Catylitic converter replacement

Customer Ratings. Included for free with this service Online Booking. Mechanic comes to you. Free 50 point safety inspection. See availability. How much does Catalytic Converter Replacement cost? Keep in mind: Most cars will require the aftermarket Catalytic Converter to be welded to the exhaust pipes. Mobile mechanics can only do this service if you have a direct fit catalytic converter bought from a dealer.

When replacing the catalytic converter, it may be necessary to replace oxygen sensors as well. Catalytic converter symptoms are often similar to other more straightforward issues.

Get the Check Engine light diagnosed anytime it illuminates. How it's done: The vehicle is raised and supported on jack stands The defective catalytic converter is removed The new catalytic converter is installed and the vehicle is started to check for any leaks The vehicle is lowered off the jack stands The vehicle is road tested for proper operation.

Our recommendation: If you are consistently taking short trips with your vehicle, the catalytic converter may not be getting hot enough to completely burn away the hydrocarbons. What common symptoms indicate you may need to replace the Catalytic Converter?

Check engine light is on or flashing Car has little or no power Smell of rotten eggs inside the car or out of the exhaust Poor fuel economy Backfiring and rough running. How important is this service? Recent Catalytic Converter Replacement reviews.

Excellent Rating. Rating Summary. Patrick 33 years of experience. Request Patrick. Hyundai Accent L Patrick was on time and started working on my car right away. He was friendly and trustworthy. I will highly recommend Patrick. The best way to avoid blockage on your catalytic converter is to drive your vehicle for 15 minutes each day so that the exhaust heats up enough to scorch away the deposits that have accumulated on the catalytic converter. Here you can read about the catalytic converter cost, labor, and parts prices when to replace it, etc.

What is certain is that the cost is much higher than some other regular services such as brake pads and rotors replacement or price for an oil change for example. The catalytic converter is typically placed on top of the exhaust pipe and is responsible for emissions-related tasks.

Its main job though is to scorch away all of the unburned particles that are dirtying the exhaust gases that escape from the engine. The operating temperature of the catalytic converter is usually between and Fahrenheit, which is the temperature that it reaches as you drive the car. The compound within the converter consists of precious metals like palladium, rhodium, and platinum. Once the catalyst loses its ability to burn the remaining hydrocarbons from the exhaust, a nasty smell could ensue, or you might notice frequent misfiring, a rough run, and the Check Engine light might come on.

A clogged catalytic converter can also lead to staling or a failure to start, as well as the engine light coming on. If things get worse, the surplus blockage will create unwanted pressure, which in effect, can lead to interior engine damage.

Cars that have tailpipe emissions often have poor air quality, and that adds to breathing ailments and environmental pollution. What you smell is the accumulation of all the things that were not burnt off by the converter. Put the new catalytic converter in place. Next, hold the catalytic converter in the position where it will eventually be installed. Double check to make sure it is pointed in the right direction there should be an arrow indicating this and that the correct side is facing down.

Since it's tricky to work on the converter with one hand while you hold it in place with another, for the next few steps, it can be useful to enlist a willing friend to hold the converter in place while you work or use a stand to hold it up in place.

Finger-tighten nuts on the bolts. If your vehicle's catalytic converter was bolted in and your replacement converter has bolt holes that match your exhaust system's, installation is usually a cinch. To start, re-insert your bolts and use your hands to manually tighten them. This makes it easier to get all of the bolts to align correctly because the looseness gives you a small degree of "wiggle room" to make minor adjustments as needed.

Tighten down all the bolts. Starting on the "front" end of the converter the end further away from the vehicle's exhaust , tighten the bolts with a suitably-sized wrench.

Proceed to the back end when you finish tightening the bolts on the front. You'll want your bolts to be very tight. Most exhaust leaks are caused by loose bolts, so making sure your bolts are extra tight now can save you headaches in the future. Alternatively, weld the converter into place. If you need to weld your converter into place, the process is somewhat more involved. You'll need a professional-grade welding machine such as a MIG welder and the proper training and expertise required to use one safely or a friend who has these things.

Don't attempt to weld your converter back into place if you're not a competent welder — you could damage your vehicle or even hurt yourself. Weld your converter into place by carefully joining it to the exhaust system pipes at either end. Be sure to create a secure, air-tight seal at each weld. If the pipes aren't wide enough, you may need to heat them up and flare them to make them fit. If your pipes don't quite reach one end of your converter, you may need to weld an additional extender pipe in.

Sometimes you have to do a partial weld then lower the exhaust to finish the top part of the weld. Be sure to allow your welds to cool to a safe temperature before proceeding. Screw the oxygen sensor back into place.

If you originally removed one or more oxygen sensors to access your converter, replace them now. As you do, check to make sure that the attached wiring is secure and is not frayed or damaged — this can lead to inaccurate readings and even false "check engine" lights.

Double-check your work. At this point, if you've done everything correctly, you're basically done. Take the opportunity to make sure one last time that the catalytic converter is connected correctly and there are no gaps or leaks at either of the connections or the oxygen sensor.

If you bolted your converter in, make sure all of your bolts tight. If you welded it in, make sure your welds are sturdy and airtight. Part 3. Check for exhaust leaks. Once you've installed a new catalytic converter, one thing you'll want to do immediately is double-check to make sure there aren't any leaks in the exhaust system on either side of it.

Depending on where it is, an exhaust leak can cause a variety of problems for your vehicle, including reduced fuel efficiency and long-term damage. One is to simply be observant while you drive — if your car sounds louder than normal when it runs or seems to "rumble" more, you may have a leak.

Leaks which are invisible to the eye should cause the flame to waver or blow out. Measure back-pressure in the exhaust system. One problem that can occur in faulty catalytic converters is that they can become "backed up" with soot, debris, and other exhaust byproducts or broken apart inside the converter.

In this case, the engine's ability to rid itself of exhaust is hampered, which can cause a vehicle's fuel efficiency to plummet and can even cause the engine to stall in severe cases. The pressure reading should be less than 1. Very bad backpressure readings can approach 3 psi. Perform a mallet test for old converters. If your car's converter is old and worn, one simple test can tell whether it needs to be replaced very quickly.

Simply grab a rubber mallet or similar tool and give the converter a firm hit. If you hear any sort of rattling, your converter needs to be replaced — this indicates that the metallic catalyst within has begun to corrode and crumble. However, if you don't hear a rattle, this doesn't necessarily mean that your converter works well. There may still be other problems with it. To be clear, this test can only tell you if you have a bad converter, not if you have a good one.

Consider more advanced tests. Catalytic converters can be tricky parts — if you're in doubt about whether or not yours is functioning properly even after performing the tests above, don't hesitate to take it to a mechanic or specialist.

These professionals will have access to the type of equipment that can be used to perform more advanced tests, like delta temperature tests, oxygen storage tests, and CO 2 tests. Most auto shops that offer smog testing will be able to perform these sorts of emissions tests. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

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