…… During my regular oil change...

[Loretta Van Riet]

the mechanic found leaks between flex pipe and secondary catalyst, and of course- rust.

I am the typical little old lady (70 yrs) who believes most evrything. However, my car is running great, I don't smell fumes and there is no loud noise.

Am I being taken for a ride? Car is 2008 Nissan Altima with 106,000 miles.

They want me to replace the catalytic converter,oxygen sensor, whatever pipe flange gasket converter (front).

With labor this would run about $1040.

If you think this is urgent I will try to find a way into my budget.

Thanks,
Loretta V.

Bonus question... how often should one replace the Serpentine belt? I have replaced it twice.

 

[Shooter]

tell him when it falls off onto the ground youll fix it . a little rust in the flex coupling is very normal

on the belt. when you start to see cracks in it, i have 160,000 miles on my belt, but carry a new one under the seat

 

[Raggedyman]

Loretta
I have a 2003 tahoe . . . it has 178K on it. just replaced the catalytic converter last fall . . .

 

[kyrsyan]

One, if there was a problem in the system you're check engine light would come on. Especially a problem at the levels you are discussing. Those sensors will always set off check engine lights. I have one oxygen sensor connection that does that every once in while. Drives me nuts.
Two, any holes in the exhaust would make noise. It's really annoying. Even tiny holes make disproportionate amounts of noise. Or they always have for me. (A trick Dad used to use if the hole was small was a rope of JB weld around that section of pipe. Once he made sure that there was no actual system problem.) Catalytic converters are expensive. And most shops can get a pretty penny for the recyclable materials in them. Nowadays, those materials are pricey and hard to come by.
Honestly, I'd ask around for a new mechanic. Or find an oil change shop that didn't try to boost it's income with side jobs.
Serpentine belts... for me it tends to be every 60,000 miles or so. I just watch for cracks/squealing/other issues. They are pretty sturdy. I did take to keeping one in stock for my old van because it was hard to find the original. Long story.

 

[Marie]

the mechanic found leaks between flex pipe and secondary catalyst, and of course- rust.

I am the typical little old lady (70 yrs) who believes most evrything. However, my car is running great, I don't smell fumes and there is no loud noise.

Am I being taken for a ride? Car is 2008 Nissan Altima with 106,000 miles.

They want me to replace the catalytic converter,oxygen sensor, whatever pipe flange gasket converter (front).

With labor this would run about $1040.

If you think this is urgent I will try to find a way into my budget.

Thanks,
Loretta V.

Bonus question... how often should one replace the Serpentine belt? I have replaced it twice.

Without seeing it I can't give you an honest assessment. However having so many women friends that bring me their car to check after similar episodes from their mechanic I'd say there's a 90% chance he is full of .
And none of these warrant a concern without your engine light coming on.
Is there anyone you trust who could look at it?

 

[Loretta Van Riet]

Without seeing it I can't give you an honest assessment. However having so many women friends that bring me their car to check after similar episodes from their mechanic I'd say there's a 90% chance he is full of .
And none of these warrant a concern without your engine light coming on.
Is there anyone you trust who could look at it?

Oh, crap. I did leave this out...the check engine light IS ON, but I'm being told the reason they can't reset it is because a mouse chewed through something.

Car passed emissions test with flying colors. No rough idling, no rotten egg smell, no rattling sound.

 

[tech]

You need to find a reputable mechanic in your area and have them give a second opinion.

 

[kyrsyan]

Oh, crap. I did leave this out...the check engine light IS ON, but I'm being told the reason they can't reset it is because a mouse chewed through something.

Car passed emissions test with flying colors. No rough idling, no rotten egg smell, no rattling sound.

You can go to any autoparts store and they can read the code for the engine light. And a mouse chewing something would mean that the codes couldn't be read.

 

[Marie]

You can go to any autoparts store and they can read the code for the engine light. And a mouse chewing something would mean that the codes couldn't be read.

Yea! I'd move on to another mechanic at this point. Ask some friends for recommendations.
If your oxygen sensor and catalytic converter needs to be replaced it wouldn't pass emissions .
Not to mention your o2 sensor out, your engine would be misfiring and a rough idle.

 

[Loretta Van Riet]

Yea! I'd move on to another mechanic at this point. Ask some friends for recommendations.
If your oxygen sensor and catalytic converter needs to be replaced it wouldn't pass emissions .
Not to mention your o2 sensor out, your engine would be misfiring and a rough idle.

Thank you, I will. Especially since my car is running smoothly. I kinda feel like "old lady with an old car" let's make some money.

 

[mecoastie]

Go to any auto parts store and they will read your code. Then get a second opinion. Unless the flange is rusted through on the cat then there should be no need to replace it especially if you are passing emissions. Is there a high school or community college near you that does auto repair? They will typically do work for parts cost plus a small donation. And the work is usually very good as it is checked over by the instructors.

Only other thing is if it is something that is getting close to needing a repair that is verified by a second shop, you may want to do it. Who knows what parts availability may be in a year with all the supply issues.

 

[Teawhisk]

Took my wife's KIA in for a door latch repair
They told me that the vehicle needed $2K repairs on doors.
I checked online and with a mechanic friend. Both told me I was being fed a line.
I told them no. They then "fixed" the car doors so the problem they told me about became real.
I was fortunate enough to have taken before and after pictures.
The Lawyers are still sorting this out.

 

[WalknTrot]

I have serpentine belts replaced every 50,000 miles or so. Cheap insurance. If you've ever had one go out on the road,
well, once is enough.

 

[kyrsyan]

I have serpentine belts replaced every 50,000 miles or so. Cheap insurance. If you've ever had one go out on the road,
well, once is enough.

My very first car within the first month. What a mess that was because I was miles from home and had never had to deal with car problems. At night.
I was trying to limp it home so Dad could check it out, in the years before cell phones. Got pulled over by the cops who had dispatch call my Dad.

 

[Ku Commando]

Am I being taken for a ride?

You bet !!

Just think......you just saved yourself a grand !!

But if you're feeling jilted......time to extract revenge on the service dept !!

R/T 2:41 ----- 7 seconds off the top'll do !!

 

[FireDance]

I have learned never to go to the dealership for anything. If you are a woman, they will take you for a ride EVERY time.

And there are many “shade tree” mechanics who will do the same. I have no idea how many times I have been ripped off. Guys generally won’t understand. It’s like they see a woman and KNOW they can take them right down the road to riches.

I found a great guy who is familiar with my car because he’s the uncle of my daughter’s friend. At friend’s wedding DD had a flat and he was there thankfully. Because as mechanic likes to tell it “none of those young boys knew how to change a tire.” Well I have moved very close to him and he does all my work. It’s right and he doesn’t rip me off.

When we have something needed done around the house? I call out A/C guy. He is a Christian and probably knows everyone in town. Ask him who he’d recommend and I find someone reliable and honest. If you know someone like this, call them and see if you can find someone who won’t screw you over.

OR find a guy who can take your car in for you. But that can be hit or miss.

 

[Loretta Van Riet]

Update. It WAS the Cat. Second mechanic pulled the codes and showed me. I didn't know that if the "check engine light" is on and you are due for the air quality inspection that they will refuse to do it. So I had the repairs done as my Air test was due in a week!