I just received in the mail a recall notice for 2002-2003 Lancers. There may be damage to the WARM-UP CAT which would cause the CEL to turn-on.

I have a custom cat back as the only mod to my exhaust, and have recently had a CEL. I took it to AutoZone and the code it through out was something about the temperature of the emissions. I searched the forums and other drivers had run into this. It bothered me b/c I was the only one w/o headers. The dude at AutoZone and the forum both said that it was probably just the exhaust. So i have been dealing with the light, but oddly it went off a/b 2 weeks ago.

Mitsu is saying a simple computer software installation will solve this problem. If you have thrown a CEL you have six months to report to your dealer and the software and warm-up cat will be replaced free of charge.

My question is which cat is the warm up cat? Will replacing it interfere with catback installation as i believe the shop welded the pipe to the exhaust? Also do you think there will be any confrontation with the dealer b/c of mods? The recall notice makes it out that if you do not have this done your car could be damaged as well as have your warranty denied b/c of lack of maintainance.

 

the warm cat is the one on the header.I got mine a couple days and have not gone to the dealer yet.It won't affect your exhaust and they shouldn't say anything about the mods the can't really.

 

hmm...well is it confirmed THAT it is the cat in the header? Not questioning your authority yellance, just really want to make sure. I got a test pipe on my car and I really don't feel like putting back my stock cat just to do this. And from what I read, it's a software fix...rather than a hardware fix.

 

Yes, it really is the one in the manifold. The reason it is a software fix is because when the engine is cold(during warmup) the computer dumps extra fuel into the mix to try and warm up the engine faster(why we get better gas milage in the summer than in the winter). This extra rich condition eventually causes the cat to fowl and go bad. I can only assume that the software fix is a leaner fuel map for the warmup period. I'm not sure if they will inspect the exhaust or not. If they have to replace the manifold because you have a cel they will most likely give you trouble about a test pipe, however unless you authorize it they are not allowed to do anything about it except void your warranty(and they might have a hard time getting that to hold up).

 

i posted this yesterday, about the cat call, hehe, yeah had to do it. but anyway, it was closed and the guy got pissy, becuase it was in the thread labeled 2004 recalls ro something. but anyway, yeah its a software fix, if your cat is already clogged and throwing cel, you would know, other than the light. your performance would suck, big time. but its best to go get the fix, then pay later on, and forever for new cats.

 

read lancer general.... its all there.

 

Question: I have RRM headers, doesn't that eliminate the warm up cat? I'm throwing a SEL right now but that's due to the second O2 sensor. If I was to go get this checked out wouldn't they see the headers and not service the car?

Fox

 

this is a repost, and it might just get closed down like the other one

 

Yes it does remove the warm up cat. But does that means the 2nd cat gets clogged instead of the 1st one? I guess we could drive in for the software upgrade only?

Anyone's got the Recall# or service bulettin # or whatever # attached to this?

 

IMPORTANT EMISSION RECALL NOTIFICATION: EMR-05-001

that what it says.

 

it preheats the first cat so at WOT it doesn't melt.

 

I have custom turbo and custom exhaust and they still serviced my car. (Probably because I work for the dealer )

 

those bozos are trying to mess up my car.... No wonder i can't finish up my magnum rail review. I went to the dealer for recall then after a few miles, bam CEL... I went back the next day then they said that if it's not their fault i'm gonna pay $88 for just making them check it for me. Then the next thing they said is that my 2 sensors are broken in the exhust area .... damn i never thought each sensor cost 335.64 part#Mr507854 & Mr578634. Thank god it's underwarranty or else i'll be stariving for a month... i wonder what's the cause of them malfunctioning? My car will be getting fixed next week... I'll keep you updated so you don't experience my same fate.

 

haha this is my first time posting , i useally just read but anyways , I have Kamikaze header and Down Pipe then Magnaflow high Flow cat , Everything was fine when i had my header on but then a week befor i was going to change the cat out The Light started coming on, i hooked up the lil comp thingy and it Gave the code that says " undercarrage Cat Damage , O2 Scensor, And other things i knew were not the problem" So anyways i changed out the cat and then Sure enough on the day everything was going bad Something else went bad too. I could not get the stock O2 Scensor off the Stock Cat, it was like Fused to it from rust and crap From hot Cold hot Cold Hot Cold all the time... So thats no good , i went down and bought a universal o2 Scensor because i was not about to pay 200+ bucks on another stock lancer sensor that i knew would just make the light come back on again. So i mainly just bought it so i could plug the hole on the new Cat so i dont have a loud exaust leak sound haha. I hooked it up and everything and the light didnt come on for awhile but 4 days later it came on i hooked up the computer thingy it was the same problem...

My Solution. Seeing as how i hate that light on all the time and i KNOW theres nothing wrong with my car.. i just simply put tape over the CEL. Ummm If something is wrong with your car you will know from feel and sound useally. CEL is going to come along with the Aftermarket scene... So i use tape :-p
Focker Out!

 

read my list of MODS....ther just wanted to look at my car more than anything....and my dealership did the reflash w/o any questions excpet "how much HP does this thing have?"