My beloved Jeep Grand Cherokee (2000)140,000 miles, now needs a catalytic converter.All told the estimate was 2,000.00 I really was hoping to hold on to this car for another year, plus I just put 4 new tires and brakes on it for inspection. My mechanic says the car is driveable,but won’t pass inspection next year(the problem in something inside the catalytic converter) so do I sink the $ in it or bite the bullet for a new car. I was hoping to hold on to this car for at least another year as I know Jeeps can go the distance.
$2000.00 for a catalytic converter installation? Take the car to another mechanic and ask how much it would cost to install a universal catalytic converter.
Tester
If you like the vehicle, and you want to keep driving it, pay the money and get if fixed. You’re not going to buy a new vehicle for $2,000.
Just don’t look at this as an investment. It’s an expense.
Shopping around might get you a better price. That’s a lot of money for a cat.
That includes labor…should get a second opinion huh?
Get another estimate using aftermarket parts. I suspect that your mechanic quoted the price with Jeep parts. You won’t keep it another 140,000 miles or 10 years, so less expensive and presumably shorter life parts should be OK. I see a lot of them advertised for $150 to $300 each. Since you said “a” catalytic converter, I assume you only need one. I’m sure that even the $100 model will last one year. BTW, is your mechanic a dealer? They often charge a lot more than indy mechanics.
I had a cat replaced on one of my cars about a year ago. The total bill was under $750. That includes labor.
$2K is outrageous. You’re not driving a Porsche.
Yes, you should get a second opinion, or at least a second estimate.
yea, he said it needs a cat con…oxygen sensor,muffler and tail pipe. Think I’ll get a second opinion thanks.
Thanks! Will do
Right,what happened was the engine light came on and when he put it on the computer there is something wrong inside the cat. so what I will be needing he says is the following…front and rear cats, muffler, oxygen sensor and a tail pipe…something about the underneath is all one piece and so all must be replaced. No he’s not a dealer and the quote came down from 3,200 to 2k when he said he could get parts other than from Jeep.
Thank you!
Even if you needed all that there’s no way in hell it should total $2000.00. I’ve replaced cats and exhaust systems in Cherokee’s. And if you do need a complete exhaust system, it makes it easier. You just go in and cut all the old parts out and let them hit the floor, and then install all the new pipes, clamps, and hardware. A lot easier than messing with old rusted pipes, clamps, and hardware.
Tester
Thanks so much! So good to know! Love Car Talk peeps!
Has it ever had new Oxygen sensors put in? Maybe an old/bad O2 sensor is making the light come on.
Hmmm, not sure…probably not…going to take it to get a second opinion from my old mechanic.South Philly boy will set me straight…can’t thank you enough . Will bring all this info to him.