catalytic converter- after market

[tom20682]

My daughter's cat converter finally went on her 1998 2.0 Beetle. The repair shop pricedme the OEM at $850 and an aftermarket at $518. I chose the cheaper one for a totla of $660- not bad. But.... now the CEL light is on, and I am not sure whether it came on immedately, since my daughter drove off in the cat, or if it came on after ward. I know I need to get it in to have codes pulled, but in the mean time, any ideas?

[Smileybug]

Was the CEL on before the Cat was replaced? And if so, did you clear the codes after it was replaced?

I also know that VW had sent out a letter regarding cats and that they had an extended warrenty for 12 years/120,000 miles I believe. So I don't know what your mileage is but VW might have been able to replace it for you.

[SMG]

I checked about the warranty thing when my cat went. No dice.

So, I went to a junkyard, bought a downpipe from a MK4 2.0L Jetta for $90 and had the shop cut the cat out of it and weld it in place of my dead one.

It took half an hour, so my total cost of replacing the cat cost me $120.

[Beetlemania]

I got an aftermarket for mine, and I never had any problems. I'd hope, if it was one that was compatible with the Bug, that it wouldn't cause any codes to come up.

[draco24433]

I only paid $150 for mine installed. I still get a code from it. I have already replaced the downstream o2 sensor and nothing.

[vwfleh]

What aftermarket ones did you guys buy?

My car has less then the 120,000 miles but I didn't know about the warranty extension. I ran a couple self tapping screws into the converter a while back to try and stop the rattle. Now when I talked to the dealer they tell me that the converter can't have any visible signs of damage. So a new converter would be $735 plus installation.

[SMG]

Step 1: Go to junkyard and buy used Cat from a low-mileage 2.0L Golf, Jetta or Beetle.
Step 2: Go to an exhaust shop and have it welded in.

What are people not understanding about this?

[vwfleh]

Not only do I live over 100 miles from the nearest dealership, there isn't any foreign car salvage yards just down the street either.

I can weld it in myself, just trying to eliminate the hassle of searching for a good universal cat with the O2 bung if someone else has already done it.

Now do you understand?

[SMG]

VW offers a long warranty on these Cats, they are one of the best you can buy.

So no, I don't understand spending more money on a cat that won't do as good a job or last as long.

[vwfleh]

Originally Posted by SMG

VW offers a long warranty on these Cats, they are one of the best you can buy.

So no, I don't understand spending more money on a cat that won't do as good a job or last as long.

You didn't read my first post very well.

[vwfleh]

The dealership said they would not warranty it.

[Beetlemania]

Sorry, when I had mine put on they didn't have a manufacturer's name, just said that I bought and had installed a cat.

[vwfleh]

Originally Posted by SMG

Step 1: Go to junkyard and buy used Cat from a low-mileage 2.0L Golf, Jetta or Beetle.
Step 2: Go to an exhaust shop and have it welded in.

What are people not understanding about this?

I contacted a foreign car junkyard that is just over 100 miles away and they told me that catalytic converters can not be sold used due to federal regulations.

[wawalker]

So buy one in Canada

[SMG]

Weak..

[vdubbugman53]

aftermarket cats can be found for 100 bucks or so....i got a 3in high flow for 107.

i know you dont need 3 inch but that is how cheap they are