Bad replacement universal cat. converter

[mspeight]

Hey all, I've got a VW Golf Sport 2003 and recently my catalytic converter died and I was in for a replacement. i was told by VW that the replacement was going to be $1500!!! No thanks...

A local mechanic has fitted my car with a universal conveter, but it sounds terrible! This universal converter has cost me $350 and it makes my car sound like a tractor! I'm wondering how I could get a replacement for less than $1500 for the standard converter?

Does anyone have any other ideas or anything else they've done that has worked? I would consider fitting a sports exhaust of that was better and cheaper too.

Cheers.

[leighaus]

sounds like you have a really bad exhaust leak if it sounds like a tractor. get it up on standard when its cold and start it up. youll feel the air escaping even just idling if theres a leak. otherwise, no idea sorry.

[Type 17]

Is the resonator still there, or did the exhaust guy perhaps cut it out?

Maybe the welds are not sealed properly/ the collar clamp that joins the mid and rear section may not have sealant on it or be tightened enough

Magnaflow bullet cats are pretty good, they are quality spun metallic and highflow,

So should remain relatively quite and net you some power gains.

Hope you manage to get it sorted soon.

Cheers, Pedro

[Bug_racer]

The VW came out with a higher flowing catalytic converter , so if you want to keep the same sound as before you need to replace the cat with a 200 cel or equivalent unit . Using a generic cat will result in a tinny hollow type sound .

[mspeight]

Thanks for that, I don't think it's an exhaust leak, it's more of a vibration through the car when the engine is under load, I took it to VW and they said that the CAT is too small compared to the standard one. I'm trying to work out if it's cheaper to buy a performance sports exhaust or replace mine with the standard and folk out the $1500.

Cheers
Micah

[dylan8]

I was in the same situation and just got a generic off the shelf. I didnt want any extra noise but any extra power gains I was keen for. Mine was fine, think it only cost 200-300 fitted.
The exhaust bloke just looked up golfs/boras in his listing and gave me 3 options that would match and I went mid price range under his recommendation.

[mspeight]

Yea I spoke to a Mechanic this morning he reckons that the cat. I have is too small and sounds like it's applying back pressure to the engine... I reckon I'll go down the high flow options.
Thanks all for your thoughts.
M.