could i actually drive around a bit without an airpump and without connecting that little pipe on the cat to anything?

cuz i mean for md inspection i gotta have a cat on my car... but having an airpump would require me to take out my pulleys!!! and thats a LOT of crap to do!

 

your cat would clog

 

after how long though. i mean i'll probably drive it half an hour to the mechanic for inspection and then drive it half an hour back to Dee to take it off again...

 

There really is no signifigant proof of the cat clogging any quicker without the airpump. As long as you only have a visual inspection (verifying a cat is in place on the car), it shouldn't be a problem.

 

You will not pass emissions testing without the airpump.

 

If he only has a visual inspection (like we do here in Kansas City) he will pass. Not all states/cities test emissions.

 

Yes, it will not pass a test if they do it. A new solution is available now. The RX-8 has an electric air pump. Just install a relay operated by the current airpump clutch cable (the only cable going to the current airpump) to power it from the battery and you will have an airpump you can place anywhere. Only drawback, it's a Mazda part so you have to be a Millionare to buy it.

 

Yeah, lucky you...

I should have used Cali terminology -- You can't pass the "sniffer" test without the airpump connected to the cat. Better?

 

well i mean im either going get a hook up or i've heard that if your car is too low then some places will just pass you for emissions...

so really i only need to do the maryland inspection and they just want to see a cat but since the airpump is a huge mess i just want to be sure that i wont blow up my car with a cat but without hte airpump...

thanks everyone though

 

md does an idle test, you have to be under 220 ppm, the guy walked around my car with the mirror... but he was just doing that for his boss i think. I dont think he looked down at the mirror even once

 

I don't know how strict MD is, but every time I get inspected (which is every year) they always spend at least 10 minutes with my car. I've usually got three or four guys pointing and peaking and shining their flashlights in my engine bay. I know on our inspection sheet there is a box for "O2 injection system," so I assume that's what they're looking for. My point is that if you don't get a hook up, you may still fail the visual if they know to look for the airpump.

But like rynberg said, without a functioning air pump and at least a high-flow cat, you won't pass the sniffer. To answer your original question, you won't hurt the cat by driving around for a short time.

 

Right now my airpump is bad, I got the greddy pulley kit in my room, cable from air pump disconnected, and a buttload of questions. So after reading about the rx-8s airpump being electric and all can I just put the greddy pulley kit on and the rx8's pump? Since the belt will no longer go to the airpump...

 

without an airpump, your cat WILL burn up. Tried this already. Just for safety sake, CARRY A SMALL FIRE EXTINGUISHER WITH YOU!! If you have one, you will never need it!

 

What about the guys with the Hi Flow Cats and no airpumps? theres alot of those and I dont hear alot about them melting those HFCs.
I have a Resonated MP and thinking of going stock cat until temps warm up again. But the fire extinguisher thing mentioned in the last post is scaring me.

 

You will not pass the idle test with no air pump I guarantee. However, you will not burn up or clog your cat either. I dont know where that myth got started but nobody has ever been able to provide proof that no airpump caused the cat to prematurely clog.

 

If you need an electric air pump the GM pumps are easy to find . My mechanic was given one and he pulled the electric valve out of it and wired it up . HE has to pass a sniffer test .

 

duboisr, u saying that the gm pump fits in there perfectly? Also all I need to do is plug it up to the old electric plug that the peace of crap on an airpump I have has to the electric one? where can i get one of those pumps?

 

Where can I find?

 

I remember Garfinkle did this mod.. electrical airpump.. But he ended up passing emission without it..

 

wow, that's an old thread

 

Airpump Is off after 2750 Rpm anyhow, so just keep it above that for most of the time, and you should have no problem, as to how to pass... that's a whole nother thread...