jessenyc

If you have APR / B&B high flow cats and are getting misfires as well as a major power loss your cats may be broken!

Since May 6 I have been trying to find out what was wrong with my car. Yesterday a technician finally figured out one cat was blown. By blown I mean the wrapped mass was completely moved from its proper location and was pushed back into the "H" pipe where it stopped and backed up the right side of the exhaust.

Seems like that should be pretty easy to figure out? Nope. Went to the dealer where I purchased the car the 3 different times (Oneonta Audi). They could not figure it out (they also originally installed it $600).

Went to Speedtechnik. They tried but could not figure it out ($135). NOTE: I do give Speedtechnik credit because they did send me to the place that figured it out (Audi of Fairfield). Speedtechnik was also very helpful in getting me into the dealer ASAP (my car was in the air within 5 minutes).

Got to Audi of Fairfield. I'm not sure about the whole staff but Cesar (the "red team" service manager) and Chris (the "red team" head technician) are excellent. Good guys. Chris went through the car. He used a laser pointer type thermometer and found one cat was 150 degrees hotter than the other! Chris suggested I put the stock system back on. I agreed ($450).

$1,185 in labor and the cost of the complete system $2,199 & $200 shipping I've paid $3,584. APR will refund the $2,199.

It cost me $1,385 to learn "leave it stock". When I want the car to go faster I'll buy a faster car.

Also: Be very careful about who does your installation. If I installed this system myself, even if I had a lift and all the diagnostic tools etc, I have no doubt that I would NOT have gotten any $ back!

©odeWhore

At least you got the money back from APR...

You never know it with aftermarket cats. I had similar experience with Random Tech hi-flow cat on my 240SX. A week after installation the welded-on heat shield fell off from it, and after about 2K miles, it started rattling. Random replaced it under the warranty ($65 labor to me), and the new one is fine so far (over 45K miles).

I'm going with just catback for my S4 - at least while it's still under the warranty.

Fluffhead

I know you wrote you were getting misfires as well as a major power loss, but can you please explain it with little bit more detail.

Was this all the time or during certain driving conditions? I remember someone telling me at the S4 meet in CT that your exhaust sounded much louder then mine and I just thought maybe it was b/c yours was an APR and mine was a B&B or b/c yours is an Avant and mine is a Sedan? Maybe it was b/c of this issue?

TIA

jessenyc

I'm in New Berlin. Take 8 > 206 > 17 > NYS throughway > 17 >4 (i think) > GWB > Henry Hudson.

where / how do you go?

jessenyc

I don't think there were any problems with the cat back part. My problems were caused by the high flow cat a.k.a. down pipes. When the CEL stayed on and the dealer told me the car was making 300nm vs 360nm (stock) I / They knew there were problems.

Fluffhead

Thanks, I guess I won't worry unless my check engine light goes on.

NJRickD

sorry to hear about your trouble. Just when I was starting to miss modding, I read this.