Saturday, December 24, 2011

How much should it cost for parts and labor for a 2003 Camry catalytic converter?

My check ending light just came on and I took my car to Midas and they told me it was my catalytic converter. The part is going to cost me 710 and 150 for labor. I have a feeling I'm being taken for a fool... I looked online and some of the converters that I saw cost about 250. How much should I reasonably pay for this repair?|||You're car seems fairly new to be needing a catalytic converter.Most converters will pretty much last the lifetime of the car.I'd take it somewhere else and get a 2nd opinion.|||go to an exhaust/muffler specialty shop. they are not as likely to rip you off. did you check to see if the cat might be warranty work?|||$2500.00|||First of all, you should never change the catalytic converter unless it is breaking up and rattling, or you simply can not pass DEQ without changing it.


A catalytic converter is not good for a car or the environment.


It basically takes soot (that they test for), and converts it to toxic chemicals like formalin, cyanates, sulfites, etc. (that they do not test for).





There is no light that says your converter needs to be replaces, and they are probably wrong in the diagnosis.


The O2 sensor is much more likely.


But even more important is to fix what is causing the converter or sensor to go bad, such as a bad plug wire.





Then you are being way over charged.


The catalytic converter is the easiest part of the exhaust system to change because it usually have a simple flange with external bolts.


Labor should only be $50 to $75.


The converter is only $107 on the internet.


Even if you live in California and need the dual sensor one, it is only $251.


Midas is charging more than double what it should be.


( but it is true retail should always be at least 30% more than the internet, because there is a better guarantee)





Find a good mechanic you can trust, and don't assume the light going on means you absolutely have to fix something. It is just something to have looked at just in case. Check engine lights go on and off all the time, from simple things like going up a steep hill. It does not mean there is something for sure wrong.


Don't go to a muffler shop because they will just want to try to sell you exhaust parts.


A real mechanic will determine if anything actually needs to be done, not just sell you something you don't need.

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