# 2003 Toyota Corolla - Dead Cat **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** toyota\ **Created:** [March 19, 2020, 9:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-toyota-corolla-dead-cat/161403 "2020-03-19T21:00:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DanLiebler](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/danliebler/32/20012_2.png) [@DanLiebler](https://community.cartalk.com/u/DanLiebler)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2020, 9:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-toyota-corolla-dead-cat/161403/1 "2020-03-19T21:00:08Z")
My car’s catalytic converter has several holes and needs to be replaced. I was told it would be cheaper to purchase just the “front catalytic converter” secondhand and have it installed. Is this a good idea? What does this part look like? What would be a trustworthy location to purchase this part? ---
**Author:** ![TXdealer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/50afbb/32.png) [@TXdealer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TXdealer)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2020, 9:36pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-toyota-corolla-dead-cat/161403/2 "2020-03-19T21:36:58Z")
I don’t think catalytic converters can be resold legally. However if you don’t live in California or a handful of other states it should be fairly inexpensive to buy an aftermarket new one. ---
**Author:** ![kurtwm1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/13edae/32.png) [@kurtwm1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/kurtwm1)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2020, 7:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-toyota-corolla-dead-cat/161403/3 "2020-03-21T19:41:10Z")
It is NOT illegal to purchase or sell a used catalytic converted. The EPA requires that it has been tested, certified and properly labeled. ---
**Author:** ![Cavell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cavell/32/43396_2.png) [@Cavell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cavell)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2020, 8:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-toyota-corolla-dead-cat/161403/4 "2020-03-21T20:06:58Z")
Are you attached somehow to 17yr old car? That may be worth $1500? Can you afford a newer, “better” car? ---
**Author:** ![davepsinbox\_157004](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@davepsinbox\_157004](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davepsinbox_157004)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2020, 9:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-toyota-corolla-dead-cat/161403/5 "2020-03-21T21:02:16Z")
> [@Cavell](#): > > Can you afford a newer, “better” car? As opposed to spending a couple of hundred replacing the catalytic converter? If the OP’s car runs and doesn’t need massive amounts of work why not fix it? ---
**Author:** ![old\_mopar\_guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/6bbea6/32.png) [@old\_mopar\_guy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/old_mopar_guy)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2020, 9:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-toyota-corolla-dead-cat/161403/6 "2020-03-21T21:05:58Z")
Like doing a knee replacement on a 98 year old. There’s something worse to go wrong waiting in the wings. ---
**Author:** ![davepsinbox\_157004](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@davepsinbox\_157004](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davepsinbox_157004)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2020, 9:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-toyota-corolla-dead-cat/161403/7 "2020-03-21T21:10:02Z")
And when it does the OP can look for a newer car. ---
**Author:** ![old\_mopar\_guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/6bbea6/32.png) [@old\_mopar\_guy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/old_mopar_guy)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2020, 9:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-toyota-corolla-dead-cat/161403/8 "2020-03-21T21:11:39Z")
After having **wasted** money on a new cat. ---
**Author:** ![davepsinbox\_157004](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@davepsinbox\_157004](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davepsinbox_157004)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2020, 9:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-toyota-corolla-dead-cat/161403/9 "2020-03-21T21:19:55Z")
“Wasted” is subjective. If the OP has the catalytic converter replaced and the transmission fails the following week then yes. If some clown hits it and totals it a week later, same thing. OTOH, the OP could get another year or more out of it. You place your bet and take your chances. ---
**Author:** ![old\_mopar\_guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/6bbea6/32.png) [@old\_mopar\_guy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/old_mopar_guy)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2020, 9:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-toyota-corolla-dead-cat/161403/10 "2020-03-21T21:34:59Z")
I don’t bet unless I have good odds. I wouldn’t place my money on a 17 year old grocery getter. ---
**Author:** ![Cavell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cavell/32/43396_2.png) [@Cavell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cavell)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2020, 2:16am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-toyota-corolla-dead-cat/161403/11 "2020-03-22T02:16:33Z")
Muff shops hate cheapskates who want to replace 1 section of rusty exhaust. I bought a v6 car 2 yrs ago with 2 new cats. Kinda nice. Actually had 100% all new exhaust. ---
**Author:** ![Barkydog](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/barkydog/32/2470_2.png) [@Barkydog](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Barkydog)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2020, 4:15am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-toyota-corolla-dead-cat/161403/12 "2020-03-22T04:15:21Z")
I had a split cat, bender shop welded it back together for $10 while replacing the muffler. Maybe it can be fixed without replacement.