So not knowing a whole lot about cars. The catalytic converter has gone bad in my car. They say you can not just replace that part because of the sensors, so they have to replace the whole manifold. The quote is $650, does this sound right?
catalytic converter
- Thread starter HOU02LSV8
- Start date
Missing Linc'
Dedicated LVC Member
The sensors come out.
joegr
Dedicated LVC Member
$650 is a good price if they are using good quality replacement parts.
What is the symptom(s) that lead you and them to believe that you need new cats? Are they clogged?
Cats don't fail without a reason. Your engine is misfiring, has a very rich mixture, or is burning a lot of oil. Whatever it is must be corrected first, or your new cats will be quickly destroyed too.
What is the symptom(s) that lead you and them to believe that you need new cats? Are they clogged?
Cats don't fail without a reason. Your engine is misfiring, has a very rich mixture, or is burning a lot of oil. Whatever it is must be corrected first, or your new cats will be quickly destroyed too.
Quik LS
Dedicated LVC Member
the cats bolt to the manifold and the cat is welded to the exhuast on the rear side. there are sensors both pre and post cat - neither would require you to also swap the manifold....
starfox86
Well-Known LVC Member
I had this issue in my cadillac. I purchased one from autozone then took it to an exhaust shop and had them cut the bad one out and weld the new one in. I think I spent a total 200 or less.
Mechanicboy
Dedicated LVC Member
If it's anything like my 01' v6 then your don't have to replace the manifold. $650 sounds like too much, even if it is two of them.
Mechanicboy
Dedicated LVC Member
You can pick up cats that are 49 state legal from magnaflow for less then $100. If you look you might be able to find some that are legal in california for a similar price.
If you're willing to risk it in california the 49 states ones should work. The only thing missing from the is a CARB E.O. number. They'll only know it's missing if they look directly at the cat, very rare that they do and it's usually on heavily modified and they send you to a smog ref.
De-marko
Dedicated LVC Member
I need both replaced on my car was well. I have about 156k on the car and the cats appear to be original. My check engine light always stays on with codes saying the cats are not within threshold/defective even though all 4 O2 sensors have been replaced.
I was quoted from an exhaust shop here $170 each to replace them. I'm sure they would be a universal replacement though.
I was quoted from an exhaust shop here $170 each to replace them. I'm sure they would be a universal replacement though.
Mechanicboy
Dedicated LVC Member
$170 doesn't sound too bad, that's installed right? Replacing all the 02 sensors must have run at least $200, that sucks. Notice any difference in the car after changing the sensor or better MPG?
Yeah, 49 state legal, suck we're in the state were its not legal in. There are no magnaflow cats that ship to california. I'm going to go look around to see what my options are. Now if you change a cat, you have to fill out all this paper work and sign this and that and have the shop sign saying its a legal cat for your car and all this other bs.
Mechanicboy
Dedicated LVC Member
Yeah, 49 state legal, suck we're in the state were its not legal in. There are no magnaflow cats that ship to california. I'm going to go look around to see what my options are. Now if you change a cat, you have to fill out all this paper work and sign this and that and have the shop sign saying its a legal cat for your car and all this other bs.
That's why I'm glad I'm still friends with everyone at my old(well seasonal) job, I can do it by myself.
On a different note, HOU02LSV8, do they tailpipe test your car in Texas? If Texas is one of those states that only connects to your computer for an emissions test then I may have a cheap fix for you to pass and make your check engine light go away.
Right on the Mark
Dedicated LVC Member
Yeah its called a "MIL eliminator" 50 bucks for 2. Mustang guys run them alot.
Mechanicboy
Dedicated LVC Member
Nope, even cheaper. It's the non-fouler trick. They can be had for $5-10.
Right on the Mark
Dedicated LVC Member
How can an anti fouler work? All that does is raise the O2 sensor up a tiny amount. It still gets hit with exhaust and if it doesn't then it will pop a code.
Right on the Mark
Dedicated LVC Member
Looks like you can score Magnaflow cats for like 70 bucks each. If I was in cali I would just send them to a friends house then have him send them to me and weld on. Unless the cali cars are programmed to a higher level and will pop a code even with replacement OBD2 cats on. Anyone know about that?
Mechanicboy
Dedicated LVC Member
It changes the amount of exhaust the sensor sees. So when the computer compares the signals of the first and second(sometimes third) it sees enough difference to keep the ECU happy. This trick is usually used one cars that came with pre-cats and they have put headers on them.
Not a bad Idea
De-marko
Dedicated LVC Member
Yes, that is installed and not too bad of a price.
The 02 sensor codes were the first I ever had on the car, about a week after I bought it. I didn't want to mess around with moving sensors around and guessing which ones worked or not, so for just the peace of mind I replaced all 4 at once. The codes shut off after the 02 change and the part throttle driveability was noticeably better.
My cat codes came on a couple weeks later.
Mechanicboy
Dedicated LVC Member
That's cool, I've been wondering if I should change mine. I'll only change my front ones thought as that is what tells the computer the A/F ratio, the second set is just to check the cats for efficiency.
I've heard two schools of thought on 02 replacement. One is that they should be part of regular mantaince and changed between 60k-100k miles. The second is that they shouldn't "wear out" like other parts and should only be replaced if they fail. I'm not sure which is right, but for $100 it might not be a bad idea at 126k miles.
chocolat1701
Dedicated LVC Member
im getting mines done on my 01 v8 they are charging me 65 for the install plus the parts so hopefully i can find them cheap for like 50 bucks or something for some universals.