I have a trans fluid drip (few drops per night) where the spot on the ground is found on the passenger side shifted about 8 inches away from the drain plug. I was hoping it was the pan gasket but it seems the drip is up higher. The (original and rusty) catalytic converter is blocking my view. So I am thinking the cat must be removed to see up there. I am wondering if the cat needs to be replaced due to age and therefore I wouldn't need to gently remove it. I was planning on using PB -Blaster. On my other car I have sometimes needed to cut off old pipes and I am wondering if this will need cutting. So my question is whether I should proceed on the assumption that the old catalytic converter is almost dead anyway, or should I try to carefully remove and replace it with a new part? A related question is whether those cheap $150 catalytic converters are acceptable replacements for the original part. Also , any ideas about that slow leak, as I know very little about transmissions.