Please HELP! 2003 Honda Accord EX Coupe
 

Hello,

I have a 2003 Honda Accord EX Coupe V6 Vtech. I went to get a smog today and they told me that my car is missing a catalytic converter. Apparently this car has 3 and I only have 2. I looked everywhere and it doesn't state that my car has 3 converters? Does anyone have any information on this? I am in California which complicates everything with emissions laws! In case in make a difference.

Thanks!:confused:

Your car does have 3 converters. 2 primary converters on the exhaust manifold (Front bank and rear bank) and 1 on the exhaust pipe. Did they say which one was missing?

Accord
 

They told me it was the middle one. It was right underneath the car. Centered almost directly under the center console. Which one would that be?

Thanks!

That would be the one on the exhaust pipe. The Honda part number looks to be 18160-RCA-A00. Honda list price is $340.25, online Honda dealer discounted price is approximately $250 plus shipping.

Local Honda dealers many times will mark-up over list price.

Some reputable online Honda dealers are Bernardi Honda Parts, Majestic Honda, etc. I personally used Bernardi Honda several times; but, they are located on the east coast. I also live in California.

Enter your car info. in one of the online Honda sites to confirm part number. Your car will be KL for California emission.

So far, I haven't found a direct fit legal aftermarket converter, which would be CARB (California Air Resource Board) approved for your car, for example Magnaflow. I'll still look. But, some muffler shops can weld on a universal fit converter. Be aware, some aftermarket converters don't last that long.

It sounds like it's the converter on the exhaust pipe if it is centered almost directly under the center console (near the seats).

The term "middle one" bothers me a little. The two primary converters (front and rear) are in proximity of the engine. Someone could refer to a "middle one" as the rear primary near the firewall, since it is between the front primary and the converter on the exhaust pipe. Maybe, I'm over analyzing this. But, sounds more like the one on the exhaust pipe though.

You are a life saver!!

Thanks for all the info Redbull.

He showed me were the it was suppose to go that how I know it was near the seats. I think it is the one you indicated.

Just a word of caution before you go and order a converter from Honda. If someone has removed the converter, did they just weld a piece of pipe in between or did they bolt on a pipe which is held in with bolts and nuts? If they welded on a piece of pipe, then you cannot just directly replace a converter from Honda by just bolting it in, there would need to some modification, such as welding. If they previously welded in a piece of pipe, you may be better off going to a muffler shop and having them weld in a universal converter.

If you can take a picture underneath the car, we should be able to tell what the previous owner did.