It's simple and it takes less than 90 seconds No Haggle. No Fees. When you drive a car that has a bad catalytic converter, the symptoms vary. In some cases, the core inside the catalytic converter can start rattling without any other symptoms. In other cases, the Check Engine light will illuminate but the car will operate normally otherwise.
Like any car repair, the cost of catalytic converter replacement varies from model to model. Some specialty cars could be higher yet. High catalytic converter prices are just the start though. Along with the repair itself, you must take into consideration diagnostic costs and potential issues that arise because of the failure.
For example, you might need to change one or more oxygen sensors, the muffler, or the tailpipe at the same time. To fix it might be worth more than the car itself. The converter system is exposed to the elements, and may have studs that are rusted, or bolts that hold it to the car engine. If the mechanic working on replacing your catalytic converter runs into any issues, they could take a while to work around them and finish the job.
Lastly, we will review what causes a catalytic converter to fail, and how much it costs to repair or replace one. Table of Contents Show. Gasoline is made up of hydrocarbons , which is an organic compound consisting of hydrogen and carbon. In a perfect world, igniting all of these including oxygen would produce a harmless combination of carbon dioxide and water.
As a result of this, carbon monoxide is made, which is a toxic substance that depletes the ozone layer. The components inside act as a catalyst to help convert these toxic substances to something less harmful.
Hence the name: catalytic converter. Because they contain several rare metals, including platinum, palladium, and rhodium. This is one of the reasons catalytic converters carry a high price tag.
Due to the additional pressure in your exhaust system, you may have to press the pedal even more to get your car to accelerate. Poor fuel economy can also be a symptom of many other issues as well, so this symptom alone should not cause too much concern. This one almost always points to a bad catalytic converter. During the test, the tailpipe emissions will be tested with a measuring device, so if they are higher than they should be, then the converter is likely not doing its job properly.
In addition, this is not a part that you can easily replace yourself. It needs to be welded into the exhaust pipe, so plan on paying a shop for labor costs as well.
As you can see, these are not exactly cheap parts to replace! Remember that the prices above are only for the part. In many cases, this may be more than what your car is worth! When that is the case, it may be much easier to sell your car and purchase a new one that does not have that problem. You should consider a service like Auto Wranglers where you can get an instant cash offer for your car. We will come to you and pick up the vehicle for free and put some cash in your pocket!
You can get a fair price for your vehicle and use that money as down payment on something new! We make it super easy to sell your car for cash. The catalytic converter repair cost can vary widely depending on exactly what kind of issue you are experiencing. Repairs to a converter can be challenging due to the way a converter is made.
So is a catalytic converter worth fixing? Usually, no. These parts are not made to be repaired. Should failure occur, replacement is most often the best solution. If you do find a shop who says they can perform a catalytic converter repair, you can expect to pay a hefty price tag for labor. This can really add up if a mechanic needs to spend much time performing the car repair.
If you have a faulty catalytic converter, your best option may just be to contact Auto Wranglers and let them take that car off your hands. Your catalytic converter is a key component of your car's emission control system, and so it must be operational to keep your car running right, and also to keep it legal!
Join us for an insider's view of what a catalytic converter is, what it does, what makes your catalytic converter go bad, how to know if it goes bad, how to fix or replace your catalytic converter, what a replacement costs, breaking in a new catalytic converter, the risk of having your catalytic converter stolen, and finally, whether it is worth fixing a bad catalytic converter.
The catalytic converter is a metal canister that is a part of your car's emission control system. It is usually located between your engine's exhaust manifold and the muffler. Your catalytic converter looks somewhat like a muffler, but it is much different, inside and out.
Its case is made of stainless steel, to withstand corrosion and high exhaust temperatures. Inside, it has a ceramic honeycomb structure that is coated with precious metals like platinum, palladium, and rhodium. This "catalytic" process "converts" these smog-producing chemicals and by-products carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, unburned hydrocarbons into safe, non-polluting substances like carbon dioxide, nitrogen, oxygen, and water vapor. Most gasoline-powered engines built since have one or more catalytic converters, as a result of efforts to reduce air pollution.
While most catalytic converters will last the life of the vehicle, there are exceptions. If coolant, oil, or unburned fuel gets into the catalytic converter; if it gets damaged from the outside; or even if it just wears out, your catalytic converter can go bad.
Here are some of the causes of a bad catalytic converter:. There are several symptoms that can tell you that you have a bad catalytic converter. Here's the list:. The ceramic honeycomb structure inside your catalytic converter can deteriorate, become damaged, and break apart into pieces. This can be a result of age, impacts, or other causes. When this happens, the catalytic converter can become clogged, restricting the normal flow of exhaust gases through it and the rest of the exhaust system.
This will directly affect the engine's performance, to the point where you may not even be able to get your car started. You may notice:. If the pieces of ceramic inside your catalytic converter break up into smaller pieces, you may be able to hear them rattling around inside it when the engine is starting, running, or when your car hits a bump or a pothole. During the combustion process inside your engine, the sulfur in your gasoline becomes smelly hydrogen sulfide gas after the fuel-air mixture is burned in the cylinders.
Under normal conditions, when your catalytic converter is working properly, the hydrogen sulfide is converted into odorless sulfur dioxide. A bad catalytic converter will be unable to convert the hydrogen sulfide, so it will come out of your exhaust unprocessed, smelling like rotten eggs - a very objectionable odor. The engine computer in your car is constantly monitoring the condition of all the emissions-related equipment in your vehicle.
If the computer detects that your catalytic converter is not working properly, it will illuminate the Check Engine light on your dashboard.
There will also be a trouble code indicated in the computer, which can be retrieved by a mechanic. This will help the mechanic track down the exact cause of the problem.
If you live in an area where your car must have its emissions tested, you may find out that you have a bad catalytic converter when your car fails a mandated vehicle emissions or smog test.
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