Cat Grenade!

Nitex · 07-02-2011, 08:12 AM

After less than 10k miles my Berk HFC went boom boom pow

According to my local Nissan dealer my Y pipe is litterally pluged with debris and when asked to gut the cats and clear the exhaust they said good luck, better off buying a new exhaust. Now.. Im not perfectly happy with my stillen setup so.. im using this as an excuse for a new system.

Berk told me im out of my 1 year warranty, but would offer me a 35% discount on a new set of HFC/TP. Seriously though, no thanks on the HFC! I wont chance it again.

Thing is.. i planned on placing my GTM stage 1 TT order on next thursday, prior to this happening. So i may as well bump it up to 3inch.. I have yet to do my research on any of the 3 inch setups.. But i have the feeling there is not a ton out there.

Also... weird thing is i never got a CEL/SES light from all of this. I only put on 20 miles or so to and from work one day. But i got on it before i was sure what was wrong.. im hoping everything is ok, that pressure had to go somewhere!

Anyways ill keep the board posted when i finally make a decision

cdoxp800 · 07-02-2011, 09:11 AM

On my 0ld 06 350z I went through 4 set of Berk HFC's. Between the cracking of the CAT and it breaking loose inside. I will never do HFC's again.
Don't take this the wrong way. Berk was more the excellent on the warranty as well as cutting me a deal two times for replacements.

Mandingo · 07-02-2011, 09:24 AM

I didn't think about hfc failure ruining the exhaust.
It makes sense though because it'd be near impossible to get the debris out of there.

Im a lil concerned now

NewlyIMPORTed · 07-02-2011, 09:50 AM

weird.... thank god that never happened to me. what was it like when it went out??

Nitex · 07-02-2011, 10:11 AM

I didnt notice it other than a change in sound, seemed to not be as loud. And it was down on power..

Also i could hear the debris in the exhaust rattling around at some point.

Glokwork · 07-02-2011, 10:14 AM

Sorry to hear that man I hope thats the extent of the damage. I never really thought about the HFCs blowing out. I've had my erz HFCs on just over a week, getting an annoying CEL every 10 mi but other than that all good.

christian370z · 07-02-2011, 11:40 AM

Wow, that is pretty awful. I haven't seen any other threads or comments yet about anyone else having these problems but sometimes higher EGTs can really take a toll on HFCs, especially those with ceramic cores.

SPOHN · 07-02-2011, 12:07 PM

Had the same thing happen on my Camero but it caught my car on fire from the exhaust being clogged. But that car was old at the time. They were not Berk though. I should post those pics later. But never heard of anything like this happening with what I'd call low miles. Test pipes for me.

For them to offer you a discount makes me question there product. it almost admits fault.

Nitex · 07-02-2011, 12:52 PM

To clarify, my car has 15,000 miles. The Berk HFC's were installed at 5,000 miles.

Glokwork · 07-02-2011, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nitex

To clarify, my car has 15,000 miles. The Berk HFC's were installed at 5,000 miles.

I hope the life of these things is greater than 10k mi. I'd like to hear from other users with HFCs that have as many or more miles on them.

Nikon FM · 07-02-2011, 02:33 PM

I've been running/tracking FI resonated test pipes and CBE for about 28k miles and things seem to be fine…….

Nitex · 07-02-2011, 11:24 PM

Update*

I decided on the invidia gemini exhaust along with motordyne ART pipes. Price and performance for the setup seems good.

Also finally ordered my Quaife dif and UPREV tuner software

Nitex · 07-11-2011, 12:47 PM

After ordering the Invidia system over the 4th of July weekend. I called THmotorsports to ask them the status of my order. Now i had not done the research i should have, and trusted their website that claimed the exhaust was in stock.

Of course it was not and they claimed 3-5 week lead time, and just my luck the available system is the $2,000 HKS Hi power exhaust. I figured... ahh hell make me a deal and ill toss some JDM goodness on my Z. Also i switched up to Z1 test pipes, at $250 the price is right. I have to admit the HKS system has way to much hiss, but after finally deciding on GTM SC as a go forward solution im thinking the hiss will go away anyways.

