Should I trade or should I have my car repaired?
My car is a 2000 Ford Countour. Yesterday, I went to have my car checked out, I was told the catalytic converter needs to be replaced and also the transmission is out of range 1/1. 5 (I have no idea what 1/1. 5 means). I was told it would cost $1800 to replace the catalytic converter (this does not include any other repairs. )
I’d say it’s time for a new car!
yer gettin the rip off on the cat
When you got your car did you get the extended warranty on your car. If you did most of the repairs would be covered under the extended warranty.
If you have less than 80,000 miles on your car they have to replace this convertor for free. All cars sold in the US have an 8 year 80,000 mile emission warranty covering the powertrain control module and the catalytic convertors. If you are past that point you may as well trade it in, contours are problematic cars anyway.
take your car to an exhaust shop and ask them about a catalytic converter, should not be more than 200. go aftermarket. for your transmission, i assume it is an automatic, get your fluid flushed and filled. your final bill, not including labour should be 400-450.
I think you should have someone else look at your car. I have never needed to replace a catalytic converter (will not say that it is impossible to need replaced) and what is transmission out of range. Never heard of that one and have heard a lot of stories about cars. I think some one saw you coming and you are about to take the bait, don’t take it unless you want to pay for something you don’t need. If you want to pay, I’ll only charge you $100. 00 to change the carbon in your car. (another wild story)
Worst case scenario:$436. 95 – for just the cat converterLabor should only be 2 Hrs – @ 70. 00 Hr = 140. 00576. 95 – so I would find a real shopI can put this on in about 30 minutes – I just did my friends contour 2001 and we took out time messing around. The transmission is another rip off. There is nothing wrong with it. Tell these hacks to get a new line of work, they are not mechanics.
I would have the situation verified by another mechanical shop. If in fact the repairs are required, you are looking at $2000 for a transmission and $1800 for the exhaust.
An average 2000 Contour is valued at $3200 – $4600 depending on equipment and condition (according to Kelly Blue Book).
From an investment viewpoint, investing $3800 into a vehicle worth only $3800 is not a sound investment.
From a personal viewpoint, what kind of vehicle could you get by trading in your car plus a $3000 investment (leave yourself $800 for incidentals on the newer vehicle)? If you can trade up and get a dependable vehicle, that would be the best investment.
I hope you find out that the first mechanics were “mistaken” and you only have a minor repair when you visit the second mechanic.
Good luck.
RJ
$1,800 is insane. Take it to another shop, preferably one with a AAA accredidation, and have them do a diagnostic scan on the car, both on the road and in the bay. A good mechanic should be able to tell through exhaust gas analysis if the catalyst is functioning or not. Catalytic converters generally last the life of the car unless the platinum or palladium pellets inside take a direct hit from some road debris or a curb. The transmission likely needs some minor adjustments if anything at all.
you can repair it but who ever you took it to is trying to rip you off i have never heard of any catalytic converter costing 1800 to replace it should be more than 180 for that car the transmission may just need adjusting take the car somewhere else