Catalytic converter problem?

A universal cat will be about half of your estimate

my code on a truck I used to own said I needed a cat also. drove it 200K miles like that, never indicated the cat was bad by driving, as it should have

Actual vehicle info needed. some cats can be replaced for $250.00 retail plus a hours labor at specialty muffler shops- base rate for most 5 year old pickups locally $350.00, some less with coupon. Order online from Rock Auto for some models- $150.00 to $300.00 and do it yourself, some expert help for 6 pack of beer and griiled pork sandwich.. Front drive, triple cats can be expensive from dealer, need extra pipes attached to cats special made--BUT many cars, trucks get basic sized cats from cat maker, have their special pipes put on at time of manufacture with the basic replacement cat kit having installation bushings, separated pipes available and just need hack saw cut of clogged cats. Some Fords - remove cat, set on sandbox and fire 3 round 9mm straight down, shake out flakes, reinstall and change back O2 sensor- or plug pipe hole, hose clamp sensor to pipe so gets hot but has outside air telling computer cat out put is clean, extra O2 now and will run a tad richer, get better performance. Works good if you don't have to go through inspection lane with tailpipe sensor and inspector really looking. Can make it through Chicago lane with 2 extra $20.00 bills . Walker and Maremont have utility base cats from $159.95 to $299.95 that can cover about 1/2 the cars and light trucks on the road, pipe kits from $9.95 for clamp and reducer/splice bushing to the $199.99 for some snake track bent pipes going around transfer cases, up and over axles connecting to standard or replacement mufflers. DEPENDS ON ACTUAL VEHICLE, source of parts, labor rate for total cost of replacement or bypass.

A P0420 can be cured by placing a diode in the downstream sensor signal line with the band end toward the the ECU.

Old. clogged up catalytic converters are responsible for most car fires. Does that answer your question/

You can buy replacement converters online for far less that $1000. Hell you could replace your ENTIRE exhaust system for FAR less than $1000. That is a CLEAR ripoff.

Was the code a P0420 code? That's the code verifying the converter is bad.

Call Advance Auto and get a quote for a Walker brand converter.

It's probably only a 2 hour job so labor will be around $200.

Have you been to a muffler shop to get a quote yet?

And how do you KNOW that the catalytic converter is the problem? What happens if you spend the $1000 for a new cat and the check engine light doesn't go away?

Get a tech to reset the light with a scan tool and see what happens..

If your car is running fine, it could be the cat converter is not bad at all. See a mechanic and get a second opinion.