Catalytic Converter
 

So my other car is a 00 Mazda Protoge and I hade a CEL come on the other day. Take it in and there 2 O2 sensor's bad and the Catalytic Converter is bad. They say its going to cost me $1,400. Now I will admit I know very little about cars but that seems awfully high and second, Do I need either of these parts. Car still seems to run fine and I am not worried about passing any emissions test.

I understood the warranty for emissions related parts was 100k....are you over that?

....and no, you can live without 'em.


S

Seems unlikely that all that happened at the same time. Did the CEL just come on?

You don't really need the CAT's if you have no emissions testing...if the O2 sensors are bad, you're fuel mileage will be really bad....

O2 sensors are about $70 ea...

I'd replace the O2 sensors...and leave the CAT...unless it's plugged.

CAT also should have a mileage warranty...look into it

Find a CAT off a totaled Protoge in a junkyard if you really need one that bad.

Sounds to me like they are trying to bang you for $$. Ask them how they tested the cat. If they are going off of a CEL and both O2 sensors are bad the computer isn't being accurate in it's test cycle. I would replace the O2's and see if you still get a cataylst code.