So I'm pretty darn sure my cat is completely gone now. It used to rattle like a bolt in a pan. It now it clatters, but that's not the best part, within 1.5 miles of driving my Jeep would start to hesitate more and more with every acceleration from a stop. So much so that I had to limp 1 mile home at 10 mph so I didn't strain the engine too much. I can't drive it on the road now because I don't want to risk damaging more than the cat and it just got worse and worse until I finally turned the Jeep off at home. I know there are tons of strict laws on Cats in SoCal but I was wondering what I should do. Could I buy a cat and give it to a shop to put on, but I would have to get to a shop and I'm out of tows until April (broke down twice in the past 2 months and they used up the last of em). Could I just unbolt the cat and tie it up out of the way so I can get to the shop? I'm not going to go catless but I just need help weighing out my options. Especially since I'm a college student who makes $150 a week and still owes his mechanic $500 for repairs. Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

 

You should be able to find an OEM bolt in catalytic converter. May have to call the dealership or scour the inter webs. Then you can just bolt it in in the driveway. Might pay more for the cat, but you won't have to pay a mechanic for labor.

As a side note, your thread title got me excited. I was hoping to see a bad *** house cat tearing up a jeep.

 

Depending on year, there was a recall for the catalytic converter, jeep dealer will replace it for free. I believe my 1996 qualified for this recall.

 

Wow. Just wow.

There is hope!

Instead of realizing there's a problem, and just pushing on ahead and destroying your engine, you took heed to to it and did the smart thing!

Man, that's refreshing to hear. I needed to see some common sense in action after dealing with that clown that sprayed WD-40 on his brake pads to quiet them.

Nice work!

 

So..... WD-40 won't stop squeaky brakes?

 

You can search the CARB database for approved aftermarket catalytic converters here:

https://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/afterm...ktcatdbase.htm

One option for an 89 XJ:

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/wlk-80906

Print out the CARB list and keep it. It shows that at the time you purchased a particular model cat that is was approved. The list changes and you may need it in the future.

There are some DIY no weld options for installation (do a search for instructions) or you can find a muffler shop to install it.

 

Heh. The operative phrase there is, "won't stop".

 

 

Well I got it fixed. Guy charged me $220 + tax. Replaced with a magnaflow cat. Sounds even better than before the cat broke and is smmmooooottthhh now. But thank you everyone for your tips!

 

Nice! Not a bad price, either.

 

Yup! He took $60 off because my mechanic is the one who referred me to him. They're a normal exhaust and brake shop by day, and eve shop by night.

 

What is an eve shop? Good deal on the install. What did you do with the old cat? They have scrap value. Last set I had I got $50 for the pair (from a Camaro).

 

They scrap it. I bet that's part of the reason why it was a good deal. And I meant to say race* shop by night.