Catalytic Converter Repair
An automobile’s exhaust system may end at the muffler, but it certainly doesn’t begin there. As the heart of your vehicle’s emissions system, the catalytic converter is a very important part that can really affect your car’s performance and safety if it’s not working properly. Whether you’re trying to boost your car’s performance a little bit, make it a run a little greener, or just trying to meet your state’s strict emissions standards, the catalytic converter is a good place to start. Thankfully, catalytic converter prices don’t cost an arm and a leg, and the job can be surprisingly easy to do yourself.
As opposed to a muffler, which simply deadens the loud noise of engine exhaust, the catalytic converter, often abbreviated as “catcon” or simply “cat,” actually removes the noxious chemicals produced by an internal combustion engine. In chemist’s lingo, a catalyst is a substance that instigates or aids a chemical reaction. In an engine, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and other dangerous substances are broken down into safer components. This happens in the catalytic converter, when the exhaust passes through a substrate coated with one of several catalysts. The catalyst used is most often made from precious metals like platinum, palladium and rhodium.
Although the catalytic converters of today are far more efficient and long-lasting than the early versions of the 70s, the core can still become clogged, the exterior can get damaged and they might even get stolen, since they’re conveniently located on the outsides of vehicles. If a cat is not working the car may overheat, you might smell a sulfurous “rotten egg” odor in the cab or, at the very least, the car won’t pass an emissions test.
The usual way to repair a damaged converter is to replace the entire thing. It’s located on the underside of the vehicle between the muffler and the engine, so access is the easy part. Unfortunately, you’ll probably have to raise the entire car to get to it. Be sure to let the engine cool off before starting. If you’re lucky, the cat will be a bolt-on model; if you get a vehicle-specific replacement, it will probably bolt right on too.
If not, you’ll need a cutting torch the remove the old converter. Cut through the ends and remove it. Put the new one in position and place a small tack weld at each end to hold it. Weld a bead all the way around the pipe at each end with an arc welder. A tight seal is important. Once you smooth the bead, remove any excess slag and check for potential holes, your catalytic converter repair job is finished.