Shipment is out for delivery in my area, ill post up install pics when i get everything in. I think the test pipes will not be here till tomorrow, so install may have to wait 1 more day!

azn370z · 07-11-2011, 01:07 PM

I've read stories about 350z Hfc falling apart and clogging the exhaust but you're the first 370z I've heard of having the problem. I think this has made my Hfc decision much easier.

SPOHN · 07-11-2011, 01:11 PM

TH is a good place to deal with. TP's FTW.

07-02-2011, 08:12 AM	#1 (permalink)
Nitex Track Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Seattle Posts: 848 Drives: '13 GTI Stage 2 UNI Rep Power: 16	Cat Grenade! After less than 10k miles my Berk HFC went boom boom pow According to my local Nissan dealer my Y pipe is litterally pluged with debris and when asked to gut the cats and clear the exhaust they said good luck, better off buying a new exhaust. Now.. Im not perfectly happy with my stillen setup so.. im using this as an excuse for a new system. Berk told me im out of my 1 year warranty, but would offer me a 35% discount on a new set of HFC/TP. Seriously though, no thanks on the HFC! I wont chance it again. Thing is.. i planned on placing my GTM stage 1 TT order on next thursday, prior to this happening. So i may as well bump it up to 3inch.. I have yet to do my research on any of the 3 inch setups.. But i have the feeling there is not a ton out there. Also... weird thing is i never got a CEL/SES light from all of this. I only put on 20 miles or so to and from work one day. But i got on it before i was sure what was wrong.. im hoping everything is ok, that pressure had to go somewhere! Anyways ill keep the board posted when i finally make a decision __________________ 2013 Drivers ED GTI \| Stage 2 Unitronic

07-02-2011, 09:11 AM	#2 (permalink)
cdoxp800 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2009 Location: FL Posts: 1,337 Drives: 2011 Nismo Rep Power: 19	On my 0ld 06 350z I went through 4 set of Berk HFC's. Between the cracking of the CAT and it breaking loose inside. I will never do HFC's again. Don't take this the wrong way. Berk was more the excellent on the warranty as well as cutting me a deal two times for replacements. __________________ 2011 Brilliant Silver NISMO 370z. #: 0046. PPE LTH \| MillSpec Cats \| F.I Exhaust \| Akuma Intakes \| Rotora 6/4 Brakes

07-02-2011, 09:24 AM	#3 (permalink)
Mandingo Track Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Dallas Posts: 625 Drives: '10 370z 6spd Rep Power: 3370	I didn't think about hfc failure ruining the exhaust. It makes sense though because it'd be near impossible to get the debris out of there. Im a lil concerned now __________________ some mods

07-02-2011, 09:50 AM	#4 (permalink)
NewlyIMPORTed A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2009 Location: Kennesaw, GA Posts: 1,109 Drives: 11 STI Sedan Rep Power: 17	weird.... thank god that never happened to me. what was it like when it went out?? __________________ 2011 WRX STICobb Accessport, Nameless Performance exhaust, COBB SF Intake, COBB downpipe, 20% tint, Work Emotion XD9's

07-02-2011, 10:11 AM	#5 (permalink)
Nitex Track Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Seattle Posts: 848 Drives: '13 GTI Stage 2 UNI Rep Power: 16	I didnt notice it other than a change in sound, seemed to not be as loud. And it was down on power.. Also i could hear the debris in the exhaust rattling around at some point. __________________ 2013 Drivers ED GTI \| Stage 2 Unitronic

07-02-2011, 10:14 AM	#6 (permalink)
Glokwork A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Roanoke, VA Posts: 2,657 Drives: 11 370Z MB 6MT Rep Power: 21	Sorry to hear that man I hope thats the extent of the damage. I never really thought about the HFCs blowing out. I've had my erz HFCs on just over a week, getting an annoying CEL every 10 mi but other than that all good.

