CATALYTIC CONVERTER PRICING - 2010 Mazda 3

[pcharizo]

I'm in desperate need of advice or guidance. My engine light came on and I decided to check things out at my dealership during a regular maintenance visit. Low and behold, my dealership advised me that my catalytic converter is malfunctioning and requires replacement. At 130,000 clicks, is this normal? I was also advised the job would cost a mere $2,000 to fix... You got to be kidding me right. Please help!

[Thrizzl3]

seems about right. Cat alone is $1300.

[mickey_g]

yup sounds right...not an easy job

[Jackal]

Buy the cat. converter at affiliate or get one from auto wreckers and get Jimmy to do the job.
Or delete the cat. with a racepipe. I think you only need one cat to pass e-test as long as you don't have a cel, but I could be wrong.

[Neo]

My bro recently had the same issue. 05 GX with 102k on the clock. Read out gave a cat failure at the header. Got quoted $850 for just the part. I think it was going to be $1200-1300 out the door for the entire job to replace.
Thankfully he consulted me before agreeing to it.
We live in Aurora so I told him to give carcones a call.
Sure enough, the same part was being offered at $150.
He picked up the part and had it installed. I think total damage to the wallet was $350 for the dealer to replace.

There are a ton of Mazda 3's running around so getting used parts is easy.

He only needs the car to last another year or so. He'll move into a CX-5 soon enough.

[Canadianbacon]

you only need 1 cat if you want to save money

[Johns 08 3 GT]

Is it the front cat or the 2nd cat that needs to be replaced?

[Canadianbacon]

Is it the front cat or the 2nd cat that needs to be replaced?

you can remove the 2nd cat without any problem

[Johns 08 3 GT]

you can remove the 2nd cat without any problem

I know. That's why Im asking if its the front. You need that to pass emissions.

[Hyperion]

I pass emissions with just 1 high flow where the secondary goes.

[CloudPump]

I pass emissions with just 1 high flow where the secondary goes.

You would, as a visual inspection to show you have a cat is all that's required. The new emissions test doesn't actually measure emissions for anything 1998 and up.

-Geoff

[Hyperion]

Well then, I didn't know that :p

[greyseason]

is the second cat more prone to clogging than the primary cat? because yeah id just buy an exhaust/race pipe

[Akiba48]

You would, as a visual inspection to show you have a cat is all that's required. The new emissions test doesn't actually measure emissions for anything 1998 and up.

-Geoff

I was told that you don't even need a cat to pass as long as the check engine light doesn't turn on during the test run cycle.

[CloudPump]

I was told that you don't even need a cat to pass as long as the check engine light doesn't turn on during the test run cycle.

You legally do need a cat if the vehicle was manufactured for this market with a cat.

That said, have you ever seen a tech climbing under a car to see if the cat is there on the new electronic test?

-Geoff