Wassup guys? To those who either have a punched cat or no cat at all on thier DMS's, if you got a CEL and you diagnosed it what error code did you get? Thanks.

NeoVB
1997 Eclipse GS

I have no cat and I havent got a error code.

Damn... I never got one either. I usually got the "slight change in fuel pressure in gas tank" error code (gas tank attendent didnt screw the cap all the way). But this code is a weird one ill get it next time I get into the car, but I think it says something like exhaust recirculation not functioning or something like that.

NeoVB
1997 Eclipse GS

I never got a CEL when I gutted my cat, and thats been quite some time. The only CEL I have is from my blocked off EGR valve, and even that goes away and comes back periodically.

if it's talking about exhaust gas recirculation.. it's probably somethign wrong with your EGR system.. since that's what it does.

if you did get the cel for the cat, it would display "71"

Ok well the code is P0401 - Exhaust Gas Recirculation Flow Insufficient. Anyone know whats that means?

NeoVB
1997 Eclipse GS

It means that your EGR is either blocked, or clogged.

Which means what? :) (I have absolutely no knowledge of anything technical :()

NeoVB
1997 Eclipse GS

i recently got a CEL, and i think it's because i unbolted my exhaust about a week ago, any thoughts? how are people getting the codes out, do you have a obd2 connector and dataloger or are there other ways of doing it?

you can do the key dance if you have a 97(i think) and lower year cars. Just stick the key in, turn it to the on position then to the off position 3 times, then the 4th time, leave it on. on-off-on-off-on-off-on. then your cel light will start flashing. it will flash once, "1" then it will pause, then it will flash twice "2" this is the code "12". It will do this for all of the stored codes that you have then it will flash a 55. hope this helps.

damn, just noticed you have a 98. dont know if itll work for you, doenst hurt to try.

I have a 97, and I will tell you now that the key dance thing does not work on my car. I must have tried it about a million times, but nothing flashes. I use a pocketlogger, which is an obd-2 tool that hooks up to your palm pilot. Its really an amazing toy.

NeoVB
1997 Eclipse GS

key dance does work I have a 97 also.

but as for your code, the EGR is the little "tumor" growing out of the drivers side of your engine block.
what it does is re-circulate the exhaust gas through your intake to use up any unsed O2 (for emissions). your error code probably means that one of the vacuum lines is blocked or maybe that your EGR is busted.
no biggie, I just took mine off and deal with the little check engine light.
Hope that helped.

Late

Thanks bro, thats all I wanted to know. I cleared the code with the pocketlogger and it hasnt come back since.

NeoVB
1997 Eclipse GS