Hello all new member here. I’ve got a 2003 CL Type-S- 144k miles, auto. The bolts that connect the catalytic to the intermediate pipe have lost their nuts and the gasket is MIA. The bolts appear to have been splined and\or fused to the catalytic due to corrosion. Asking for advice on what to do. Here are my thoughts so far-

1. 1. Talk to Acura and see if the lifetime warranty on the catalytic can be used here. While the catalytic is intact I cannot see a way to re-attach to the intermediate pipe due to how the bolts are now a permanent part of the catalytic converter. Feel free to give me your advice on this.
2. 2. Select a hi-perf\high flow catalytic and replace. Feel free to offer options.
3. 3. If replacing the catalytic at this point should I also replace the cat-back exhaust? If so I don’t want a “hey look at me in my MMA shirt\baseball cap on backwards\subwoofer in the trunk” sound. Don’t want to sound like a tuned Civic- not against a different sound- I’m just looking to avoid appearing like a teenager with his first ride. Feel free to offer options
4. 4. I have wheel ramps, solid tools and decent handyman skills. I’ve done minor stuff (radiator, alternator, some electrical). What advice would you give a person for his first exhaust job?

Thanks for your advice. I’m pretty thick skinned so fire away. It would be great if this became a “what do at 150k post” for this area. I have been picking through the posts related to this issue and have some ideas but I value an unfiltered opinion.

 

Warranty ain't gonna do jack. Don't bother wasting your time going that route.


You can always take it to an exhaust shop and have them weld it properly in place

 

Thanks for the candid opinion- I don't have high hopes but every now and then you talk to someone at the dealer service department whose in a mood to give someone a break. The weld option I had not considered and now I'm embarrassed that I didn't.

 

Sometimes you just need a second set of eyes to see things from a different perspective


on a 14 year old car, unless you have some awesome rapport with a specific dealership, I wouldn't expect much is all

 

I'd side with thoiboi and go with the weld in Magnaflow (or maybe even a Catco since those are a bit cheaper) unless you really wanted a new HFC/exhaust.

If your current exhaust doesn't have any leaks around the flanges (you can feel for them with your hand when the car is running), and it's not falling off the hangars, then I don't see any reason to replace it! Unless once again, you wanted to do a high flow cat and exhaust.

The install it's self will be simple once you fight the existing bolts out. Simply replace what you take off with the new one (cat, hardware, and gaskets), tighten everything down, and you're good to go! That being said, if you take it to a shop to have a new one welded in then you can let them fight it for you! haha

Feel free to check us out online if you're looking for parts: Excelerate Performance - European, Exotic and Japanese Performance Specialists!! - Homepage

Good luck!

 

Other than the fact that the catalytic is now separated from the intermediate pipe I don't see any leaks. As to the "cat back" thoughts it was part "in for a penny in for a pound" and part maybe get something better. Only in the last few years I'm back to seeing the aftermarket as a source for improved components vs just the "meets or exceeds" which a couple of times in the last few years has led to bad outcomes. I've now decided that it will be better (perf\build) aftermarket or OEM (with OEM 2nd). I view this vehicle as a testbed for my next car.

I also have the advantage that my father who worked in autobody for 60 years just retired (at 75) and gave me his tools- so I've got a good start there. It's not just about saving money or getting a better component- at 50 I finally have both the desire and drive to be more hands on. If you could suggest a "cat back" package I'd be grateful- I don't expect nor seek major gains. I'm just looking for a "this will probably be the last time I replace XXX" component vs. this should get me by for the next 2 years. I'm still upset with myself for going aftermarket equivalents for the brakes and wheel work I had done 3 years ago.

 

If you're looking for a cat-back exhaust then either the APEXi WorldSport or the Tanabee Medalion should serve you perfectly fine!

The WorldSport is made of SUS304 stainless, and has coated mid-section to help keep heat and rust away, not to mention they make a decent sound! There was one on a car we had in shop a couple weeks ago. You can read more on it on our site here: 116-KH22 - APEXi Exhaust - WorldSport 2 - Excelerate's Honda & Acura Store - Japanese Performance Specialist

The Tanabee Medalion Touring is another good option if you wanted to do a nice upgrade without making the car too loud. These are also made from SUS304 stainless and were designed to offer you a performance increase while keeping decibels down, and drone away. We have these on our site as well, you can see them here: T70078 - Tanabe Medalian Exhaust - Medalion Touring - Excelerate's Honda & Acura Store - Japanese Performance Specialist

60 years in the business is quite a while! I hope he gets to enjoy his retirement and you get to enjoy all of his tools!

 

I wanted to say thanks to you Thouboi and ExcelerateRep for your thoughts. I've got a new mechanic\shop I've been using and was able to pop the bolts off the cat and replace with new + gasket for 90$ so I'm pretty damn happy about that. I had him check the manifolds and the rest after the catalytic and other than age it looks good. I'm trying to be a better wrench and appreciate the advice. Now I'm on to trans service\flush.

 

I have a custom exhaust setup on my CL-S and i love it. It has a nice loud (not annoying), sometimes i'd drive with my windows down just to listen to it. I also have an XLR8 test pipe with the defouler for about 3 years now and always pass emissions.