Need help on removing Catalysts..

I live in the Philippines, so there are no emissions laws here.

anyhow, my 1992 300SL is a 'California Version Car'. so i assume the presence of emissions equipment

my Catalytic converters are DEAD and emit a BAD smell and i need advice on how to correctly remove them and if there are any sensors in the way? I plan to just replace them with a straight pipe all the way to the muffler.

also, can the air pump still work without the Cats? since my engine seems to have an air pump as it makes the buzzing sound during cold start.


please dont flame me. I wouldnt be doing it if my cats were in good condition..

hope you guys can help me..

[LeaUK]

Sleeper

Mine is also a '92 car - euro 119.972 - and has no cats. I can't foresee any detrimental affect as long as you keep the O2 sensors sensing the exhaust, but I'm no mechanic so best wait for someone like Gilly to answer.

Mine also has no O2 sensors (very strange) even though diagnostic equipment reports the varying sensor output - but I'm told that this value is 'mapped' into the LH control unit - seems to make sense from a software programmer's point of view!

[SLZ]

If emission is no problem, you can gut or replace the cat with a straight pipe. It will be noisier, but with a rumbling deep tone V8 sound. Music to the ears for some. I've seen it done.

it wont affect any sensors or the function of the Air pump ? I just want to be sure before i start

[LeaUK]

I can't see how it affects the sensors as the O2 sensors are placed before the actual cat. But you must leave them in the exhast line. These detect the O2 level before the gasses hit the cat (or no cat as the case maybe) and the Engine management system can regulate the fuel mixture precisely. However the only thing I have been told is that by removing the cat you will change the back pressure. This normally effects cars with turbos as this pressure is used to maintain oil seals, however of course the SL has no turbo so this point is rather moot.

Personally I would make a post in the Tech Help forum first AND talk with someone in the trade for their advice before attempting such a mod. These are expensive cars (to the most of us) and you really don't want to do something that could cause you $$$ in the future eh?

Just my 2pc.

Lea