Nissan Repair: I35 cat converter, cat converter, catalytic converter

Question
Hello. I own a 2002 I35, 168K used. I brought the car to a muffler place for a check due to rattling from under the car when you hit the gas. The muffler guy said that the center catalytic converter is going bad, inside is breaking up causing the sound. He gave me a price of $700 p%26l or $250 labor if I get part on my own. I thought that cats usually do not go bad, so does this sound credible? The SES is not on and appears to be no loss in power. Your advice is much appreciated, thanks.

Answer
Sean,

The cat can go bad without throwing a light.  If you have tools you could replace the converter yourself since it is just a bolt in.  I would go on-line to rockauto.com courtesyparts.com autopartswarehouse.com or one of yours and get the converter and do it myself.  $250 seems a little expensive to unbolt the converter and put a new one on and the $700 is over the top.  I found one that is a performance bolt on replacement for $300 bucks.

http://www.streetbeatcustoms.com/Magnaflow/Catalytic-Converter/Magnaflow-Direct-...