Saturday we took our truck to a mechanic to get the checked because the SES light came on. We were informed that our 2000 Chevy Silverado had problems with the two catalytic converters, causing multiple misfires. We were told that if we got a tune up, it might keep the light off and would mean our converter problem wasn't so bad. So, after being informed that our truck had all its original tune up parts (we haven't had it very long and haven't needed one, though we didn't know it had never been done), we paid 600 dollars for a tune up. Well, the next night, the light came back on. We were told it would cost around 300 for each converter, plus labor. We are of course going to do better reasearch and talk to another mechanic to be sure this is correct, but and information on here would steer me in the right direction ahead of time. Before spending any more money, I would like to be sure it needs to be spent!!
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Does my Chevy Silverado 1500 have two catalytic converters?
- Thread starter Mikael
- Start date
get new mechanic..600 tune up is crazy helps to include all info,,how many miles,,did you get new oxygen sensors? aftermarket converters cost about 100 each,,,
1 at any auto parts store get shop manual..it will make you smarter
2 while there ask who is a good/honest mechanic in area..[they know]
3 ask co workers,,friends,whos good,,,
4 dont be affraid to say no and go to someone else.
1 at any auto parts store get shop manual..it will make you smarter
2 while there ask who is a good/honest mechanic in area..[they know]
3 ask co workers,,friends,whos good,,,
4 dont be affraid to say no and go to someone else.
Country Boy
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Your truck must have a 5.3 motor which has two converters, one for each bank of four cylinders just off the exhaust manifold.
Don't mess with auto-parts store diagnostic equipment. Your local Chevrolet dealer can plug their GM engine reader to your on-board computer to fine what's really throwing the code. If converter/s are necessary check out autopartswarehouse.com for a *direct fit Walker converter set which is pre-welded into an exhaust Y-pipe. The whole works costs less than $500.00. It sounds expensive until you price a GM unit which costs twice as much. It's a good idea to replace the rear oxygen sensor at the same time as that one is miserable to get at.
They have other brands for less money but Walker fits the best and is 50 state legal. Your local Chevrolet dealer will install it for you if you're unable to do it yourself.
Don't mess with auto-parts store diagnostic equipment. Your local Chevrolet dealer can plug their GM engine reader to your on-board computer to fine what's really throwing the code. If converter/s are necessary check out autopartswarehouse.com for a *direct fit Walker converter set which is pre-welded into an exhaust Y-pipe. The whole works costs less than $500.00. It sounds expensive until you price a GM unit which costs twice as much. It's a good idea to replace the rear oxygen sensor at the same time as that one is miserable to get at.
They have other brands for less money but Walker fits the best and is 50 state legal. Your local Chevrolet dealer will install it for you if you're unable to do it yourself.
Since your SES light is on, your computer is throwing a code. Take your truck to a local auto parts store and see if they have a code reader. You can read the code and see what the recommended repairs are for it. Your truck may have two cats on it (I can't remember), one on each exhaust pipe coming from the engine. Could be that your O2 sensors are bad. Could be a bad gas cap. See what the code(s) are and the recommended repairs. If you can't do the repairs yourself, take it to a different reputable mechanic and get estimates first. Take it to several mechanics and compare the results. Or take it to a Chevy dealer and see what the say is wrong. If they say that the truck didn't need a tune up, then you can go back to the first mechanic and see if you can get some of your money back. $600 is outrageous. The only thing you can really do for a tune up is replace plugs and plug wires, air and fuel filters. That's not worth $600.