My engine light came on. Brought in to Meineke and it needed a new front (primary) cat converter. $1041 installed compared to stealership's $1200 plus labor. I have 190,000+ on my car.

 

My 2006 Civic Hybrid with 173,000 miles and it has been throwing the P0420 Bank 1 code for years. Decided to buy a BOSCH upstream sensor and BOSCH downstream sensor from ebay motors. Saved a ton of $$$ on them compared to the Advanced Auto and Auto Zone prices. I'm going to replace both. If the Check Engine Light comes back on I guess its time for a new primary cat converter. Magnaflow makes a reasonably priced replacement. Just have to find someone to install it.

 

Unlikely to help. P0420 is based on downstream sensor reading high and somewhat matching upstream. If upstream is bad, you get P2A00 (I think). There is a code for downstream as well.

Denso makes the OEM versions, so you're taking a bit of a risk with Bosch. Make sure the upstream has the built-in heat shield.

Good luck.

I have P0420 as well. I've read bad things about Eastern Catalytic for $250, so I'll be looking to Magnaflow as well (phone price, $350).

 

OK, Thanks. I ordered a Magnaflow from AutoZone for $200 to the door today.
http://www.autozone.com/emission-con..._943921_25137/
Maybe they messed up their price. That's why I grabbed it.
I'll try the senors first as recommended and if the engine light comes on I'll have the muffler shop install the CAT.

As for the BOSCH sensors the upstream has a heat shield.

 

Not sure the pic is a good representation, but it looks to lack a heat shield or the means to mount the stock (not sure it even comes off). Let me know if it works, and I'll order one!

 

Will do. The other Cat on Auto Zone's site is an OEM Grade and is more then double the price. It looks no different but claims to have more of the precious metals. Personally I would be a skeptic the whole time if I bought the more expensive one since I have no way of telling whats "actually" inside. They both carry the same 5 year warranty so I'm not to worried. http://www.autozone.com/emission-con..._943944_25137/

My Local muffler shop has been in business for decades. I'm hoping to use the old heat shield and we shouldn't have any trouble mounting it. I'll keep you posted.

 

Very nice. Looking forward to it. We somehow managed to get the P2A00 and P0420 code to go off long enough to get through emissions, so I'm good for a year. Will be eager to get it fixed before the next smog test.

 

I'm second guessing the lower grade Cat. I really don't want to have problems down the road. Here is what I found.

Magnaflow lists the Standard/HM Part# 50170 and OEM Grade Part#49735
OEM Grade converters are specially formulated with a heavier wash coat and loaded with twice the amount of precious metals (platinum, palladium, rhodium) to provide a much stronger coverage.

The lowest Standard Part# 50170 price I found was $192.99 on Autozone.com

The lowest OEM Part# 49735 price I found was $441.06 on Partzdealer.com

I'm thinking of ordering the OEM part from them unless I find a lower price.

 

I would lean the same way. Check the following:

http://www.hondaautomotiveparts.com/...gry5=CONVERTER

Majestic Honda wants $748 for a new one.

I would buy a new exhaust manifold gasket as well, item #2 on that diagram.

I appreciate the research you have done. In the interest of keeping the P0420 code away, I'm leaning the same way. The cheap one might work, but if it's getting replaced again in a few years, then it's probably work the extra $ to keep the code away longer.

 

I received my Magnaflow CAT Part# 49735 in the mail this morning. I also received another CAT from AutoZone last week that was supposed to be the standard model (50170) but they messed up in my favor and sent me the OEM model (49735). Now I have 2 OEM CATs and I only need the one. Both are brand new. If any one is interested in buying one please private message me. I'd be willing to take some money off and ship it to you. I paid $446.06 for it which is already $120.88 less than anywhere else I found online. I attached 2 pictures.