Comments on: How much does a catalytic converter cost?

Question: How much does a catalytic converter cost?

headspace — Mon, 24 May 2004 17:14:18 -0800

The catalytic converter on my 97 Ford Escort blew out today, and I suspect it ruptured part of the exhaust works in front of the muffler. I can find out how much parts cost on my own, but I'm not going to be doing the service myself, so could someone knowledgeable in the realm of automotive repair hazard a ballpark guesstimate as to how much this might cost me to fix? I just need a general idea so I can figure out how much blood to sell to pay for the repairs.

By: Hildago

Hildago — Mon, 24 May 2004 19:58:21 -0800

Ballpark is all I can do, I'm afraid. 5 years ago, in my 1987 Chevrolet Beretta, it was a couple hundred bucks, with labor.

By: notsnot

notsnot — Mon, 24 May 2004 20:08:54 -0800

Here in Missouri, you can get an aftermarket (non OEM) cat for eighty or ninety bucks. The pipe from the exhaust manifold should be in the neighborhood of fifty. Labor, two hours. However, they're likely gonna want to put in a new O2 sensor, which isn't a bad idea - fifty bucks, and less than fifteen minutes labor. Heck, they may not be able to salvage the old O2 sensor from the old pipe.

If you go to a local shop - not a chain - they may be able to "get you by" without replacing the cat-forward pipe.

If the car doen't have very many miles on it, you may be able to get some sort of emissions variance from Ford.

By: headspace

headspace — Mon, 24 May 2004 20:11:26 -0800

Thanks guys, I really appreciate it. I was sitting here fearing the "couple thousand" ballpark figure, this made me feel a lot better. Unfortunately, our little Escort has been treated like the family wagon it is, and thus, has more than a hundred thousand miles on it, so no emissions variance for us, I don't think. Thank you again, you all put my mind at rest!

By: thomcatspike

thomcatspike — Tue, 25 May 2004 13:36:43 -0800

Ffrom my experience, $100 bucks, installed. Call around the non-chain muffler shops, your phone is your friend.