I don't know what the hell happened to my car tonight but I can't figure it out. I was on my way to the racetrack when my car's exhuast note change and lost like 1/2 my horsepower(not exaggerating). I have no lights on the dash and no smoke coming from the exhaust. I pulled over lift my hood and take a look around. The top front bolt on mt Kenetix plenum was loose (don't know how long it was like that, I had put it in on Mon. though)so I'm thought I had the problem solved. So I go home put it back in and no difference. So I get under the car thinking I had an exhuast leak or something. Everything checked out. So I took the Kenetix manifold off and put it back on, nothing. The only thing I can think of is the new RT cats have collapesed already. I put them on on 6/5, 6 days ago. I kinda find that hard to believe but anything is possible. Anyone else have any opinions

 

I would bet your assumption of the cats failing is correct... my car exhibited the exact same symptoms you describe.. when I removed the cats, one was completely imploded, the other was loose within its housing.... mine were on the car about 600 miles when they failed

Sorry to hear that.... and good luck dealing with RT.

PeteH

 

You just described what happened to me aslo .What happened is the middle of the cat dropped down and the sides collapsed .The driver side is the one that was the worse , but both were bad .I tried to find some new ones and have them over nighted to me , so I could send my cats back to Stillen . I couldnt get any that fast so I just gutted the RT's and put them back on .I figured I would have to wait a month before things could get resolved . RT better start looking at this problem real soon . I know there can be failers but this is getting out of hand .The way that they are dealing with it isnt good for there reputation . GOOD LUCK....and dont put the new RT's back in or you will just be doing it all over again

 

Thanks guys I was really hoping this was the problem. I can at least take care of this myself and not have to deal with the dealership. You have no idea how much better I feel right now. I was begining to think something was terribly wrong. I will be able to sleep so much better now. Will it hurt anything if I drive with it like that for a day or two. I can't really call off tommorrow there is a huge function @ the hotel and they'll be really pissed if I don't come in.

 

Also what's the best method of gutting these things, screwdriver?

 

I drove mine that way for aobut 8 days after the initial symptoms started... no problems... no check engine lights....

before you gut them you need to talk to talk to Random Tech... they seem to think that there are only two or three Zs with this problem... They will tell you to return the cats to them so they can examine them and determine why they failed and it they will send you a new set or not...

Also, if you bought them through Performance Nissan, call them and tell them what is happening. PN can't handle the warranty issue since RT does not allow its vendor to do that, but at least PN will know there's a problem with RT cats.... PN also thinks only two or three people have had RT cat's fail, but I think it's a lot more than that.

After almost three months I was able to get a new set from RT. I sent them back to PN for a refund.

PeteH

 

How do you contact RT...any one have a link or a web address . As far as gutting the cats . I took a long drill bit [2ft] and a 1/2 inch rod [2ft] long .Drilling for awhile , then pounding the rod thru .Back and forth till it all came out .If you can go a few days with out your car...I would order some new ones [not RT] and then you can send the RT's back .When you get the new RT'S back sell them .Thats what I wanted to do , but I couldnt get any fast enough...good luck

 

http://www.randomtechnology.com/

 

I really can't sinf RT's in because I have nothing to replace them with. I didn't anywhere near full price for these things so I'm just gonna have to gut them and move on.

 

Gut them means no cats, make sure you rtiming wont be off becasue of that, i have heard a nasty rumor that no cats does somehting to your timing i don't know what though. Someone with kaaanowledge about this topice please help thanks. Just want to prevent any longterm damage. peace and good luck i know how it feels to have a busted cat, my RSX type S's stock cat had to be replace two or three times.

 

You guys are saying that RT won't refund your money if you send in destroyed RT cats? They'll only send you replacements?

I would demand a refund.

 

I was thinking about about getting some cats but with all the negative posts, I'm not so sure. No Rt's for sure. Now someone is bringing up a possible timing problem. Anything to this?

 

I dont see how hollowed cats can effect your timing . It MAY make you fuel mixture a little leaner .RT will only replace your cats . ANd I was told that they will not give a wrranty on the replacements

 

Well I got them off, sure enough the pass. side was all messed up. The 02 sensor was stopping it from going into the exhaust. How do I know if it's damaged, a light should come up on the dash correct? Anyway I have to go gut these things now just gotta figure out the best process.

 

I dont think you damaged it...it would have given you a light . Both mine were real close to the sensors .Was the driver side bad also ?

 

Driver's side was fine.

 

I've had RT cats on my car for almost a year and haven't had any problems. I also have several friends who haven't had any problems either. I don't really think the converter is the problem. I know an engineer who works for Ford and he says that aside from getting whacked by a speed bump or something the only way a converter can be damaged inside is if it's overheated and the only way it can be overheated is if there's too much fuel in the exhaust. He thinks that there's something strange with the 350Z ECu and that when it sees a big increase in exhaust flow, it really, really richens the mixture. When it does that, there's so much fuel in the exhaust that the cat cooks. Does anybody have any information. I understand the guys at Technosquare have done a lot of testing, but I haven't seen anything.

 

why do people buy these things, they obviously suck.

 

sorry to hear ZUL8R....


i just got a set of cats from doug at crawford (had the aem wideband extra bunfg welded in also...)

i specifically went with them as i trust doug, and like all thier stuff. If i ever have a failure, i am confident he will make good on it, and in a quyickness...

i have heard of the 'broomhandle' technique for hollowing em out but am not sure....

remember Tim fro the dyno day (vortech Zcar)?? he modded his out also.... (timrod___ is his online handle)

-eS

ps- did you contact my local dealer about the funny gas install? I asked him if they would/could do the install, and he was cool with it....

 

Yeah I pm'd him. They said they could do it but I found someone over here that will be able to do it in a couple weeks. Titan Motorsports said 2 months.