Car Help Please!

[Xenon14]

I have a 1999 Honda Accord LX 4cyl ULEV. The repair shop wants $1700+ to replace the catalytic converter. Supposedly the ULEV (Ultra low emmission vehicle designed for use in California) version requires a Catalytic converter that is insanely expensive.

It seems absurd, that's almost 2/3 of the car's total price! The car was bought in NJ, I'm currently in MD and i have no idea why it's a ULEV to begin with. Can someoen give me any insight on how I can avoid shelling out such an absurd quantity of money?? Please.

 

[FoBoT]

move to a state with no vehicle inspections and just slap a straight-thru exhaust on it


good luck, did you get a "deal" on it? maybe now you know why the dude sold it

 

[tfinch2]

<nelson>HA-HA!</nelson> at California Emissions

 

[codeyf]

1. Go to carparts.com
2. Look up the part for your car.
3. Order it.
4. Get dirty and install it yourself.
.
.
.
5. Profit!

 

[Xenon14]

The 'dude' was my dad, and he bought the car brand new.. and it had no prior problems.

 

[frankgomez75]

go to another mechanic shop. BTW, is this at a dealer? They always rape ppl on prices.

 

[Aharami]

look into universal cats

a cats a cats a cat. they are all the same (more or less). just have to make sure front end fits down pipe and rear end fits cat-back pipe

 

[imported_LoKe]

Originally posted by: frankgomez75
go to another mechanic shop. BTW, is this at a dealer? They always rape ppl on prices.

Mostly in labour, too.

 

[Rogeee]

They are taking him/you to the cleaners, a ULEV cat at my shop costs $320 for parts and labor.

 

[FoBoT]

how does that thing "go bad" ? isn't it just a tin can coated with platnium?

 

[SparkyJJO]

Go someplace else, they are ripping you off big time.

 

[Xenon14]

Originally posted by: crustyoldman
They are taking him/you to the cleaners, a ULEV cat at my shop costs $320 for parts and labor.

I called 2 honda dealerships and 1 3rd party dealership... the prices, respectively, were listed as $1580, $1780, and $2300.

 

[Xenon14]

Originally posted by: frankgomez75
go to another mechanic shop. BTW, is this at a dealer? They always rape ppl on prices.

I don't care where I get the cat... The dealership said if I bring them one they'll put it together for ~$80-$130 in labor. But from what I've been getting, my particular car requires an absurdly expensive cat.

Ok here's another thing... I've looked at car part sites, and some say that ULEV cats are ~$200 exclusign California ULEVS. I called the dealership and they said if it is a ULEV it's automatically a California ULEV; can someone make sense fo this?!

 

[thirdeye]

I'd have to agree with the buy one and do it yourself. Even if you're not a car guy, it's not that difficult to do and you'll definitely save a LOT of money.

 

[jupiter57]

Maybe you don't particularily NEED the ULEV!
Since thecar is no longer in California, Cal. Emissions standards do not apply.

What symptoms did the car have to warrant needing a new Cat. anyway?
If it was running fine & did not fail an emissions test, who knows.
NEVER take your car to a dealer, any dealer. They play on the assumption that anyone who doesn't perform their own mechanic work is not smart enough to know the difference and will believe anything they tell you!

 

[Compton]

Don't go to a dealer, go to an exhaust shop. They're trying to screw you. You could buy decent welding machine and do it yourself and still have money to upgrade your PC.

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: Xenon14

Originally posted by: frankgomez75
go to another mechanic shop. BTW, is this at a dealer? They always rape ppl on prices.

I don't care where I get the cat... The dealership said if I bring them one they'll put it together for ~$80-$130 in labor. But from what I've been getting, my particular car requires an absurdly expensive cat.

Ok here's another thing... I've looked at car part sites, and some say that ULEV cats are ~$200 exclusign California ULEVS. I called the dealership and they said if it is a ULEV it's automatically a California ULEV; can someone make sense fo this?!

I'm guessing the Japanese manufacturers save on costs by building ULEVs to one standard, so they can sell them in California and the rest of the States, instead of building two models, one with additional emissions controls.

Originally posted by: FoBoT
how does that thing "go bad" ? isn't it just a tin can coated with platnium?

It's a honeycomb structure using platinum catalyst, yes. If you feed it the right stuff, it will last a long time, but catalysts generally get less effective after a while due to wear, coating (generally not a huge problem, since car cats get up to temperature fairly fast), and poisoning, among other things.

 

[aircooled]

A quick Google search finds the ULEV cat for under $150 bucks.
and it appears to be a bolt on part:
found at Amazon of all places

The non-ULEV's were like 50 bucks

 

[Dunbar]

It wouldn't surprise me if in 1999 California was the only state getting ULEV Accords. I'd keep shopping around and/or find a shop willing to install a universal cat.

 

[V00DOO]

FYI, catalytic converter on your Honda is warranted for 8 years/80000 miles mandated by the EPA emissions warranty. $1700 is insane for OEM cats, go to a muffler shop and get some OBD II complaint cats.

 

[OS]

link

yeah, it's $1500+ for that part alone, and i thought you were being gouged. :Q

buy a test pipe off ebay and stack some spark plug defoulers over the o2 sensor.

total cost = $50.

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: OS
link

yeah, it's $1500+ for that part alone, and i thought you were being gouged. :Q

buy a test pipe off ebay and stack some spark plug defoulers over the o2 sensor.

total cost = $50.

Is it made from SOLID platinum or something? :shocked:

 

[arcenite]

Originally posted by: V00DOO
FYI, catalytic converter on your Honda is warranted for 8 years/80000 miles mandated by the EPA emissions warranty. $1700 is insane for OEM cats, go to a muffler shop and get some OBD II complaint cats.

If your car has less than 80k on the clock, you can get this done at the dealer for free.

 

[fbrdphreak]

Don't go to the dealer, go to an independent shop.

 

[OS]

Originally posted by: Xenon14

Originally posted by: frankgomez75
go to another mechanic shop. BTW, is this at a dealer? They always rape ppl on prices.

I don't care where I get the cat... The dealership said if I bring them one they'll put it together for ~$80-$130 in labor. But from what I've been getting, my particular car requires an absurdly expensive cat.

Ok here's another thing... I've looked at car part sites, and some say that ULEV cats are ~$200 exclusign California ULEVS. I called the dealership and they said if it is a ULEV it's automatically a California ULEV; can someone make sense fo this?!

Basically, for accords, there are two emission variants, a CA version, and a 49 state version. The CA version is more smog nazi, i have an 2003 7th gen, the injectors, cat, fuel system and ecu are all different. All these parts are more expensive, injectors are $100 vs $30, cat is $700 vs $300.

However, the CA emissions versions are NOT sold only in CA. Alot of northeast markets get these cars also.