Hi all, I am a brand new member, but have visited here several times - so thanks for the great information.
I am having similar difficulties to the person who started this thread. I have a 98SE with 73K running a lean code which the Ford dealer tells me refers to failed cats. They have quoted me $950 just for the two pre-cats and that labor may be expensive, given that, "often the bolts break" as quoted.
I use or will sell the car in CA, so it has been baffling (pun intended ...) to find after-market pre-cats that will ensure passing CA smog.
So my questions are, (a) where might I find after-market cats? or is there some alternative option - that will ensure my goal of passing CA smog.
And (b) any sense of how to approach the breaking bolts issue - other than using patience / penetrating oil and or helicoils ...?
Thanks!
