Question about Cat Converter on my car?

I have a 1998 Honda Accord EX 2.3L 4cyl car and believe that the catylac converter is bad. I recently got my car diagnostically checked out by a local automotive store and I had one reading come back as "Catylac Converter Exhaust Insufficient Threshold (Bank 1)". This may not be the exact wording of the code, but it was something to this nature.

Anyway, if my cat converter is bad (I also heard that it could be just an O2 sensor malfunctioning), then what is my best options legally. I really don't want loud sound (not sure if cats can make your car louder). I also don't want to spend alot of money. I can put the cat on myself also. Here are some prices that I have so far for my car:

Local Shops:

$185 w/ installation for cat that does has the O2 sensor before the cat.

$480 for the cat with the O2 sensor in the middle of the cat (my car)

Ebay:

Hi-Flow (probably generic aftermarket cats) for $25-$70 w/ the O2 sensor hole in the middle.

The Ebay option is really grabbing my attention. I don't believe that these add-ons will be illegal in my state (Louisiana), but if they are, then I would rather stay away. The car has 130,000 miles on it and I am willing to try something out for only $25 plus shipping if they are worth the money...

What do you guys think?

Edit:

Also, just more info...the shop price with installation would be $200. BUT, they will have to cut my pre-existing bolt connection to weild the new cat converter on. Even though it comes with a one year warranty, I am still not to happy with the fact that they have to cut off my bolt connections to install it. The ones on Ebay do not require this.

mar122999 <UseLinkToEmail.DeleteThis@AutoForumz.com> wrote in
news:1_654644_205bfae68f53a6c91ac529082b0afd87@autoforumz.com:

> I have a 1998 Honda Accord EX 2.3L 4cyl car and believe that the
> catylac converter is bad.



You "believe" it's bad? I "believe" you ought to take a more scientific
approach.



> I recently got my car diagnostically checked
> out by a local automotive store and I had one reading come back as
> "Catylac Converter Exhaust Insufficient Threshold (Bank 1)". This
> may not be the exact wording of the code, but it was something to this
> nature.



What was the exact code number? It will start with a "P".

It may be simply the downstream O2 sensor, but with your slightly garbled
and mis-spelled description and lack of a code number, we can't be sure.


<snip>


> Ebay:
>
> Hi-Flow (probably generic aftermarket cats) for $25-$70 w/ the O2
> sensor hole in the middle.


If you buy that, you are very stupid.


--
TeGGeR®

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/