# 2012 Honda Pilot Catalytic Converter **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** honda\ **Created:** [June 12, 2019, 4:26pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-honda-pilot-catalytic-converter/142112 "2019-06-12T16:26:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![brownswordba90\_145660](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@brownswordba90\_145660](https://community.cartalk.com/u/brownswordba90_145660)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2019, 4:26pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-honda-pilot-catalytic-converter/142112/1 "2019-06-12T16:26:55Z")
My Pilot is lighting up a catalytic converter code on the dashboard. My Boch Honda dealer service is quoting $1,037 for the replacement part and more than $600 for the labor. Does that make any sense? The car has 180,000 miles on it. Should I just go with non-Honda parts? ---
**Author:** ![TwinTurbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@TwinTurbo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TwinTurbo)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2019, 4:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-honda-pilot-catalytic-converter/142112/2 "2019-06-12T16:30:27Z")
I would call Meineke and ask them for an estimate. ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2019, 4:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-honda-pilot-catalytic-converter/142112/3 "2019-06-12T16:37:16Z")
> [@brownswordba90\_145660](#): > > Should I just go with non-Honda parts? Yes , and start calling independent muffler shops they will be cheaper than the dealer . ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2019, 4:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-honda-pilot-catalytic-converter/142112/4 "2019-06-12T16:39:44Z")
Is that for all three cats? Tester ---
**Author:** ![brownswordba90\_145660](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@brownswordba90\_145660](https://community.cartalk.com/u/brownswordba90_145660)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2019, 4:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-honda-pilot-catalytic-converter/142112/5 "2019-06-12T16:41:56Z")
No. It is for the “bank 2” converter that is attached to the manifold. Apparently that converter itself (part number 18190-RN0-A1) costs $909 itself. Also, the job takes so many hours because it requires taking out the radiator and putting it back again. ? ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2019, 4:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-honda-pilot-catalytic-converter/142112/6 "2019-06-12T16:45:35Z")
> [@brownswordba90\_145660](#): > > Should I just go with non-Honda parts? If you are in a state that has adopted California emissions standards you may not be able to find an aftermarket exhaust manifold/converter assembly that is certified for CA emissions. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2019, 4:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-honda-pilot-catalytic-converter/142112/7 "2019-06-12T16:46:04Z")
Find an independent shop have them install an aftermarket cat. [https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/honda,2012,pilot,3.5l+v6,1502557,exhaust+&+emission,catalytic+converter,5808](https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/honda,2012,pilot,3.5l+v6,1502557,exhaust+&+emission,catalytic+converter,5808) Honda doesn’t make catalytic converters. They purchase them from a supplier. Tester ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2019, 5:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-honda-pilot-catalytic-converter/142112/8 "2019-06-12T17:12:29Z")
Any chance it’s a bad oxygen sensor? ---
**Author:** ![TwinTurbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@TwinTurbo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TwinTurbo)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2019, 5:15pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-honda-pilot-catalytic-converter/142112/9 "2019-06-12T17:15:47Z")
The OP mentioned Boch Honda. AFAIK, that’s in Norwood MA. If so, you can install any part that will perform well enough to extinguish the CEL. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2019, 5:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-honda-pilot-catalytic-converter/142112/10 "2019-06-12T17:18:06Z")
I didn’t see any mention of an O2 sensor code. Tester ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2019, 5:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-honda-pilot-catalytic-converter/142112/11 "2019-06-12T17:39:06Z")
But isn’t a bad cat indicated by the output of O2 sensor, so if the sensor’s bad, the cat code will be set? ---
