Catalytic Converter - how much?

[Warhammer]

Any one have any of these replaced recently? How much did it run?

[MikeVic]

For a Swedish car, around $1200. They really are ripping you off by charing $2200 for it all. This one mechanic I know of can do it all for $1500.

But seriously, I have no idea. Sorry. :)

[Eaglesfan27]

It was about 10 years ago, but I think it was only a few hundred dollars on my old Pontiac Grandam.

[Warhammer]

For a Swedish car, around $1200. They really are ripping you off by charing $2200 for it all. This one mechanic I know of can do it all for $1500.

But seriously, I have no idea. Sorry. :)

What's scary is how close you are to being right on the nose. The place told my wife that she needed a new radiator, which is a complete load of crap, for $650 and a new catalytic converter running $1400. The catalytic converter I was told a month ago was beginning to rust out.

The kicker... The car's bluebook value is around $3000.

[rkmsuf]

What about the johnson rod? You need a new one of those?

[Warhammer]

What about the johnson rod? You need a new one of those?

Nah, I just told them to shove it and we'd pick the car up later.

What pisses me off, we took her car in a month ago for a normal oil change and the car was running hot. They look it up and its time for a radiator flush, they check the thermostat and that is good, plus the coolant was a little low. The check engine light was on, turns out the catalytic converter is going bad because it is rusting out, but it is not a huge deal. Fine, no problem so far. Take the car home, it does it the next day. Take the car back, they say there must be some air in the line. Again, no problem, I'm not charged.

It does it again yesterday, we take it in, and now they say the radiator is shot. Say what? Uh uh, homey don't play dat.

[rkmsuf]

So basically they have no idea what the problem is and just decided to start replacing stuff.

Air in the line?

Maybe there are cupcakes in the exhaust pipe.

[Warhammer]

So basically they have no idea what the problem is and just decided to start replacing stuff.

Air in the line?

Maybe there are cupcakes in the exhaust pipe.


I can actually understand the air in the line or vapor lock. That actually makes sense because it went away when the weather cooled off. But, I agree they decided to start replacing stuff.

[cartman]

Cat converters as so expensive because they contain a fair bit of platinum in them. Almost all precious metals have risen sharply in price the past several months, so they ain't gonna get any cheaper.

In fact, I read something earlier this week about a group armed with saws-alls hitting truck stops and cutting the converters off of trucks.

[rkmsuf]

Cat converters as so expensive because they contain a fair bit of platinum in them. Almost all precious metals have risen sharply in price the past several months, so they ain't gonna get any cheaper.

In fact, I read something earlier this week about a group armed with saws-alls hitting truck stops and cutting the converters off of trucks.

You really have to reevaluate things if you find yourself in one of these groups.

[Warhammer]

Cat converters as so expensive because they contain a fair bit of platinum in them. Almost all precious metals have risen sharply in price the past several months, so they ain't gonna get any cheaper.

In fact, I read something earlier this week about a group armed with saws-alls hitting truck stops and cutting the converters off of trucks.

It doesn't surprise me stainless steel has gone through the roof as well as bronze so I know what the commodity market is doing, but that still seems a bit high.

[CU Tiger]

The radiator bit is possible. Over time they can become clogged especially if you have put any stop leak in there. But I also agree that it wouldnt be my first check on a run hot. of course I dont know what diagnostic tree they followed, and may very well have eliminated other possibe sources.


The cat deal is strange, generally cats dont go bad unless they become cloged up at which point your car should have no power and feel choked down (A truck we had once wouldnt get over 40 mph with the pedal on the flloor) so one rusting out, while it may release more CFCs or make an obnoxious noise it shouldnt cause any performanc issues.

Finally we have had a major issue with cat theives as well. The first was 6 monts ago One of my trucks broke down on the side of the road, and the guy went on to the jobsite by riding with another employee who was following him. In the 30 minutes between when he left and when the tow truck got there somone cut both cats off the truck. I have since had 3 incidents where people have tried tio cut them off trucks at jobsites. In 2 cases my guys cauht them in action, 1 not so lucky.

For a 98-2002 F150 truck a cat costs abot $100 and we bought short pieces of flex pipe and clamps and replaced them ourselves.

[stevew]

Did they institute state inspection in TN yet? I remember living there awhile back, and having the biggest POS car ever, but it was good to go since there was no inspection. Much like Ohio, where anything goes.

[Mantle2600]

Did they institute state inspection in TN yet? I remember living there awhile back, and having the biggest POS car ever, but it was good to go since there was no inspection. Much like Ohio, where anything goes.

In Cuyahoga County, you have to get an E-Check every other year to make sure your cars not polluting the air to much, but I think we might be the only one's who do it. Any one else from Ohio have to do it in different counties?

[illinifan999]

I didn't have a working catalytic converter for 3 years and passed multiple emissions tests.