97 A4 1.8T Catalytic Converter
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 3
97 A4 1.8T Catalytic Converter
Hi, I searched around the forum but can't find the details I'm looking for.
Right after the turbo, the exhaust pipe separated. I'm told I need a new catalytic converter, so I ordered a direct fit off of a web site. The car originally came from California. The guy told me that the 2001 CAT will work on my 97 California model. He also said I should be able to pull off the old one and install the new one without too much aggravation.
Does this sound right? I'm just looking for a second (3rd, 4th, etc.) opinion.
By the way, I just bought this car off of CraigsList for 5K$ which seemed like a steal. I'm guessing the previous owner figured a way to temporarily re-attach the pipe before I bought it. Any caveats, please let me know. Otherwise this car is in like-new condition, runs fast and smooth. (And loud, now).
Right after the turbo, the exhaust pipe separated. I'm told I need a new catalytic converter, so I ordered a direct fit off of a web site. The car originally came from California. The guy told me that the 2001 CAT will work on my 97 California model. He also said I should be able to pull off the old one and install the new one without too much aggravation.
Does this sound right? I'm just looking for a second (3rd, 4th, etc.) opinion.
By the way, I just bought this car off of CraigsList for 5K$ which seemed like a steal. I'm guessing the previous owner figured a way to temporarily re-attach the pipe before I bought it. Any caveats, please let me know. Otherwise this car is in like-new condition, runs fast and smooth. (And loud, now).
2nd Gear
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,276
From:
RE: 97 A4 1.8T Catalytic Converter
yes a cat from a 2001 will work any b5 cat should work. IF he said it was easy he lied to you. Its easy if you done it before but for the first time its a PITA especially trying to get the rusted nuts off.
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 3
RE: 97 A4 1.8T Catalytic Converter
Trailboss, thanks for the advice! I'm much relieved to know I got the right part.
He didn't say it was easy, exactly. He said it's only six bolts and shouldn't take more than two hours. Eeek, twenty minutes per bolt does sound like a PITA. While I'm messing with this, what else should I be looking out for? I've only had the car a couple of weeks so I don't know what else might be wrong.
He didn't say it was easy, exactly. He said it's only six bolts and shouldn't take more than two hours. Eeek, twenty minutes per bolt does sound like a PITA. While I'm messing with this, what else should I be looking out for? I've only had the car a couple of weeks so I don't know what else might be wrong.
2nd Gear
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,276
From:
RE: 97 A4 1.8T Catalytic Converter
Well some tips, go from the wheel well and mess around in there along with underneath the car. Change the gaskets at the turbo-cat connection and the turbo-DP connection. Have a crap load of pb blast. The bottom nut at the turbo cat connection can be easily done from the bottom with extensions. It would make things alot easier if you remove the airbox too as far as working room, that should only take 20 minutes tops. There is a heatshield above the CV joint remove that, its just less in the way, its an allen head probablly 5 or 6mm so an allen socket or whatever they are would save a lot of time.
2nd Gear
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,276
From:
RE: 97 A4 1.8T Catalytic Converter
Yes you can get a cel from the secondary o2 sensor because its in the mainstream airflow and senses something isn't normal but it can be bypassed. Really the secondary o2 sensor is pointless if you have a testpipe or any type of cat - delete.
3rd Gear
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,580
From:
RE: 97 A4 1.8T Catalytic Converter
ORIGINAL: kwatro
Hi, I searched around the forum but can't find the details I'm looking for.
Right after the turbo, the exhaust pipe separated. I'm told I need a new catalytic converter, so I ordered a direct fit off of a web site. The car originally came from California. The guy told me that the 2001 CAT will work on my 97 California model. He also said I should be able to pull off the old one and install the new one without too much aggravation.
Does this sound right? I'm just looking for a second (3rd, 4th, etc.) opinion.
By the way, I just bought this car off of CraigsList for 5K$ which seemed like a steal. I'm guessing the previous owner figured a way to temporarily re-attach the pipe before I bought it. Any caveats, please let me know. Otherwise this car is in like-new condition, runs fast and smooth. (And loud, now).
Hi, I searched around the forum but can't find the details I'm looking for.
Right after the turbo, the exhaust pipe separated. I'm told I need a new catalytic converter, so I ordered a direct fit off of a web site. The car originally came from California. The guy told me that the 2001 CAT will work on my 97 California model. He also said I should be able to pull off the old one and install the new one without too much aggravation.
Does this sound right? I'm just looking for a second (3rd, 4th, etc.) opinion.
By the way, I just bought this car off of CraigsList for 5K$ which seemed like a steal. I'm guessing the previous owner figured a way to temporarily re-attach the pipe before I bought it. Any caveats, please let me know. Otherwise this car is in like-new condition, runs fast and smooth. (And loud, now).
Noooooooo! Just get it welded back to the flange! It cost me 60$ in labor! Cancel your order or something. You don't need a new cat; the cat isn't the issue. That Audi only pressed the cat into that flange rather than bolted/ made it one piece is the problem. All you need to do is get the cat and that cat>turbo flange taken out and welded into one piece. Order new gaskets (cat>downpipe and cat>turbo from ecstuning.com, should be like 15$ for both) and you're good.