A dealership is charging me 700 dollars to change a catalytic converter on my 97 Mazda Protege 1.5l. I thought this was excessive. I was wondering what others thought about this and where I can find a part. How hard is it to change it?

Don't go back to that shop 'cause they're out to take your money.
An aftermarket cat. runs way,way less than $700.00-like maybe $120.00 tops? Anyhow, go to any good muffler shop and they'll install it for less too.
Do your homework before parting with your hard earned money!

I just priced one for a 626 the other day and the parts store said between 60 and 80 dollars. look at an automotive manual and see what the going time to do the job is, and then take that number of hours and multiply it times $65, ( the going rate for labor) and add in the price of the part and you should have the adverage price of the job.

I just replaced the catalytic converter on my protege. It was less than $100 for a universal one (i.e.,it had to be welded in place by a friend of mine. An OEM exact replacement with flanges was under $200, that is it just slipped in and bolted on--no welding like with the universal one.

I just replaced the catalytic converter on my Protege. It was less than $100 for a universal one at Autozone. One drawback to a universal one is it either needs to be welded in place, or bolted on with exhaust pipe fittings and U-bolts for exhaust pipes. I tried the fittings and U-bolts first, but it didn't seem to seal the exhaust pipe well (a friend of mine with a welder ended up welding it for me). An OEM exact replacement with flanges was under $200, that is it just slipped in and bolted on--no welding like the universal one.