A repair shop took my catalytic converter out?

that is just foolish, now the light will come back on due ot an inactive cat. we know that it is not there but the cpu does not. it will see identical signals from the pre adn post cat o2 sensor and that means that the cat is not working. unplugging the sensors will only trigger a light for an inactive sensor. i would go back and have them install the right cat. pure and simple fact, with out the cat you are wasting fuel.

It shouldn't affect the way the car runs, but I'm guessing the car won't pass inspection in any state if the mechanic sees there's no catalytic converter. Why didn't the shop just put another converter on your car instead of some sort of tube?

First of all, call a Saturn dealership parts department and ask them how much just the part costs. I bet it's over 700 dollars not including labor. I would say a fair price for an aftermarket converter (we charge 150 for that particular car, costs us 45 dollars and an hour labor, 99 dollars would be about 250 installed with a five year 50,000 mile warranty. So use that and judge the situation you are in for a fair price.

Whoa I hope they didn't charge you much because all they did was replace it with a "test pipe" which is basically just a hollow exhaust tube.

You can ask them for the cat so you can bring it to a real muffler shop and have them cut the cat out and replace it with a universal cat. Should be about 60-80 bucks for a universal cat compared to the hundreds the dealer or auto shops ask for an OEM cat replacement. The universal cat will need to be welded up as well.

And yes it will affect the gas mileage a bit

No this won't affect the running of the vehicle. The car doesn't need a catalytic converter to run.

Your pre-cat 02 sensor and your post cat 02 sensor are going to both read the same. They are supposed to read different because of the chemical change from the cat. The results of this cat removal to straight pipe will hinder your gas mileage a bit.

some pf the smaller cars use the back pressure for performance.also if you ever want trade this car in you'll have replace it.and it doesn't matter if your state has inspections or not it against the law.take the car to muffler shop get them to put an after market one on.unless you told them to this act they could be in a world of trouble

Not particularly but the emissions will be out of whack and unless they are shrewd enuff to find a way to bypass the o2 sensors, you will have a check engine lite staring you in the face.

that's illegal on a national level.

do you have like 500 bucks to do it right?

They was probably trying to do you a favor to your wallet.

a bad converter will mess you up more than no converter.

it doent matter where you live they broke a FEDERAL LAW, i would go somewhere else and get it fixed the correct way, and by the way dont try to sell it or you will be liable for no cat.