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[Don Bowen KI6DIU <don.bowen AT earthlink.net>]

At 2/19/2008, you wrote:
> He also divulged that he cannot legally remove the converter but that
> some muffler shops will do that, sans service ticket.

On post '98 vehicles the oxygen sensors are at the input and output of the 
cat therefore removing the cat will not turn off the light.  In some states 
the safety check is starting to include a simple check engine light 
test.  The light must go on with the key then go out after the engine starts.

> Anyone have experience?

Some cats plug when bad.  My Wife's Honda did just that, no power, 
sluggish, etc.  The cat was easily unbolted and a rather loud test drive 
confirmed a plugged cat.  I took a long screwdriver and broke out the 
contents so she could drive the car.  The light stayed on and the car had 
slightly worse mileage but it ran fine.  Then cam the real fun.  A call to 
the local Honda dealer and they wanted over $800 to replace it and they 
would not sell me a cat I could put on my self.  It has just four bolts and 
is a 10 minute job.

I called around and no one but the dealer could replace the cat and no one 
would sell me a replacement.  My son called several out of state places and 
only one would ship to California and they backed out the next day.  I 
called my son who runs an auto parts store out of state and he ordered it 
then shipped it to me, total cost $200.  I installed it and it is still 
good now four years later.

My pickup had the check engine light come on.  I have a code reader, <$70 
on Amazon, and found out it was a bad cat.  Again I called around and the 
replacement was $1200 and only at the dealer.  As there were no power or 
mileage problems I kept driving it until I was in North Carolina where I 
had it replaced for $200.  The pickup cat is welded in and I do not 
currently have a shop.  That was three years ago and now something has 
broken inside and the check engine light is back on.  The codes indicate a 
failed cat.  My son is sending me a cat and a local welding shop will put 
it in, total cost will be around $200.  Still well below the $1200 dealer 
cost even having to do it twice.



Don Bowen              Awl Knotted Up                       KI6DIU
http://www.braingarage.com