joe the god

I got my car scanned a few months ago and the mechanic stated that I needed both cats replaced on my 2001 A6 2.8 Quattro. He gave me a quote of around 2,000 for OEM and like 1,400 for aftermarket.

I heard from someone that I can add an o2 spacer and it would "trick" the car that the cats are fine. Is this really something that can fix my problem? I really need to save my money since I have other things to repair on the car, I can't just throw that much into one thing.

Can someone give me some suggestions on what should I do about my cats?

4Driver4

Ask the dealer if an ECU reflash is available for your car.

bgross88

I don't want to hi-jack this thread, but I have a 2003 A6 3.0--currently getting P0421 and P0431. Should I also check on a reflash/ecu upgrade, or just install spacers and be done with it.

Car doesn't smell, doesn't lack power, etc....

I can't find much on a 3.0 reflash when I search....

If thoughts are this should be in a separate thread I will start one, but there's already a lot of O2/Cat threads I've read thru, wasn't sure if another one was needed.

Prospeeder

Yes the o2 sensor spacers work. If you have emission testing you will fail with them tho.

johnkk

I had the same problem last summer and tried the spacer with good results. 5-6kmiles with a clean VCDS scan. Wear glasses when loosening the O2 sensors and installing the spacers to keep the falling undercarriage crud out of your eyes. Also reverse twist the harness, so when you retighten the sensor, you don't leave the harness all kinked up.

4Driver4

3.0 is totally different. I'd ignore the light or install the spacers.

thall6594

What spacers are known to work? I hate having the CEL on all the time.

SloopJohnB@mac.com

Any spacer that will fit will work or not work. It's not a matter of what spacers are known to work per se.

bgross88

Thanks for the help, guys. I know a mechanic(I'm in PA, BTW) who just went to
re-certification class for emissions. They flat out told him he can pass cars with spacers on them. Which begs the question, why are they even doing emissions?? But that's another discussion.

One last question--I don't have the car available to me right now, it's my son's-or I'd check. If I'm going to use the 034 spacers, but does my model need the low profiles ones due to clearance issues? I wasn't sure from what I've read on here.

All I want is for it to pass...case closed.

joe the god

does anyone know what spacers to get? will any work for my situation?