muffler shop replace my catalytic converter?

[bottlerocket]

Took my 2007 Touring into the dealership today with the CEL on. Turns out its a bad cat. Chrysler wants $1450 for the part alone, labor is not expensive on it. Any reason not to just drop it off at one of the reputable muffler shops in town and have them swap one on it instead of using the OE part?

[chuzz]

You can get a magna flow direct fit cat con from O'Reilly Auto parts for a touch over $300. I wonder why the dealer wants so much? If you have a buddy who can weld, I'd go aftermarket. Yegads, $1,300 for and 11" long pipe? You might just shop online at Autozone, Advance, or Rock Auto. I just looked at O'Reilly because that's where I'm shopping nowadays.

[bottlerocket]

Local shop wants $225 to put a new one on.

[chuzz]

Man, if someone is willing to do it that cheap, you'd better jump all over it. Will they give you any kind of warranty with that?

[rob342]

Originally Posted by bottlerocket

Took my 2007 Touring into the dealership today with the CEL on. Turns out its a bad cat. Chrysler wants $1450 for the part alone, labor is not expensive on it. Any reason not to just drop it off at one of the reputable muffler shops in town and have them swap one on it instead of using the OE part?

aftermarket cats can be a crapshoot. here in IL they generally are not up to snuff. somewhere that is "CARB crazy" like CA may be different. texas, i really couldn't tell you. see here: 2007 PT Cruiser Catalytic Converter Repair in Charlotte

personally i'd try using busted PT's recommended "berrymans b-12", like a full can in a half tank of gas, and then beating the piss out of the car to clean out the cat. my preferred method to clean out a car is to get it to normal temp and then floor it from 50 to 105mph 2-3x in a row or at least do a little sustained high rpm 2nd gear driving while stomping on it occasionally. only people i see with bad cats drive like mopes, it gums stuff up. obviously this is not a recommended thing to do for most people. then i'd have codes cleared and see if the problem persists. if so the o2 would be tested and replaced if necessary. for me the cat would be a last resort, and it would be from the dealer.

[bottlerocket]

Originally Posted by chuzz

Man, if someone is willing to do it that cheap, you'd better jump all over it. Will they give you any kind of warranty with that?

Not sure if there will be a warranty. But we'll be moving out of state soon so it won't matter either way.

Originally Posted by rob342

aftermarket cats can be a crapshoot. here in IL they generally are not up to snuff. somewhere that is "CARB crazy" like CA may be different. texas, i really couldn't tell you. see here: 2007 PT Cruiser Catalytic Converter Repair in Charlotte

personally i'd try using busted PT's recommended "berrymans b-12", like a full can in a half tank of gas, and then beating the piss out of the car to clean out the cat. my preferred method to clean out a car is to get it to normal temp and then floor it from 50 to 105mph 2-3x in a row or at least do a little sustained high rpm 2nd gear driving while stomping on it occasionally. only people i see with bad cats drive like mopes, it gums stuff up. obviously this is not a recommended thing to do for most people. then i'd have codes cleared and see if the problem persists. if so the o2 would be tested and replaced if necessary. for me the cat would be a last resort, and it would be from the dealer.

I'll give that a shot to see if it helps out before dumping money into a new cat.