There are many reasons automakers are making a push toward electric vehicles.
The main one is to reduce emissions, which is the number of gases and particles exiting the tailpipe. However, until the internal combustion engine is totally phased out, we will have to rely on catalytic converters to achieve this goal.
What is a catalytic converter? It is an emissions control device located near the exhaust manifold that reduces the toxicity of what comes out of the tailpipe. If yours is malfunctioning, it will no longer be able to do this efficiently, meaning your car likely will not pass a smog test.
Thankfully, in this guide, we will cover everything you need to know about catalytic converters.
We will first take a closer look at what it is and how it operates. Then, we’ll examine a few of the main signs that suggest yours is failing (or has already failed).
Lastly, we will examine what causes a catalytic converter to fail and how much it costs to fix or replace one.
Let’s get started with the basics!
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What Is A Catalytic Converter, And What Does It Even Do?
Gasoline is made up of hydrocarbons, which is an organic compound consisting of hydrogen and carbon. In an ideal world, igniting all of these (including oxygen) would produce a benign combination of carbon dioxide and water.
However, because of the heat inside the engine, the reaction isn’t perfect.
Instead, it generates molecules that don’t naturally exist. As a consequence, carbon monoxide is produced, a toxic substance that depletes the ozone layer. Moreover, if any of the hydrocarbons don’t combust, they are also released into the surrounding air.
Here’s where a catalytic converter comes in, which was first patented back in 1950 by Eugene Houdry, a French chemical engineer.
How does it work?
The components inside act as a catalyst to help transform these hazardous substances to something less harmful. Hence the name: catalytic converter.
What’s inside a catalytic converter? First, there’s ceramic, which doesn’t react with anything but gets super hot, allowing the reactions to occur.
Did you know that thieves often target catalytic converters? Why? Well, these converters have some valuable metals, such as platinum, palladium, and rhodium. As a result, they are quite expensive.
Platinum and rhodium remove oxygen from the nitrogen atoms, causing the innocuous nitrogen to exit the exhaust.
Then, platinum and palladium use the remaining oxygen molecules by combining them with carbon monoxide to create CO2. Not only that, but they’ll oxidize any residual hydrocarbons as well as they pass through.
How does your engine optimize these reactions? It’s controlled via the electronic control module (ECM), which gets its data from two different oxygen sensors. One is located before the catalytic converter and one after.
Now that you have a better idea of what a catalytic converter is and how it works. Let’s look at a few of the main symptoms you might experience that suggest yours is failing.
What Are The Signs Of A Faulty Catalytic Converter?
Decrease In Fuel Economy
Your ECM takes information from the various sensors inside the engine to optimize the air/fuel mixture inside the combustion chambers.
As we mentioned earlier, there are two sensors on a catalytic converter, one before it and one after. If there’s a blockage inside, the ECM will compensate by injecting more fuel, therefore lowering your fuel efficiency.
The Exhaust Smells Like Rotten Eggs
If you’re in your car and suddenly notice the stench of rotting eggs, don’t blame the other passengers just yet, because it may be your catalytic converter.
Why? Because gasoline contains a tiny amount of sulfur, which gets converted to hydrogen sulfide during the combustion process.
If the catalytic converter is functioning as intended, it will then convert this sulfide into odorless sulfur dioxide.
If it isn’t, the hydrogen sulfide will exit the tailpipe before conversion, which is what creates the odor.
Your Car Failed Its Emissions Test
Most states require that your vehicle passes an emissions test to ensure it’s not putting out excessive amounts of pollutants. Certification lasts for 1-3 years in most places and usually costs between $30-$90.
A vehicle that is not certified is marked unfit to be driven, indicating that if you get stopped, you’ll probably receive a penalty. Not only that, but if you proceed to renew your registration on a car that is unable or hasn’t succeeded, they won’t allow you to do so.
If you get the unfortunate news that your vehicle has not passed the smog test, there is a substantial likelihood that there is an issue with your vehicle’s catalytic converter.
The Check Engine Light Appears
If you’re like most people, you have a love/hate relationship with your pesky engine light.
Sure, it’s always unsettling when it shows up, and it usually means you’ll need to spend some cash to take care of it. But if you inquire about the cause as soon as it lights up, you’ll likely prevent whatever it is from becoming worse.
The ECM takes the data from the two catalytic converter oxygen sensors. If they detect that the exhaust gases aren’t catalyzing properly, the ECM will illuminate the check engine light.
Having an engine light appear doesn’t specifically mean it’s the catalytic converter. But you can take your car to a shop or use an OBDII scanner yourself to be sure.
Engine Performance Drops
One of the most common signs that indicate a problem with your catalytic converter is poor acceleration.
This typically occurs when it becomes too hot for a prolonged period, which causes the components inside to melt.
This can lead to a blockage inside that restricts the exhaust flow. In this case, you’ll need to have it repaired/replaced. Though, it’s also possible that there’s a buildup of carbon, which can be readily removed using a specialized cleaner.
What Causes A Catalytic Converter To Fail?
The positive news is that most catalytic converters will last between 10-15 years, mostly because there are no internal moving parts.
However, just because they have a lengthy lifespan does not mean the surrounding components do. If they aren’t functioning properly, it can reduce how long your catalytic converter lasts.
A few possibilities that may cause it to fail include:
- Antifreeze in the exhaust
- Bad spark plugs
- Faulty oxygen sensor
- Unburnt fuel in the exhaust
- Oil in the exhaust
How Much Does It Cost To Repair/Replace A Catalytic Converter?
The price of repairing a catalytic converter varies widely, but typically falls between $1,000 and $2,500.
What influences the price you pay?
- The make and model of your car
- Diagnostic fees and additional issues
- The number of hours it takes to replace
- The quality of the replacement part
For the make and model, it all comes down to rarity and complexity. A catalytic converter replacement for a 92 Civic is far less costly than on something like a BMW X3 or a Saab 9-3.
One way to keep costs low is to purchase a generic-fit catalytic converter rather than one built specifically for your model.
However, keep in mind that these are never as efficient as an OEM product and may void a factory warranty if it is still in place.
As for repairing a catalytic converter, it is usually better to replace it and track down what caused it to fail in the first place.
Sometimes it is possible to clean a clogged one, just do not forget to determine why it happened.
