Catalytic coverter going out

Is your car burning any oil? It's kinda early for a 2008 with 160k to need a catalytic converter. Just make sure the check engine light is related to the catalytic converter. This is the one you want, it's about $100

Magnaflow 99205HM Universal Catalytic Converter

 

If the repair shop reported the code as needing the catalytic converter, then that's most likely the case. It always starts off with the check engine intermittently turning on and off....eventually staying on full time.

You should monitor the oil usage on your car at this point, it's most likely burning oil and that's what caused the failure of the catalytic converter at such an early age. Just pop the hood and pull out the oil dipstick every 1000 miles or so and look at the level, takes about a minute. If you don't monitor the oil, you may run low and ruin your engine.

 

You do not since Texas does not follow the lead of the California Air Resources Board with regards to vehicle emissions control.

 

Correct but the OP lives in Travis county (Austin) which is only one of 13 of 254 counties subject to onboard emission testing (basically Austin, DFW & Houston). This is what they do: https://www.txdps.state.tx.us/rsd/vi/Misc/faq/faq_obdii.htm I'm not sure if it is the same as testing in CARB states.

 

pverde9901 can you tell me if what converter you used for your replacement and if you passed your emission's test? I only have 10 days to get mine fixed or I'll not be able to renew my plates in Illinois. I've been out of town for the past 3 weeks and almost all year with medical issues so I was shocked to see the reminder that I needed the emissions test done by the end of the month. I have a Prius that says California on the sticker and I can't afford to get this wrong. I need the car because of the medical issues going on and I really don't have the money to mess it up. Illinois does not have CARB testing but the car sticker says CAL so if I put a non factory replacement on the car will the codes and light reset and pass or will I still be in trouble? I have a 2008 Prius with about 135000 miles. Unfortunately the family medical issues have been first on the list so the service engine light has been on for several months. After the installation did the engine light go off on it's own or did you have to have the code removed? Can you give me any solid advice? I don't even know if I am writing this question properly in this forum. Thank you for any help.