Lets start with how the previous story ended. Since the exhaust manifold was stripped out the only thing I could do was replace the whole assembly. Therefore my o2 sensor that cost $110 ended up costing $650 to replace. This includes the new exhaust manifold and the new o2 sensor. A few days later, while waiting for my computer to complete the engine check so I can finally get it registered my engine light pops on again. This was NOT supposed to happen. I called up the dealer and threw out a few questions around the situation hoping to find out what might cause this. He explained that more than likely the problem was the catalytic converter. This is the very thing the guy at Pep Boys mentioned. The dealer wants $1200 to replace the converter. Today, I called over to Master Muffler to get a price and he quoted me $350. I can not explain how excited I was to pay $350 for the new part. I headed in and was the only customer there. He looked over my car and confirmed that my catalytic converter was bad. He gave me a choice to do just the converter for $350 or the entire assembly for $750. $750 was $500 less than the dealer quoted me so I had to go for it. It was the guy suggestion and he looked like a guy I could trust. Through this whole ordeal I’ve had nothing to go with but my gut feeling. They had the piece ripped out and installed in less than 1 hour and I didn’t even have an appointment. I have a few days to drive it before I know if it will pass inspection still but if that did the trick I’m going to Master Muffler for all my repairs. I’m extremely impressed with their work. They also gave me a 2 year warranty on the parts.

So, to sum this up: I go to Pep Boys to check my engine light and they tell me it’s a bad catalytic converter. I take it to Mr Muffler for a second opinion and they laugh at Pep Boys and tell me it’s just the o2 sensor. This ends up costing me $650 that I didn’t need to spend. I go to Master Muffler and they confirm Pep Boys diagnosis and charge $750 ($500 less than the dealer) for a new converter. A total of $1400 was spent just to get my car to pass the emissions test. In the future I won’t be going to Mr Muffler for anything as they clearly don’t know what they are doing or else they are a scam shop. I will listen to those that know what they are talking about as Pep Boys strongly suggested Master Muffler as well as the team at Jiffy Lube.