trace357

Newbie here as of today. Picked up a 95 Audi awd with a stick shift yesterday.

Got her cheap because she needs a catalytic converter here in California. Exhaust rattles like crazy at times and has a loss of power when it happens.

Someone has changed them all before, she has three now. But when I called the dealer aka steeler and the local part houses they only show 2. Which are left and right closer to exhaust manifold.

But I have 3, there is a third on in the middle off the car after the other 2 and before the muffler. And that just happens to be where all the noise is coming from when a guy at the muffler shop listened to her on the rack.. He was closing and wanted me to come back. He's thinking he needs to cut that 3rd one off to see if it's ok or one of the others upsteam took a dump and tossed debris into the last one.

Just wanted to know I anyone else has a 3rd one on theirs. I'm going to order one from amazon since that the best deal I could find. $120 for a c.a.r.b. Walker but I'm considering ordering 2 just in case. But if I can eliminate that 3rd one I may be in business. I did notice the 3rd one is obdII since it has an o2 sensor hole in it but my car is obdI and doesn't need that type of cat..

Anyone else out there have 3 cats?

Thanks in advance.

trace357

OK after some research here it looks as if a previous owner replaced the mid muffler with a cat.. Weird guess they couldn't find a good replacement.

Well it has to go because I'm pretty sure it's shot and rattles something awful.

I'll do more research and see what I should put on this 150k mile ride. I just need it to pass smog. Having a 3rd cat wouldn't hurt. Anyone else done this? Or maybe found a better mini muffler that wont leave me sounding ricey. I can't take that I'd rather sound closer to a V-8. LOL

Rusty Spokes

They have a good selection of exhaust and catalytic converters, some are California legal.

https://www.fcpeuro.com/Audi-parts/

You may end up spending as much for the exhaust as you paid for the car..in the long run a great car with some work.

trace357

Thanks Rusty that's an awesome site.. Lots of goodies..

So I take it that 3rd cat on these isn't supposed to be there right?

Yeah only paid $900 for the car because this cat for mid muffler substitute is choking off the exhaust.

Pretty sure I'm going to put in a Dynomax 24215 or 24236 in place where the resonator is supposed to be and just get rid of that extra cat. The are only about $50.

Back to the exhaust shop today to see if he can fit in the 24215 (16in long) or the 24236 (24.5in long). My thinking is the longer one should give her a deeper tone right?

Somebody correct my if I'm wrong. Learning about these on the fly guys.
Thx again.

Wes

Rusty Spokes

Only two Cats..right and left..going to a middle muffler and then the muffler at the rear.

grillage

You'll want a real OEM Middle muffler. Part # is (I believe) 8A0253409R

They were on clearance for $100 or so but not so anymore.

These systems get very raspy when people use other middle resonators.

trace357

Yep cat was busted/dented. Someone ran over something and broke the insides. No rattle and she's purring along pretty nice now. Don't know if I should admit this but that resonator was still there.. Thinking I got too excited about this car and was pretty sure I saw a picture of it being closer to the front. Didn't dawn on me to look closer to the rear.. The first muffler shop kicked me out of there before I could get a real good look.

Now she's got what looks like a tad bit of steam coming out of the exhaust.. Didn't see that on test drive and it's not running hot at all. Res does drop just a little added a cup of water yesterday. I did not plan on doing heads.. Might be time for a lil Bar's Leak and finger crossing.