First, I've had this kazoo like whizzing-metalish sound at the instrument cluster when I accelerate, and it's been killing me. The shop knows what it is, something about fuel trim and PCM.
It was the O2 sensor update on my 2016 that bricked the engine and I ended up with the 2019 manual courtesy of Jag HQ! Huzzah patience is a virtue.

TL;DR - can you hear a dying cat prior to the car recognizing it? I mean, it's probably a "yes" and it's slightly dumb... I know my car and how it sounds. I have called the shop, to see their thoughts, but I've not posted here much lately and figure it's a fun way to say hi to all of you!

Here's the question about the catalytic convertor:

I had a loaner at one point that was the same base level F-Type, but the exhaust note was lower, and muddier. I didn't get it at the time, but I didn't like it.
I never realized why it sounded different, but then my 2016 had one go "POP" and had the same exact note.

So now my 2019: I'm getting the SOS battery warning, I've got to get new brakes. Right when I'm thinking of scheduling that service, I sorta hear something (or my brain made that up) like a pop, the check engine light comes on, and I schedule service, and within a few days, the check engine light goes away.

I asked them to check the cat, but when I took it in they found a bolt missing from the exhaust (?), and that's all they ended up doing and I don't think they checked on the cat.

That being said:

No check engine light, but the exhaust note is IDENTICAL to that muddier busted cat in the other two vehicles, and there's a slight metallic sound right before acceleration. I'm at 50,000 miles on the car, and I do drive in dynamic and I guess more shorter trips than longer for knocking off the carbon or whatever.

When I started this thread, whole points was I thought I picked up the car March 30 2019, and my 7 years / 70,000 for warranty on the cat ends in 11 days! =)

I picked it up Feb 28th 2019. LOL

 

Did the shop ever run an OBD scan on it?

 

Any time there's a CEL the shop should scan for codes. If they knew of the light and didn't I'd be asking questions.

As to the initial question, the only thing I can think of that would be audible on a failing cat is rattling from a broken ceramic matrix. In the early days of catalytic converters contamination leading to blockage was fairly common, but I haven't heard much about that in the last few decades. I suppose that besides reduced performance it would would also sound different.

I'm not sure about the kazoo in the dash. I might have one too, but unless it's louder than the tinnitus I've had since seeing Motörhead in the 80s I wouldn't notice.

 

LOOK... I am sorry to submit everyone else to mayhem, but rock n roll is alive and well, as detailed by this amazing human.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/Z3r6kakLW8WBRr2K8

 

I emailed the head mech and I am sure they did the OBD and it's likely I'm a kook. =) It's just so odd.

And not to mention... the hearing does change. I love I finally could afford my perfect concise audio chain just when the ears don't work as well.

 

One million beers? Reminds me of the band "Free Beer." From a quick check on the 'web it seems like there were several, but I'm thinking of the one on Alternative Tentacles from the early 80s.

 

Nice setup. I'm not kidding about my hearing. Any audiophile aspirations went down the drain with that show. It was the last show where I did not wear hearing protection, but the damage was done.

 

I think my hearing changed at a Blue Cheer concert at the the Sant Clara Fair grounds in the 60's

 

Nice. That's one to tell the youngsters, who will definitely say "who?"

 

WALLS OF SOUND. Wow. I would have KILLED to lost my hearing at a Blue Cheer. I know one dude who did just that at the Fillmore SF. =)

The audiophile thing is a bit of a rabbit hole coupled with snake oil, but the analog sound I've got now is seismic and cathartic... it really is incredible.
Been DJing for 20 years so I always invested in the vinyl vs the system.

And it is perfectly timed as a treat, so I can enjoy it all as my hearing goes and frequencies vanish.

My punk show era was LOUD. Primus shows endlessly too.

It's like I was in artillery:

 

Blue Cheer was the wall of speakers! Loudest band I ever heard. Fillmore date was after San Jose, same weekend.

 

SO... what an odyssey this year has been for vehicles. Last year too, a lease buyback from a devastatingly broken Polestar 3. Lovely looking if you can open the door and turn it on.
My 1995 Wrangler I lifted last year, and it's truly a classic that has seen a lot, because I've accidentally spent the last two months essentially fully restoring it. Should look like and drive like new.

But this 2019 F-Type! It's finally sleuthed to be what I originally thought... a bad catalytic converter on the right.

I'm at 50,000 miles, and cats are all back ordered. $3K each. I could never clear my engine codes, but put in some of that cat cleaner juice and driving it around (while making sure it wasn't some O2 thing vs cat), and it *immediately* took a nose dive in performance. They scoped the cat and noted the element was trashed. I even got the blinking bad check engine for a few seconds on the golden gate bridge. no fun.

1) Any advice hunting one down? That might sound goofy, but as I'm not buying parts often, whether there's known scam part websites, or if anyone had a solid recommendation. I've got the part number ( T2R17111 for the right) and there's ebay, online parts stores, etc. It's also got to be California Smog approved one, FWIW.
2) I'm going to assume buying tested and used from a reputable (well rated) seller is fine? My mechanic is hunting at a junkyard too, etc.
3) At 50,000+ miles on these cats, with these having failed on me in the past, I sorta feel if I can find a pair tested at 20,000 miles or so, it's worth replacing both?

I personally suspect the left one is funky too, and I am more brave now that my original hunch was confirmed. =)

Thanks all...

Oh... and why would a car 1 year out of production have backordered cats? I imagine they truly are notorious for early failure?

 

CA is a CARB state and the emissions warranty (including cats) is federally mandated to 8 years and 80,000 miles. Your cats are still covered under the manufacturer's warranty (unless your vehicle is a salvage title or something).

 

If on warranty you have to wait. If buying maybe find out who oem manufacture is and try to get equivalent.