Kooks cats fail, warranty? - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

Supercharged SS · 10-16-2010, 11:00 AM

We had the exhaust off yesterday to change out some drivetrain parts and noticed that both cats are begin to come apart, fail, I'm not sure how to describe it, but Ted mentioned that we needed to address this problem. I was just curious as to if anyone else has had this problem and what are the chances that Kooks will warranty it, not that I am expecting anything but to me its at least worth looking into to know for sure.

I've already ordered the off-road pipe from Maryland Speed so the car will be catless. Thanks guys.

omegaman · 10-16-2010, 11:42 AM

Pics?

Supercharged SS · 10-16-2010, 12:19 PM

I'll try and get some pics once they are off the car but until I get the off road pipe I need to still use the cats. They are just starting to fail and rattle around. It can't be to bad because a week ago the car ran a 10.19 and was mph'ing at 132 and it hasn't been driven since.

HRC · 07-06-2011, 02:49 AM

Mine as well as a friends Kooks cats failed as well, and one blew completely out and got wedged in the x-pipe on my car.
Can't seem to get an answer from Kooks, even being a dealer hasn't helped.. WE had no choice but to cut them out and are now running without. .629 cams with KB's makes for a pretty loud combo. I like loud cars, but I won't even drive mine home after dark. I'd rather park it at my shop and take something else.

mikeSS · 07-06-2011, 03:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HRC

Mine as well as a friends Kooks cats failed as well, and one blew completely out and got wedged in the x-pipe on my car.
Can't seem to get an answer from Kooks, even being a dealer hasn't helped.. WE had no choice but to cut them out and are now running without. .629 cams with KB's makes for a pretty loud combo. I like loud cars, but I won't even drive mine home after dark. I'd rather park it at my shop and take something else.

ever think about using a different cat back system to tone it down now that the cats are off ?

Inferno LSX · 07-06-2011, 07:23 AM

There probably isn't a cat in the world that can handle this kind of power levels from a FI car.

Black GT · 07-06-2011, 08:05 AM

KOOKS cats are also known to fail on the Mustangs also, a couple guys lost their motor because of this.

Seems more common on the FI cars.

Unobtainium · 07-06-2011, 11:50 AM

Try Mil-spec cats guys. They are having good luck with them in the F/I world.
The 3" ones flow amazing, and I haven't heard of any failures yet.

CarmelloSS · 07-06-2011, 05:23 PM

That is not good. Glad I went Catless with my Kooks.

Sour DeeZ · 07-06-2011, 07:43 PM

I am getting my full kooks system installed at Jannetty. I hope they don't split. But my car also F/I. Reading that did make me a little nervous though.

MarylandSpeed · 07-06-2011, 09:14 PM

I sell a lot of Kooks headers, and I can count on one hand how many cat warranty claims we have a year. It just does not happen a lot.

A cataytic converter does not just fail...almost always, there is a contributing factor. For a cat to function properly, the air fuel mixture has to be right, and the exhaust temperature has to stay within a certain range. So basically, your tune plays a large role in the cat surviving. This is why almost every header manufactuer puts in their warranty something along the lines of "If cause of failure is determined to be a tuning issue or impact damage the claim will be denied.". Basically, you can tell by looking at the cat if it is melted or has high carbon deposits if the car was run too lean or too rich. This is of course never a fun situation because it is always "but my tuner is the greatest thing since sliced bread, and there is no way the tune is off"...but it kind of is what it is.

Also, on another note, a supercharged car is at higher risk because for cataytic converter failure because of the increased exhaust gas temperture. I don't know of many places including cataytic converters that are designed to live for years on a 700HP motor standard with their headers. That does not mean they can't..it just means that has to be taken into consideration when calibrating the engine. Road damage is also another issue. I have seen with other brands customers try and send back cats for warranty repair that were dented and damaged. That is not really ever covered under warranty either.

Here is a good link.

http://www.car-sound.com/04basics/04failures02.asp

10-16-2010, 11:00 AM	#1
Supercharged SS Account Suspended Drives: 2010 Camaro Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Sandy Hook, CT Posts: 11,926	Kooks cats fail, warranty? We had the exhaust off yesterday to change out some drivetrain parts and noticed that both cats are begin to come apart, fail, I'm not sure how to describe it, but Ted mentioned that we needed to address this problem. I was just curious as to if anyone else has had this problem and what are the chances that Kooks will warranty it, not that I am expecting anything but to me its at least worth looking into to know for sure. I've already ordered the off-road pipe from Maryland Speed so the car will be catless. Thanks guys.

