2014 Ford Focus P0420 Catalytic Converter Tips To Removal

This isnt a step by step video on changing the caratlytic converter but rather a quick tip video.

[@eloyj2000]

I replaced mine over the weekend. Its easier to remove the muffler first then slide the manifold/cat out through the bottom. You will have to spin the manifold when it reaches the opening for it to come out. And you have to jack up the car front end around 2 feet for it to have enough room to slide out the bottom.

[@MrFordguy73]

Do you think putting it on ramps would be high enough to get it out the bottom that way?

[@rholdcroft99]

Mechanic for 28 yrs, I saw the procedure and then looked at the car and was like I can take this out the top. Just for shits and grins I checked youtube, and low a behold I was right.

[@HooptiesGarage]

Yeah I have no idea why they want us to drop the frame.

[@dbsimms63]

@@HooptiesGarage they want the dealerships to do that so they can charge more labor hours and make more money for the service departments

[@davidfriedman6018]

Thanks for the info. Its videos like this that make the job easy.

[@drifter233]

Huge help man, I appreciate it. This is why I bought a 'youtube certified' sticker for my box at work 😂😂

[@brianpulley8652]

I learned years ago there's really on two ways a converter is technically bad...one it breaks up or comes apart inside and restricts air flow or it's gets so hot it causes it to melt together other than that if you're actually able to submerge it in soapy water for 24 hours to clean the carbon build up off usually fixes it or just screw your O2 sensors in some sparkplug defilers 🤣🤣.

[@matthewhudson78]

I have A question I looked at the Cadillac converter that you were talking about lines up better. That you didn't like the other one. What's the difference I can see the price difference, but I'm doing this for my mother's car. I do all my work on all my cars.Whether it's pulling a transmission doesn't matter.I can't afford a mechanic So I do all the work.I don't want to take it off and it Not lineup properly.I'm gonna email you as well The only thing. I'm afraid of now. Is it not being without a car for a few days until we get another part in? When I put gas in the car, it sputters and pretty sure. It's not gonna be a vacuum leak around the throttle, buddy. But either way, I have to replace her Cadillac converter. So that was gonna be my first option. Because that code has been blowing for a very long time and we knew it was going. I just want to make sure it will line back up.I don't want to have no issues.Your videos are absolutely helpful

[@rapinncapin123]

Thank you sir You're great

[@cathyrichardson9531]

i have a 2016 and the flexible cowling is sealed under the front edge of the wind shield. also i could not free the rear clip on the coolant reservoir. but i only see two bolts on the engine mount.

[@freddyrodriguez6506]

Thank you huge help. Saved me a lot of time

[@stephencooper3067]

Got this job coming up on a facelift Mk2. Looks extremly similar so someuseful info i should be able to use on mine thanks.

[@3dudesapodcast493]

Hey when you put the motor mount back on did you have to torque them to a certain spec?

[@perjian1697]

everything has a specified torque. Wether or not you abide by those recommendations is up to you. LoL

[@fredflintstone5860]

Thanks for the tips very helpful. I bought a magna flow Cat and do not recommend it. It does not have the brackets for the heat shield and the bracket that mounts to the block did not have blind nuts welded in place.

[@21bortters]

Hi, how would compare the magnaflow to the oem? And did your check engine light stay off

[@fredflintstone5860]

@@21bortters My problem really wasn't with the converter not working. It was the sensor went bad and I stripped out the threads and I could not get the helicoil to work. I ended up just replacing the cat and the sensor. The light went off after replacing. As he mentions in the video he uses the Doorman and if I had to do it again I would use the Doorman to.

[@21bortters]

@@fredflintstone5860 thank you. One last thing. Did you regain horsepower and acceleration? I’m dealing with high rpms at low speeds

[@fredflintstone5860]

@@21bortters It was never really an issue. My car always ran pretty well and the get up and go was always good. I don't know if the magna flow is a performance part or not but it seems a little throatier.

[@21bortters]

@@fredflintstone5860 thank you for your time

[@dbsimms63]

So after doing the install the Doorman and Walker both didn't line up well? So what do you recommend now?

[@michaelcrinigan3998]

Perfect. Thanks

[@captinben11]

Huge help man, really appreciate the video.. One question though, I’m in the middle of doing this. The two bolts that fasten the new cat to the existing exhaust pipe are stuck in the flange that is on the muffler side. I got the old one out but I can’t drill or hammer or grind out these stubborn bolts. How did you get them out?

[@Spudlol]

I am currently having the same issue. I know it's been a while but any fix?

[@Big_Dima]

Hi. How much time or miles past after replacing the CAT? Is everesing still running good? I have read a lot of comments at the other channels that new AM parts don't last long after replacing OEM and the check engine light come back soon. If possible write the Part Number of the new CAT. Thank's.

[@HooptiesGarage]

It's still working fine it's been about a year or so. I don't know the part number I believe this one was a dorman converter

[@reecejones1248]

I went to remove the lower exhaust bracket bolts, AND OF COURSE the one that is in the tightest point possible fucking stripped on me and now I can’t do anything about it

[@HooptiesGarage]

Look into rocket sockets or something similar I actually had really good luck with those.

