My "check engine light" has supplied a code that claims my cat is bad. NYS won't let you pass inspection with this light on, for vehicles newer than 1996. My 2.3 is a 1996, so that means I have to fix it.
Is there any way around replacing the cat, that will give the inspectors an "everything's okay" reading? This is my first time actually considering fixing one of these. I always just replaced them with through-pipes. This is also the most modern vehicle I've owned. Most of my stuff was from the 80's, my Econoline 150 straight-six just barely getting under the smog radar as a '95.
Any ideas? Otherwise, it's $500.

 

What code do you have? there is no code that just says "the cat is bad". catalytic converters dont commit suicide, something else causes them to go bad. get me the code number P0xxx or P1xxx and that will help