1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Autosaver88 Catalytic Converter Fitment

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by ejerommel, Jan 22, 2022.

  1. ejerommel

    ejerommel Junior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 25, 2009
    24
    13
    0
    Location:
    Charlottesville, Virginia
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Our 2005 Prius needs a new catalytic converter. The car shows a P0420 code, and an emissions test is required for it to pass the state inspection. Luckily, the inspection isn't due until August, so we have a little time.

    On another thread, I received some very helpful advice to purchase the Autosaver88 catalytic converter which is sold on Amazon. I saw some reviews, though, that said fitment was a problem on some Prii. For those cars, the pipe on the Autosaver88 cat didn't fit over the pipe on the car and therefore wouldn't allow the cat to be clamped on. It required welding instead.

    In our case, we won't have time to mess with anything once we remove the OEM cat. I need to get the car on the road again very quickly, so I really need the clamp-on installation to work because I don't know how to weld. I won't really have time to mess with having to wait for a shop to weld it for me.

    So for folks here, have any of you all had difficulty clamping the Autosaver88 cat to to your gen 2 Prius? If so, what year car do you drive (in the hopes that this problem can be predicted based on the model year of the car). Or is there another way to predict which cars will have difficulty with the Autosaver88 cat? For example, I had read a post here that said something about Priuses that were made in Japan having an issue with aftermarket cats (but I thought all Prii were made in Japan?)

    Thanks in advance for your help!
     
    #1 ejerommel, Jan 22, 2022
  2. alftoy

    alftoy Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 16, 2009
    1,132
    509
    0
    Location:
    Saskatchewan, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    Base
    If you noticed that Autosaver 88 Youtube video, that was a 2007 Prius which should be the same as your cat pipe size. Maybe get a caliper and measure the OD of the resonator pipe and the ID of the Amazon cat. I looked at the reviews and majority had no problem with fit. Make sure to keep your old donut gasket from the front of the old cat, seems the new cat donut is not as thick and may leak, so use your old one.

    The one size comment was actually a guy that works in a muffler shop just commenting in general about leaks and welding.

    That comment regards Prius made in Japan having an issue was an auto parts store clerk having trouble finding a part, not to be construed as fact.

     
    #2 alftoy, Jan 22, 2022
    Last edited: Jan 22, 2022
  3. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2012
    11,063
    4,504
    0
    Location:
    Pacific Northwest, USA
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    #3 PriusCamper, Jan 22, 2022
  4. Georgina Rudkus

    Georgina Rudkus Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2018
    3,154
    2,204
    0
    Location:
    Taylors, SC
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Two
    Here's another video of the Autosaver cat install.

     
    #4 Georgina Rudkus, Jan 22, 2022
    jenesuispasbavard likes this.
  5. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 29, 2020
    8,926
    1,553
    0
    Location:
    Durham NC
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    Base
    I had mine welded in place and second muffler resonator cut out too. I could not make supplied spring bolts and donut work. The cat was fine and did slip and could've been clamped . No use clamping here.
     
    #5 Tombukt2, Jan 22, 2022
  6. alftoy

    alftoy Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 16, 2009
    1,132
    509
    0
    Location:
    Saskatchewan, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    Base
    This comment was on Georgina's youtube video, the pipe was the same diameter, he just cut a slit on the cat pipe end and slipped it over the resonator pipe and used the clamp with some muffler cement.

    "I bought the $143 Amazon cat but the two exhaust pipes were the same diameter so I cut a slit in the end of the cat, spread it apart a little, pushed the cat pipe over the muffler pipe and assembled it with the clamp and muffler putty ( probably didn't need it). I used the old bolts, they overcome any alignment problems. Great vid"
     
    #6 alftoy, Jan 22, 2022
  7. ejerommel

    ejerommel Junior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 25, 2009
    24
    13
    0
    Location:
    Charlottesville, Virginia
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    OK, so I'm hearing you all that I don't need to worry about it. I'm going to order one.

    Thanks for easing my fears.
     
    #7 ejerommel, Jan 22, 2022
  8. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2012
    11,063
    4,504
    0
    Location:
    Pacific Northwest, USA
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I actually bought a cheap buzz box welder because I did a cat replacement for someone and the cat he bought didn't seal and had an exhaust leak. Haven't had to use the welder yet, but whatever it takes to spare myself the shame of not doing the job right and him going to someone else to get it finished.
     
    #8 PriusCamper, Jan 22, 2022
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)