Catalytic Converter for '03

[BillNyeIsHigh]

As title states, I need new cats for my '03. Looking around, I find for the 03 just the 2 precats with a flange prior to the third cat. Looking at my exhaust, there is no flange ahead of the third cat. Therefore I would need to purchase the third cat seperately? I cannot find a reasonably priced product with all 3 cats for the 03.

03 example:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01G3A3O8K/?tag=wranglerorg-20


That said, the 05-06 cats are found cheaply with all 3 included. Is there a huge difference between the two iterations?

05 example:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0031G6YT6/?tag=wranglerorg-20

Any help is appreciated.

 

[Chris]

As title states, I need new cats for my '03. Looking around, I find for the 03 just the 2 precats with a flange prior to the third cat. Looking at my exhaust, there is no flange ahead of the third cat. Therefore I would need to purchase the third cat seperately? I cannot find a reasonably priced product with all 3 cats for the 03.

03 example:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01G3A3O8K/?tag=wranglerorg-20


That said, the 05-06 cats are found cheaply with all 3 included. Is there a huge difference between the two iterations?

05 example:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0031G6YT6/?tag=wranglerorg-20

Any help is appreciated.

The 05-06 shouldn't be any different at all. They were the same from 01 and onward.

For what it's worth though, the third cat has nothing at all to do with how the engine runs, it's just for emissions. You could replace it with any cat and it would be just fine.

 

[BillNyeIsHigh]

The 05-06 shouldn't be any different at all. They were the same from 01 and onward.

Why is there a different designation then? Even rockauto shows the options with only the minicats.

For what it's worth though, the third cat has nothing at all to do with how the engine runs, it's just for emissions. You could replace it with any cat and it would be just fine.

I really don't wont to replace it unless it comes with the precats. I wouldn't mind knocking out the media or having a straight pipe welded in. Everything I find is flanged though.

 

[Chris]

Why is there a different designation then? Even rockauto shows the options with only the minicats.

Not entirely sure. The exhaust manifold is the same on those years, so it shouldn't have anything to do with fitment.

If you want to play it safe, you can buy the right one for your year.

I just bought the right pre-cats for my 05, took it to the exhaust shop, had them install it and put a new third cat downstream as well. It was simple, and they just used any off-the-shelf cat for the third cat. Works just fine without issue.

 

[BillNyeIsHigh]

Not entirely sure. The exhaust manifold is the same on those years, so it shouldn't have anything to do with fitment.

If you want to play it safe, you can buy the right one for your year.

I just bought the right pre-cats for my 05, took it to the exhaust shop, had them install it and put a new third cat downstream as well. It was simple, and they just used any off-the-shelf cat for the third cat. Works just fine without issue.

Hm okay thanks.

Anyone else have experience? Just crowd sourcing experience.

 

[BillNyeIsHigh]

For anyone who finds this, I ordered the 04-06 cats (Evan fischer) and they went in just fine. I did bend the cat hanger just a little prior to installation. I was able to talk to Blaine and he couldn’t think of any reason they wouldn’t fit. I did find a single post that mentioned the cat hanger had been changed around 03-04. Either way it worked and the Jeep feels a lot better.

 

[BoldlyGoing]

Just did this job last weekend.

Everything went great, but now the heat shield on the main cat is rattling against a transmission bracket.

Sounds like marbles in a tin can.

Of course with the wife’s family in town, I can’t get time to go strip the belly pan to trim it.

 

[Chris]

That sucks!

 

[KCsTJ]

For anyone who finds this, I ordered the 04-06 cats (Evan fischer) and they went in just fine. I did bend the cat hanger just a little prior to installation. I was able to talk to Blaine and he couldn’t think of any reason they wouldn’t fit. I did find a single post that mentioned the cat hanger had been changed around 03-04. Either way it worked and the Jeep feels a lot better.

Were you getting 02 codes?
I recently installed the Evan Fischer cats on my 104k Sport. Bolted right up but i chose to use 4 new shoulder bolts at the 2 engine flanges just for better holding power.
Codes all gone and runs like new.

 

[What size lift n tire]

For anyone who finds this, I ordered the 04-06 cats (Evan fischer) and they went in just fine. I did bend the cat hanger just a little prior to installation. I was able to talk to Blaine and he couldn’t think of any reason they wouldn’t fit. I did find a single post that mentioned the cat hanger had been changed around 03-04. Either way it worked and the Jeep feels a lot better.

Bill - I have an 03 wrangler and I had the same issue finding all cat converters at a decent price (afe and magnaflow were 500-1000$).

Again, all the decent prices systems were for 04-06. But what I'm reading from this, is that catalytic converters from 04 to 06 wranglers work the same as 03's and should still clear my codes correct?

 

[PXM]

Not entirely sure. The exhaust manifold is the same on those years, so it shouldn't have anything to do with fitment.

If you want to play it safe, you can buy the right one for your year.

I just bought the right pre-cats for my 05, took it to the exhaust shop, had them install it and put a new third cat downstream as well. It was simple, and they just used any off-the-shelf cat for the third cat. Works just fine without issue.

Chris, so you just had the old pre-cats cut out & new ones welded in? Which ones did you use and how are they holding up?

 

[Chris]

Chris, so you just had the old pre-cats cut out & new ones welded in? Which ones did you use and how are they holding up?

I bought the walkers but this was a long time ago and I have since sold that TJ. Never had issues while I had it.