[@garrettsmith8399]

Thank you for the help sir

[@KansasSean]

How do you support the engine after engine mount was removed and still able to move it

[@mattquantrill101]

Jack underneath the sump 👍

[@jonathanbrown4742]

Just curious did you end up having to replace your muffler too? People suggesting I replace both at the same time. Do you have any problems with your doorman? After install? Looking for best oe product

[@HooptiesGarage]

I did not replace muffler I installed this a few months ago I just talked to her a few days ago and everything is all good. The doorman is OK but did not line up right with lower engine mount I had to do a lot of cutting and bending on lower engine bracket prob be the last time I used dorman on a focus

[@jonathanbrown4742]

Thank you for the reply. Is there any other tips or tricks you might have left out in the vid? This is my daily and can’t be down for too long. Again thank you for the info

[@HooptiesGarage]

No it's pretty much covered in video biggest thing is getting that cowl area out of the way otherwise pretty straightforward

[@brandontyler9952]

Do by chance remember what size nuts were on the exhaust flange just past the flex pipe?

[@es-qf2gw]

@@brandontyler9952 15mm and right now, there is National back order for the whole exhaust system cat backwards, I really need the fwd exhaust pipe for My 13 Focus Hatchback. I won't see a replacement part until Jan 2023. But there is still stock of walker 21764 off a fusion that mates up to the cat, if anybody is stuck.

[@ExCordeEnt]

Did removing just the upper motor mount give the engine enough give to pull out the old unit? That would be great because I've heard of others removing the rear motor mount too and then having to support the motor with a jack to move it. I really am not interested in having to do that. Great video! This is really helpful!

[@HooptiesGarage]

Just the top mount it's a tight fit but it will come out .

[@trevorbunch414]

Some of them are different ive done 2 and on one I had to take the studs out of the head to get it out

[@kijun3227]

Thank you for good info, Can I ask what the bolt socket size for cat both fornt and rear?

[@jamesallenmainieri]

15mm header nuts, 17mm tailpipe bolt and nuts.

[@eury360]

How many Miles do you drive for the Break-in process?

[@HooptiesGarage]

There's really no break in for a cat just make sure you don't have any other issues that might have caused old one to go out. Some cat manufacturers recommend idling the car for a certain amount of time and then raising the rpm for a certain amount of time, just follow instructions on the cat if it comes with them.

[@eury360]

@@HooptiesGarage My check engine light hasn't come on since I replaced it, but I failed the Smog test again. I'm not sure why. I did work with a regular mechanic. I didn't go to a Certified Emission place ....

[@eury360]

@@HooptiesGarage My engine can’t Rev past 3,000 rpm on idle after replacing the Catalytic converter. Is that normal?

[@HooptiesGarage]

No you got something else going on with it

[@eury360]

@@HooptiesGarage Could it be the muffler? Or is the downpipe clogged?

[@ericcarner1307]

Bro just fix my shit for me 😂😭 bread ready you know the size of every bolt 😂😂😭

[@evildax6815]

Can i replace it with a straight pipe?

[@HooptiesGarage]

In the USA that would not be legal.

[@evildax6815]

@@HooptiesGarage we dont have smog check here in Hawaii and their is no way to physically prove that i have a straight pipe without looking under the car. They would have to pull me over because of suspicion that I have a straight pipe but thats not even a reasonable cause unless I was breaking traffic laws. You think ill be safe ?

[@jajupa78]

@@evildax6815 if you look at how it's designed a straight pipe is not an option. Maybe someone out there makes a header and downpipe but you will end up with a permanent check engine light. Also on obd2 vehicles when the check engine light is on the computer is in safe mode. That means it retards the ignition timing by about 20% and increases the fuel to maximum, so not only will it be sluggish but you will use 20-30% more fuel per mile...

[@evildax6815]

@@jajupa78 Thats not true i have a 2010 ford focus. The engine light is not on but i removed one catalytic converter from the bottom. I know it is the right one because it has the honey comb. Their is stil the main catalytic converter next to the firewall but that hasn't been removed

[@MrCameronIsAG]

How many miles did this car have?

[@HooptiesGarage]

About 80k

[@tarasanfilippo8192]

Hey do you know why I got a new transmission and my car sometimes skips?

[@tarasanfilippo8192]

@@HooptiesGarage can I call you ? lol idk you just have questions

[@HooptiesGarage]

@@tarasanfilippo8192 sounds like maybe a seperate issue possiby a misfire? is the check engine light on?

[@MrCameronIsAG]

@@tarasanfilippo8192 I had to replace my clutch it was $2000 at Ford they warranty it for 2 years unlimited miles. The transmission is stupid and has a dual clutch system so basically is like having a stick shift controlled by a computer. It's a known problem and they have a recall under a certain mileage

[@lehoanghiep9936]

How much cost to replace ?

[@HooptiesGarage]

Depends on labor rate in your area and which converter you go with ballpark prob around $600-800

[@NG-tz8wo]

1800 from my local dealer last week. Going to replace myself

[@jose2226]

​@@NG-tz8wowhat brand you go for?

[@NG-tz8wo]

@@jose2226 I got magnaflow from advance. The one with the headers attached.

[@never2be07]

Labor cost?

[@HooptiesGarage]

Just depends on what the labor rate is in your area and the shop.

[@oritheo]

Thanks

[@mommus9838]

I have to do this to my car soon but I don’t wanna put a lot of money in it. What a stupid car… Tcm/Pcm is trash, dry clutch is wack… put a wet clutch in ford. Sunroof rattles, speaker rattles, no power. Damn it has Sony speakers tho right?😂

[@HooptiesGarage]

Yeah my son was a ford tech, I'll just say it's not good what's going on there the last 5 years or so

[@jose2226]

​@HooptiesGarage why nott?

[@nikeplayer90game]

Yep sounds like Ford. I’ve always had bad experiences with Ford. Maybe 8/10 times it’s been hell with them

[@sarahobrien3379]

Thanks a lot

[@bryanwade9834]

Crack I love crack