Would YOU Buy A Catalytic Converter From Ebay? (auto, van, exhaust)

[KevK]

I need to get a converter for a Honda Odessy van and the dealer wants $500.00 for it and other places around here want $400 for it installed. I asked an auto supply store about it and they said it cost $350 and I install it. It looks like it bolts in and would not be too hard to install myself. When I go to Ebay I am finding them for less than $200. Are these good converters that are going to turn off the check engine light and get the thing pass the emissions test? I have always lived by "you get what you pay for" and the prices seem too good to be true. Any experiences here?

[southernnaturelover]

From what I hear the ones on ebay are usually sold for scrap.

[johnfrisco]

From what I hear after market cats last max 2 years.

[KevK]

Originally Posted by southernnaturelover

From what I hear the ones on ebay are usually sold for scrap.

I don't want to take chances and buy something that will fail emissions and then have to turn right around and buy another one anyway. One of the bigger brand names on there is "Magnaflow". Are these scrap units?

[johnfrisco]

Originally Posted by KevK

I don't want to take chances and buy something that will fail emissions and then have to turn right around and buy another one anyway. One of the bigger brand names on there is "Magnaflow". Are these scrap units?

There is a reason they are so cheap. Just get it from the dealer--that is actually a good price from a dealer.

[southernnaturelover]

The ones on ebay are sold to people who think they can make money off of the platinum inside of them. Most of them probably come out of high mileage vehicles and it wouldn't surprise me if some of them aren't stolen (especially imports).

[GTOlover]

are we talking used or new?

[KevK]

Originally Posted by GTOlover

are we talking used or new?

They say that they are new. I would not buy that used not knowing how many miles are on it. Here are a few I found:

HONDA Odyssey 2001 2002 3.5L Catalytic Converter:eBay Motors (item 180411230840 end time Oct-23-09 13:25:47 PDT)

2001 HONDA ODYSSEY Direct Fit Cat Catalytic Converter:eBay Motors (item 280324032402 end time Oct-13-09 20:22:39 PDT)

[Deez Nuttz]

Originally Posted by johnfrisco

From what I hear after market cats last max 2 years.

Where did you hear this?

And how do you know if an aftermarket cat is bad or not?

I've got a Catco on my truck that's almost 9 years old.

[Drover]

I have a Bosal aftermarket cat on one of my cars and you can tell by the smell of the exhaust that it has just enough catalytic material to get you through emissions by the barest of margins. I'm actually skeptical that I'm going to pass my next emissions test. But at least I'll get my money back if I don't, which I'll promptly put toward a proper cat that actually works.