Got my check engine light looked at. It turned out to be both the catalytic converter and oxygen sensor. $1800 to fix. Our state has emissions regulations so I'll need to get the converter fixed before my next inspection. Questions: Do I also HAVE to replace oxygen sensors? Mechanic says they won't give a warranty if I don't replace them too, but what's the actual risk of the faulty O sensors killing the new converter? Would that also cause me to fail emissions or do I just need the converter? Could I buy parts used for significantly cheaper? Would it be worth it?
Finally: my next emissions inspection is in September. What happens if I wait until then? Is it going to get more expensive? Is it dangerous?
You're getting ripped off. It cost me $400 to get a catalytic converter replaced, and the exhaust manifold had to be replaced with it because both items welded together after 20 years.
Really? I've always heard the converters are expensive as fuck to replace
Andrew Hall
What vehicle is this on
Robert Ortiz
I remember when I was a normie lmao.
Catalytic converters are expensive, yes, especially on newer cars. Do you need to buy new OEM? No. Will they use anything else but? No. Do you need new O2 sensors? No, but you might as well replace them at the same time.
Can it be just the O2 sensor? Yes. Can you pour some fuel system cleaner in there and hope it goes away? Yes.
Can you get one off of a junked car similar to yours? Of course. Can you get one? Extremely difficult depending on year, or you can just steal your neighbors lmaooooo.
Dangerous? No, your car will just have a CEL. Harmful? To the atmosphere, maybe. You can blame emission laws for this one, OP.
Bentley Anderson
what kind of car do you have that it's $1,800 to get that work done?
Luis Foster
Universal ones are a few hundred dollars. They're expensive for what they are and do to your car. Check under your car, if its just bolted on you can swap that out in a few hours. If its welded or integrated into the exhaust system, then the muffler shop is counting on you not taking a sawzawl to your car, not having a welder, and not knowing whats actually needed.
Aiden Carter
>if its just bolted on you can swap that out in a few hours.
Depends. A lot of vehicles that are old enough to start having cats go out usually the bolts are pretty much welded in at this point and you have to cut them out anyway.
That was my case when I had to replace one of mine, at least.
Parker Richardson
Rav 4, 2003 Mechanic said only a couple hours or so of labor so most of that is parts, that he gets from elsewhere. Would I be able to find parts much cheaper? How do I know if a non-OEM part will work or if a used part is busted?
Charles Green
>Do you need to buy new OEM? No. Will they use anything else but? No. So, how do I know which to use then? >Just the O2 sensors Mechanic said it might be that when he just checked the code but after the actual diagnosis he said it's both >Dangerous? No, your car will just have a CEL. So I can just wait until I'm due for emissions inspection, and see if I can find a cheaper one before then?
Ayden Rivera
Same thing happened to me after a 500 mile trip in my 03 Camry. Just reset the code and pray the light doesn't come back on
Michael Roberts
>Would I be able to find parts much cheaper? Parts? probably not "much" cheaper, But the actual cat probably much cheaper than his ludicrous markup. You'd save plenty on labor.
Gabriel Cox
>catalytic converter and oxygen sensor. >$1800 to fix Highway robbery.
>So, how do I know which to use then? Start by searching online, there may be a direct-fit aftermarket cat you can buy and have a shop install for you. It will bolt-in the same as OEM. >O2 sensors Same thing as above, get aftermarket ones from your local auto part store and replace them.
>So I can just wait until I'm due for emissions inspection What code did you have, and is the car running okay now?
Lincoln Richardson
You're getting ripped off, my man. Where's how I would fix it >remover post cat o2 sensor >replace with dummy sensor Cei is now fixed and you'll always pass obd2 emissions. It's probably a big fine if you somehow get caught though
John Gutierrez
>Save plenty on that's the thing, he quoted 2.5 hours for labor for the whole thing, so it's mostly parts. He only uses OEM parts, but it sounds like I can get not-OEM for cheaper >code P0420 and 0430 were the codes. Car runs fine for now.
Aiden Roberts
Yeah I'm pretty sure tampering like that is really illegal and literally a $10,000 fine or so.
Jeremiah Taylor
>Yeah I'm pretty sure tampering like that is really illegal and literally a $10,000 fine or so.
>tfw getting assraped tomorrow for $900 just to get two O2 sensors replaced >cat is probably fucked too and I'll end up getting assraped for that shortly afterward
Grayson Bennett
When will EPA send him to Gitmo? How has he not gassed himself by now?
Jack Reyes
God I fucking hate emissions. Soon after I bought my daily the check engine light came on for the cat. Ended up driving the thing for like 6 months unregistered on the previous owners plate because I couldn't get it registered due to emissions requirements. Eventually got it registered in a county where emissions aren't necessary. Then I bought a $5 o2 sensor spacer which fixed the light, so it was all a big waste of time
If I have a fucked up cat and live in a state with no emissions inspections, should I give a shit or let it stay fucked?
Bentley Sullivan
If you leave it it'll eventually get fully clogged and fuck up your engine. Cat deletes are cheap and modern cars still run clean without a cat.
Angel Harris
Does OP live in California?
Joshua Sanchez
dang, alright I guess I'll get it fixed
Joshua Thomas
No, not NY either since I know they have different emissions laws too. I noticed that a lot of cats say "48 states" or something
Caleb Parker
Idk how strict your emissions regulations are but the ones in netherlandistan ***can*** be passed without a cat if it has a lean as fug tune. It's easy on lpg. Most people who have a decat here just have multiple maps and switch it depending on the situation
Joseph Foster
>2003 Does your state have the 15 year rule? Most states don't do emissions tests on cars that are 15 years or older.
Justin Cox
Sounds like he's ordering from the dealership parts counter which are known for having 350% markup on parts. Then he's adding his own markup to do the work. If you look around online you can get OEM for cheaper than dealership, or get a generic part for probably less.
Christopher Perry
If youre in CA or NY you need OEM cats, but other wise you can probably get away with aftermarket ones, depending on your state.
Hunter Ramirez
>Do I also HAVE to replace oxygen sensors? Mechanic says they won't give a warranty if I don't replace them too, but what's the actual risk of the faulty O sensors killing the new converter? No. A lot of times they get ruined removing them from the pipe if they're in the part with the cat being replaced. They could kill the converter if the upstream one is falsely reading a lean condition, and adding fuel. However the downstream one should pick up the fault and just set a code for the upstream sensor. >Would that also cause me to fail emissions or do I just need the converter? If your CEL is on, you'll fail. Emission controls are good enough nowadays to pretty much tell the difference between a sensor reading wrong and a bad cat. Get it scanned elsewhere. If you only have a p0420, then you probably don't need the sensors. If you don't specifically have the p0420, you don't need the cat >Could I buy parts used for significantly cheaper? Would it be worth it? You cant get a used cat. You can get a much cheaper aftermarket one tho. They usually don't last as long, and I've seen them not work as well and actually set the CEL on. But that shit should be warranty if that happens.
Ayden Taylor
>people saying he's getting ripped off Yeah he is, by the state. California banned OBDII cars from having aftermarket cats, they have to be OEM.