10-16-2010, 11:42 AM	#2
omegaman Drives: very poorly Join Date: May 2009 Location: Glendale, Arizona Posts: 550	Pics? __________________ 2013 Camaro ZL1, Crystal Red, Auto, Exposed Carbon Fiber, Navigation.

07-06-2011, 07:23 AM	#6
Inferno LSX Supercharged LSX Drives: 2011 2SS/RS Black/Carbon Fiber Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: City of Angels Posts: 6,741 View My Garage	There probably isn't a cat in the world that can handle this kind of power levels from a FI car. __________________

07-06-2011, 11:50 AM	#8
Unobtainium Fabricator Drives: 2011 2SS Summit White Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Langdon, AB Posts: 505	Try Mil-spec cats guys. They are having good luck with them in the F/I world. The 3" ones flow amazing, and I haven't heard of any failures yet. __________________ Roto-fab CAI Unobtainium Welding Exhaust ARH LT's 393whp L99 GPI VVT Turbo Cam-in

07-06-2011, 05:23 PM	#9
CarmelloSS Drives: 2018 ZL1 Camaro Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Forest Hill, MD Posts: 59	That is not good. Glad I went Catless with my Kooks. __________________ 2018 ZL1 Camaro Roto Fab Intake 2014 1LE Camaro CAI Intake Corsa Exhaust American Racing Headers 2010 Camaro SS LS3 M6 Flowmaster Exhaust Kooks Headers NO CATS Halltech CAI (Sold)

10-16-2010, 12:19 PM	#3
Supercharged SS Account Suspended Drives: 2010 Camaro Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Sandy Hook, CT Posts: 11,926	I'll try and get some pics once they are off the car but until I get the off road pipe I need to still use the cats. They are just starting to fail and rattle around. It can't be to bad because a week ago the car ran a 10.19 and was mph'ing at 132 and it hasn't been driven since.

07-06-2011, 02:49 AM	#4
HRC Drives: 2010 2SS Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Tiffin, Iowa Posts: 71	Mine as well as a friends Kooks cats failed as well, and one blew completely out and got wedged in the x-pipe on my car. Can't seem to get an answer from Kooks, even being a dealer hasn't helped.. WE had no choice but to cut them out and are now running without. .629 cams with KB's makes for a pretty loud combo. I like loud cars, but I won't even drive mine home after dark. I'd rather park it at my shop and take something else.

07-06-2011, 08:05 AM	#7
Black GT Banned Drives: 2006 Mustang GT Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: South Louisiana Posts: 522	KOOKS cats are also known to fail on the Mustangs also, a couple guys lost their motor because of this. Seems more common on the FI cars.

07-06-2011, 07:43 PM	#10
Sour DeeZ Drives: 2011 IOM 2SS RS M6 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: SoCal Posts: 692	I am getting my full kooks system installed at Jannetty. I hope they don't split. But my car also F/I. Reading that did make me a little nervous though.

07-06-2011, 09:14 PM	#11
MarylandSpeed Account Suspended Drives: 2012 ZL1 & 2010 2SS/RS Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Maryland Posts: 3,378	I sell a lot of Kooks headers, and I can count on one hand how many cat warranty claims we have a year. It just does not happen a lot. A cataytic converter does not just fail...almost always, there is a contributing factor. For a cat to function properly, the air fuel mixture has to be right, and the exhaust temperature has to stay within a certain range. So basically, your tune plays a large role in the cat surviving. This is why almost every header manufactuer puts in their warranty something along the lines of "If cause of failure is determined to be a tuning issue or impact damage the claim will be denied.". Basically, you can tell by looking at the cat if it is melted or has high carbon deposits if the car was run too lean or too rich. This is of course never a fun situation because it is always "but my tuner is the greatest thing since sliced bread, and there is no way the tune is off"...but it kind of is what it is. Also, on another note, a supercharged car is at higher risk because for cataytic converter failure because of the increased exhaust gas temperture. I don't know of many places including cataytic converters that are designed to live for years on a 700HP motor standard with their headers. That does not mean they can't..it just means that has to be taken into consideration when calibrating the engine. Road damage is also another issue. I have seen with other brands customers try and send back cats for warranty repair that were dented and damaged. That is not really ever covered under warranty either. Here is a good link. http://www.car-sound.com/04basics/04failures02.asp

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