**Author:** ![brownswordba90\_145660](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@brownswordba90\_145660](https://community.cartalk.com/u/brownswordba90_145660)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2019, 5:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-honda-pilot-catalytic-converter/142112/12 "2019-06-12T17:41:49Z")
You guys are all amazing. Here’s the update… I called a Meineke shop nearby. The guy said he probably would not do the job. Then I went to five different auto parts websites and found that the exhaust manifold converter that is 49 state compliant is no more expensive than $594 and the most common manufacturer is Magnaflow. I am now going to have to argue with the Parts Director about how much of a markup he thinks he can charge me. Thanks again. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2019, 5:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-honda-pilot-catalytic-converter/142112/13 "2019-06-12T17:46:15Z")
Hang on there! The reason the Honda dealer wants so much is, the cat they sell is warranted for 8 years/80,000 miles. The aftermarket cats aren’t warranted for that long. Tester ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2019, 5:50pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-honda-pilot-catalytic-converter/142112/14 "2019-06-12T17:50:14Z")
> [@brownswordba90\_145660](#): > > I called a Meineke shop nearby But have you called any independent muffler shops. ---
**Author:** ![brownswordba90\_145660](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@brownswordba90\_145660](https://community.cartalk.com/u/brownswordba90_145660)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2019, 5:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-honda-pilot-catalytic-converter/142112/15 "2019-06-12T17:53:18Z")
The car has 180K miles on it. Don’t think I need a 80K warrantee. Any idea who manufactures the cat that they are trying to sell me. Magnaflow is the one I see most often. ---
**Author:** ![PvtPublic](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/pvtpublic/32/13089_2.png) [@PvtPublic](https://community.cartalk.com/u/PvtPublic)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2019, 6:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-honda-pilot-catalytic-converter/142112/16 "2019-06-12T18:10:24Z")
> [@Tester](#): > > I didn’t see any mention of an O2 sensor code. I didn’t see any codes listed. ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2019, 6:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-honda-pilot-catalytic-converter/142112/17 "2019-06-12T18:10:24Z")
The one cat for my Pontiac was over $700 just for the part so that price doesn’t seem all that bad. Mine was covered by warranty though so I paid zero. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2019, 6:16pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-honda-pilot-catalytic-converter/142112/18 "2019-06-12T18:16:41Z")
Catco is one major manufacturer/supplier to vehicle manufacturers. [https://www.exhaustking.com/catco-catalytic-converters](https://www.exhaustking.com/catco-catalytic-converters) Vehicle manufacturers ask for bids from suppliers. The supplier who submits the lowest bid for the part gets the contract. Tester ---
**Author:** ![tcmichnorth](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tcmichnorth/32/25126_2.png) [@tcmichnorth](https://community.cartalk.com/u/tcmichnorth)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2019, 6:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-honda-pilot-catalytic-converter/142112/19 "2019-06-12T18:30:50Z")
Don’t know if I know what I’m talking about on this, but I put a cheap, cheap aftermarket cat on my daughters 05 CRV and still sprung a code for low catalytic converter performance code. After about 6 months the code and check engine light went away. Don’t think I’d go cheap, cheap again. ---
**Author:** ![Scrapyard-John](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f6c823/32.png) [@Scrapyard-John](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Scrapyard-John)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2019, 6:56pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-honda-pilot-catalytic-converter/142112/20 "2019-06-12T18:56:38Z")
A guy at work put a magnaflow cat on his wife’s pilot and it did not fix the code. He had to remove it and install a “Honda” converter (whoever the actual manufacturer is). Aftermarket cats are different than the oem units. The scrap value for an aftermarket cat is generally 5 to 10 bucks, whereas original to the vehicle converters are worth many times that (I think I paid him $80-$100 for the old Honda cat). I assume the lower scrap value for the aftermarket units are due to lower platinum, rhodium, etc content. My point is, a Magnaflow cat is not “the same thing” as what came on your Honda. I did put a Magnaflow cat on a 98 Dodge Ram I owned and had no issues (no engine light), though. So it’s hit or miss, apparently. I think I’d lean towards installing a Catco “oem equivalent” cat, if they make such a thing. The Magnaflows tend to be “high performance”, “free flowing” units. Which would concern me. [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-honda-pilot-catalytic-converter/142112.md?page=2)