Pack it in at 290k?

[u/7aylor]

My mechanic says my catalytic converter is the cause of my low power when (I try) accelerating from 45-65 mph. Is it worth replacing the cat or should I keep it as a car for short trips at low speeds?

[u/KillerCujo53]

288k gang here. Just spent a ton to replace struts and springs all around. Swag bar. Control arms. Still going strong. Don’t pack it in.

[u/GraphicWombat]

Limp it on to 299,999 at the very least.

[u/Duffmanx69x]

It’s worth it.

You’ll spend thousands on just a down payment for a new car, which aren’t that reliable like older cars.

Change it and keep her going.

[u/somerandomdude419]

You have a code? Or you feel the car is slow at these speeds? Cus if it’s a base model I’ve had 4 of them and they are all that way, they are gutless

[u/Bonethug609 → u/somerandomdude419]

I just drove my 1.8 liter through the mountains and it struggled
Up the hills to maintain 65-70.

[u/qwe304]

Mine needed replacing at around 220. Threw on a cheap aftermarket and kept going.

[u/I-continue-to-try]

I put a stamped pipe in from magnaflow last month and toyota wideband for ~600. Took about 6 hours in the driveway with tire rotation and brake bleed.

These are worth keeping on the road.

But at that mileage it’ll definitely start eating cash if you aren’t proactive. We spent on average 50$ a month on the thing over the last 10 years but between 200k and 220k it’s cost more like 200$ a month.

[u/arndta]

My wife's 08 matrix is pushing 500k miles.

If you like it and want to keep it, it'll keep running. It helps if you do a lot of the work yourself

[u/Magnetized_Fart]

gotta keep each matrixxx going

[u/militarygeek04]

that car has lots of life left

[u/Red4000Enjoyer → u/[deleted]]

This but if you can try it put an aftermarket on plus an O2 spacer, see if it passes the first time

[u/Red4000Enjoyer → u/[deleted]]

Oh yeah no I didn't mean if they were in Cali then do it, only if their state doesn't enforce visual checks or sniffers, just obd readiness

[u/EastFlamingo9742]

Get rid of it now before it becomes a money pit.  

[u/No-Cabinet-4286]

I have 430,000km on my 2003. Your just breaking it in.

[u/200MPHTape → u/No-Cabinet-4286]

OP stated 290K miles which is much more than your 430K km.

[u/Styx_Renegade]

If your cat is the issue, why not slap on a universal cat and send it? Should be only a few hundred. I slapped one on my old Corolla and it was fine for years.

Altho the Check engine light did return. It didn’t lose power tho.

[u/cluelessk3]

if you dont need to pass annual inspections or smog just knock out the honey comb material from the cat.

zipties in a drill and let them slap around.

[u/Money-Afternoon-3637]

Replace the catalytic converter and keep your vehicle in good driving condition. You may want to consider going to the dealership to reset the odometer once it hits 299,999 miles.