Cat Converter for my girl's Lucerne

[century61]

So, After investigating my GF's 2007 Buick Lucerne 3.8 it apparantly needs a cat P0420 Error.
I have scanned my O2's and they appear to be working just fine. This car was bought from my mother who never drove it that much and I believe that it's all carboned up from the lack of driving. It sat in a garage most of its life. I did try some cat cleaner products about a month ago and it didnt help. Just want to get this done now.

I have been researching for a few days and heard that the Magnaflow's are probably the ones to go with.
I'am looking at this one:

https://www.autozone.com/emission-control-and-exhaust/catalytic-converter/p/magnaflow-direct-fit-federal-catalytic-converter-51751-bx/938013_0_0

Otherwise, I could get the "cheater" pipe fitting for between the downstream O2 sensor and the cat.

Would be nice to hear from some of you with experience in replacing your cat's. Did you replace it? How did it turn out? OR did you just get the cheater pipe fitting and call it good?

Thanks, My GF is really on me to get this done.

 

[Mad_Coachman]

Have an exhaust shop cut the OEM converter out and weld in a universal cat. It will be cheaper than $488.

https://www.amazon.com/MagnaFlow-51306-Universal-Catalytic-Converter/dp/B0086C1MLU/ref=sr_1_3?_encoding=UTF8&dchild=1&qid=1632760520&s=automotive&sr=1-3&vehicle=2007-45-2838------------12&vehicleName=2007+Buick+Lucerne

 

[2007LucerneCXL]

Why do you think it's the convertor, maybe try the O2 extension prior to replacement. If looking at replacement review the ZZP unit as a additional choice for the list.

 

[Mad_Coachman]

I have scanned my O2's and they appear to be working just fine

If your downstream O2 is mirroring the upstream O2 that will trigger the P0420 code. Are they switching at the same time?

 

[century61]

Have an exhaust shop cut the OEM converter out and weld in a universal cat. It will be cheaper than $488.

https://www.amazon.com/MagnaFlow-51306-Universal-Catalytic-Converter/dp/B0086C1MLU/ref=sr_1_3?_encoding=UTF8&dchild=1&qid=1632760520&s=automotive&sr=1-3&vehicle=2007-45-2838------------12&vehicleName=2007+Buick+Lucerne

Thank you. What I need to do is settle down a bit. I have been fretting about this now for a month and getting mixed up on it. I hear that after market cats are junk and usually you have to get the real expensive ones. Then I hear good things on the Magnaflow. So, I was thinking that.

One of the main problems where I live is that there REALLY are not any decent car shops. They all do some pretty shady work just to make the extra buck. Ive got all the tools I need and was just thinking just buy it and do it and be done with it.

Thanks,

 

[century61]

If your downstream O2 is mirroring the upstream O2 that will trigger the P0420 code. Are they switching at the same time?

Yes, Pretty close. Its like the cat is just below the point of triggering the error code. First thought was an exhaust leak. But there is no leak I could find.

Short trim / Long trim's look great. No problem there. I can see the downstream O2 sensor drop out and back up as I drive. Its just enough to trigger the error code.

Its just my Mother not taking this car and giving it a good run. She would drive like 4 miles round trip twice a week to down town. Then it would sit in the garage. I swear when I bought it, It had the factory tires still on it. I replaced those because they were starting to dry rot. Put Continents on them.

Then, Because Mom wears a hearing aid, She must have drove it without the hearing aid in and blew the right door speaker. So, I tore out the speakers and replaced those. Then she also managed to break the overhead console buttons for the sunroof. So, I got that fixed. I swear, Everytime I buy a car off my parents there seems to be something wrong with them. My Dad would not do oil changes and breaks. They are just too old (80s) to be driving a car.

Sorry to ramble.....

 

[century61]

Why do you think it's the convertor, maybe try the O2 extension prior to replacement. If looking at replacement review the ZZP unit as a additional choice for the list.

Whats the ZZP unit? Never heard of that.

Yes, Perhaps I will first try the O2 extension. I know the exhaust is not plugged or anything like that. Car runs just great. Im jealous of my GF (Its her car) because its so sweet.

 

[2007LucerneCXL]

There are the horror stories on aftermarket cats, but the O2 extensions seem to solve the problem on the forum so it's a quick try / fix.

Zzperformance.com makes or carries a lot of the 3.8L performance parts.

 

[century61]

There are the horror stories on aftermarket cats, but the O2 extensions seem to solve the problem on the forum so it's a quick try / fix.

Zzperformance.com makes or carries a lot of the 3.8L performance parts.

Thank you.
Im going to try the extenders first as suggested.

Ill report back on this thread of course with my outcome. I see I can get them at like autozone. There the spark plug foulers. You get two for like 6.99 and I have seen people using these. Unless there is something else I should be using instead.

 

[Mad_Coachman]

This is what I have used with great success.

O2 Simulator Angled Rear O2 Sensor Simulator clears p0420 / p0430 CEL check engine light

O2 Simulator Angled Cel Fix, Big Daddies Garage Angled Rear o2 Sensor Simulator is best to clear p0420 / p0430 codes for bad or missing catalytic converters. Just screws in no complicated wiring, this o2 simulator spaces the oxygen sensor precisely the exact distance out of the exhaust flow for...

www.bigdaddiesgarage.com

 

[century61]

This is what I have used with great success.

O2 Simulator Angled Rear O2 Sensor Simulator clears p0420 / p0430 CEL check engine light

O2 Simulator Angled Cel Fix, Big Daddies Garage Angled Rear o2 Sensor Simulator is best to clear p0420 / p0430 codes for bad or missing catalytic converters. Just screws in no complicated wiring, this o2 simulator spaces the oxygen sensor precisely the exact distance out of the exhaust flow for...

www.bigdaddiesgarage.com

I ordered it up 🙂
Thank you very much.

 

[LARRY70GS]

Do you know how many people have fixed that code with a simple O2 sensor extender?

 

[G-976518]

What if the cat is broke to where it needs to be replaced and your on a budget of 200

 

[LARRY70GS]

What if the cat is broke to where it needs to be replaced and your on a budget of 200

Boneyard

 

[2007LucerneCXL]

Rockauto.com