Our mechanic says the check engine light is on in our 1998 Forester because we need to replace the catalytic converter. It;s a fairly expensive proposition; should we do it? He says it’s not really a problem except that the car won’t pass inspection!?
It could be the cat…or it could also be just a O2 sensor. You will HAVE to get it fixed.
Check around to make sure it’s the cat…And if it is…there are aftermarket cats that might make the job a lot cheaper. I wouldn’t put a new OEM cat on a car that’s 10 years old.
Can you get the code (not their translation) and post it back here?
That CEL (check engine light) is just a kid in class waving her hand trying to get you attention because she has the answer. You need to have the codes read. Some places will read them for FREE. Try Autozone or Advanced Auto Parts. Get the exact code (like P0123) not just their translation into English and post it back here.