07-02-2011, 11:40 AM	#7 (permalink)
christian370z A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Newport Beach Posts: 3,900 Drives: 2010 370Z/Saab 900se Rep Power: 431	Wow, that is pretty awful. I haven't seen any other threads or comments yet about anyone else having these problems but sometimes higher EGTs can really take a toll on HFCs, especially those with ceramic cores. __________________ -320whp / 259wftlbs- SP Rays -- RE-11s -- SpecialtyZ Tune -- Swift Springs -- Stillen 25R Oil Cooler -- Stillen G3 Intakes -- Berk HFCs -- F.I. 12" CBE -- Stillen Sway Bars -- Es14 Spring -- INGS+1 lip -- CF Spoiler -- GTR Start Button -- VLED Parking Lights -- PWJDM V2 shift knob

07-02-2011, 12:07 PM	#8 (permalink)
SPOHN A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Covington, GA Age: 45 Posts: 14,844 Drives: Waiting on next Z Rep Power: 221	Had the same thing happen on my Camero but it caught my car on fire from the exhaust being clogged. But that car was old at the time. They were not Berk though. I should post those pics later. But never heard of anything like this happening with what I'd call low miles. Test pipes for me. For them to offer you a discount makes me question there product. it almost admits fault. __________________

07-02-2011, 12:52 PM	#9 (permalink)
Nitex Track Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Seattle Posts: 848 Drives: '13 GTI Stage 2 UNI Rep Power: 16	To clarify, my car has 15,000 miles. The Berk HFC's were installed at 5,000 miles. __________________ 2013 Drivers ED GTI \| Stage 2 Unitronic

07-02-2011, 02:33 PM	#11 (permalink)
Nikon FM Track Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Snoqualmie WA Posts: 973 Drives: 03 996TT Porsche Rep Power: 606	I've been running/tracking FI resonated test pipes and CBE for about 28k miles and things seem to be fine……. __________________ Buddy Revell: "One man's sooner is another man's later"

07-02-2011, 11:24 PM	#12 (permalink)
Nitex Track Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Seattle Posts: 848 Drives: '13 GTI Stage 2 UNI Rep Power: 16	Update* I decided on the invidia gemini exhaust along with motordyne ART pipes. Price and performance for the setup seems good. Also finally ordered my Quaife dif and UPREV tuner software __________________ 2013 Drivers ED GTI \| Stage 2 Unitronic

07-11-2011, 12:47 PM	#13 (permalink)
Nitex Track Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Seattle Posts: 848 Drives: '13 GTI Stage 2 UNI Rep Power: 16	After ordering the Invidia system over the 4th of July weekend. I called THmotorsports to ask them the status of my order. Now i had not done the research i should have, and trusted their website that claimed the exhaust was in stock. Of course it was not and they claimed 3-5 week lead time, and just my luck the available system is the $2,000 HKS Hi power exhaust. I figured... ahh hell make me a deal and ill toss some JDM goodness on my Z. Also i switched up to Z1 test pipes, at $250 the price is right. I have to admit the HKS system has way to much hiss, but after finally deciding on GTM SC as a go forward solution im thinking the hiss will go away anyways. Shipment is out for delivery in my area, ill post up install pics when i get everything in. I think the test pipes will not be here till tomorrow, so install may have to wait 1 more day! __________________ 2013 Drivers ED GTI \| Stage 2 Unitronic

07-11-2011, 01:07 PM	#14 (permalink)
azn370z A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Seattle Posts: 1,722 Drives: z34 - R1 Rep Power: 489	I've read stories about 350z Hfc falling apart and clogging the exhaust but you're the first 370z I've heard of having the problem. I think this has made my Hfc decision much easier. __________________ 2010 k23 H&R sport springs / Spc rear camber arms / SSR SP1 / Berk cbe / Varis cf lip / Nismo S-Tune side skirts

07-11-2011, 01:11 PM	#15 (permalink)
SPOHN A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Covington, GA Age: 45 Posts: 14,844 Drives: Waiting on next Z Rep Power: 221	TH is a good place to deal with. TP's FTW. __________________

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