modernperformance.com has anoem cat. converter

 

I am not sure if the one from modern performance will work. It looks a little different from the one on the car now. Myo2 sensor in the middle of the converter not after it. Did anyone out there recently replace their converter without issues. I have seen a converter from eastern catalyticmodel # 20343 that looks about right for$246 with free shipping. I am checking online because locally they want from $477 (repair shop)to $600 (dealer price)