How long do cats last?

[Walking Eagle]

Does anybody know the expected lifetime of the cats? What about cost estimates?

[mattadams]

I believe catalytic convertors are one part of the vehicle, as well as seat belts, etc. that carry a 100,000 mile warranty, but thats because federal government requires it.
As far as replacing them, if you go with ford factory stuff your looking at some top dollar (my GUESS would be about $800 or so but thats just an estimate) ... or you could do what I did, have them replaced with some high flows for the price of about $300, which included labor.

[clavos]

They are supposed to last the life of the vehicle.

[Walking Eagle]

If they were failing, what would be some symptoms?

[clavos]

If they were plugged, your truck would run like shit, it wouldn't idle properly, engine temp would be high, think of the potatoe in the tailpipe trick. If they just weren't operating correctly, you wouldn't notice anything unless you started having problems passing emission tests.

[Walking Eagle]

I've been having an idling problem for the past month with the Check Engine light on. The truck is a gutless wonder, it won't accelerate for crap. I'm almost afraid to make a left turn if there is oncoming traffic, because the truck is sluggish.

[cory]

jeff if you dont feed them of corse they wont last or live long. :mrgreen:

[clavos]

You could tap lightly on your cat with a hammer and see if it sounds hollow or if it sounds plugged.

[Derrick C.]

Just be very careful hittin the cats to clean them out. My rigs been down for 2 months now. I've been doin all the little things on it. I decided to clean my cats cause well....they have 160K miles on them. While I thought I was "tapping" them.....I accidently put a hole in one of them. I guess it was time to replace them long ago. :?

I did high flow cats from a local shop (Had to install myself) for $200. I'm friends with the owner so I get everything at cost. :D But I remember lookin into these a long time ago and I was thinkin it was alot more then $300 for high flow cats. I could be wrong though. :wink:

[Walking Eagle]

Derrick welcome to RMFTC.

Thanks for the heads up.

[rpenner54]

one thing you will notice is that just before the cats are some bolts that bolt your exhaust system together. these have some springs on them, or should. well once you get it up and running get out there and see if you have leakage through those areas they should 'pop' open and push exhaust out that way. it will sound really strange too...

sorry my shift key don't work.... :(

[golfmore]

Bang it with your fist. If it sounds like there's sand in it, it's toast.