Selling old stock cat converters???

I have a questions about my stock cat converters before I replace them.

The muffler shop is charging me $600 for 2 good aftermarket converters. When they take my old mufflers off, what happens to them? Knowing that they are worth something I don't want to just give them away. When I asked the muffler guy this question he said it was like a core charge, like when replacing a battery. I don't beleive that though. Since people steal these things, they gotta be worth atleast $50 or so.

If I can sell them to a metal yard and recoup some of the money I put into new converters and sensors then that would be awesome.

Let me know the rules on this.

Thanks!

 

Worth more than $50.

The "muffler guy" is going to sell them to a Tacoma owner who had his stolen for $300 each.

Curious why you are changing yours? Aftermarket are not as good as OEM and won't last nearly as long. That's one reason they are stolen so often.

 

I had them checked out and the rear (down stream) Cat and rear O2 sensor are bad, supposedly. Ive been to a couple shops and both shops said I should change both cats at the same time, especially since the rear is bad. They said if the situation were reversed and the front was bad and rear was good then I could do just the one and be good. If I didnt have to change them that would be awesome. But I have noticed a huge decrease in mileage along with a CEL that come on about 2-3 weeks after resetting the system. Code is P0420.

I should be able to get my 2 bad cat converters back. Ive never heard of a core charge with converters. If not then Im gonna take them off before I get my converters changed and keep them at home until i can figure out what to do with them.

 

There are many places that have core charges for catalytic converters. Depending on my supplier I have to return cores when I order them, or pay the core charge. I am not sure about all sates, but some states actually have laws regarding "used" catalytic converters. Have you ever tried to buy one from a salvage yard? They won't sell them to you. (Not legally anyway) The same go with airbag modules. Try and buy one from a salvage yard.

Not saying that it never happens, but a person and/or business owner are taking HUGE risks if they take used cats and try to sell them.

 

That's my point, why would the muffler shop care to have my old cats? I've heard some of the metals inside the converter are worth a little $. I figured I could take them to a scrap yard and take what they give me. It would be better than giving them away to the muffler shop. I really have no idea what they are worth, but they gotta be worth something if people try to steal these cats off our trucks?

 

I guess I need to find out if I am within my rights to ask for the stock cat converters back once the new aftermarket cats are put on? Or if I should take them off before I go in to the muffler shop to have the aftermarkets put on?

 

They're yours. Be prepaired for a core fee if you keep them. They may also charge you more if you take them by claiming that they are able to lower your price because they scrap them.

 

State and federal laws allow you to ask for ANY of your old parts, UNLESS they fall under certain situations. Those are:
Warranty repair where the parts are required to go back to the manufacturer
Core charges - for those where the purchase of a new part requires a core return

When you sign ANY work order, be sure that you READ the print. Some shops do not have the "part retention" clause. You can, by law, demand the return of any and all parts that do not fall under warranty or core.