catalytic converter

The risks are if the cat converter melts it will restrict exhaust exiting the engine and cause a loss of power even to the point where it will stop running. The cat converter can over heat and cause a fire worse case scenario. It is expensive, here in California you must replace with OE type catalytic converters. Have you tried a muffler shop to see what they would charge for a generic cat converter? The trouble with generic cats is you get what you pay for. Check Engine Light may come on for low cat efficiency P0420.