How easy is it to have the cats replaced on this car? I've got what I think is a rusted out Cat and it will need to be replaced. If possible, I'd like to replace both with high-flow cats. I've already got a cat-back exhaust (that is 5-6 years old). Can high flows be welded right in without crazy labor charges?
I've definetly got a rust hole in my exhaust, and I'm 90% sure it's coming out of my cats. I need to jack it up, and/or have somebody give it gas while I hold my hand over what i think is the hole.
I've got inspection (including exhaust) coming up in December in NJ, so I'll have to fix this the right way.
............another problem Tommy (XLRVIII) never had
Just got back from an exhaust shop. It is a clear rust hole right through the side of the cat I could even see inside the cat.
"Luckily" it is the passenger side cat. They are going to hack it out and replace it with a universal one. He said it will be a hell of a job..........the most difficult part being welding the top side.
I'm having him replace the O2 sensors as they are original (pretty crazy with 208k on the clock).
I got an estimate for just the cat of $375 including the cat and labor.
$530, to replace the passenger side cat, the O2 sensor on that side and reweld a small pipe between the driver's cat and the cat-back exhaust (there was a small leak there too).
They could not get the driver's side O2 out. He did not want to cut the wire and man-handle the old one out as he was afraid he would have stripped that hole for the O2 sensor.
They also did not guarantee that I would pass emissions.......mostly because they were giving me crap for the 3rd cat not being there.
Also, after 6-7 years my cat-back exhaust is showing some big rust spots
I've GOT to get through a NJ state emissions test in December (that will last for 2-years).
The universal cat is about $50, you can unbolt the pass side cat and weld off the car, not more than $50. Should be more like $200 tops for all the work.
Just buy another stock passenger side cat off an auction site, cut the old one out, and muffler clamp it in. Several people in Florida parting out these cars.
Yes, I know I definetely didn't get a great price. That did include replacing the the passenger side o2 sensor, which was about $100 of the price. (He had to thread a hole in the side of the universal cat for the o2 sensor.)
He did say it would have been a lot less if the cat was in a easier place to access (like straight along the bottom of the car).
Unfotunately in NJ it is illegal to use a 'used' cat. Some giant fine is associated with it.
I do a lot of the work on my own on this car, and do a lot of research on repairs if I can't, but this was a tough one to shop around. Most places did't want to mess with the cat because of where it is.............Imagine what a dealer would have charged.
