The catalytic converter is a component of a vehicle’s exhaust system. You can find it right in the middle of the muffler and the exhaust manifold. The main function of the catalytic converter is to convert the harmful gases that come out of your car’s exhaust by reacting with the elements contained by the exhaust gases. This conversion process is meant to make your car’s fuel consumption more efficient and emissions less harmful to the environment.

If you open up a catalytic converter, you’ll see a honeycomb-shaped matrix inside. The exhaust coming from your car goes through this matrix, which is coated with precious metals. You’ll know it’s time to change your vehicle’s catalytic converter when it starts showing the symptoms of a lousy catalytic converter.

When Is It Time To Change

States have different laws requiring cars to have catalytic converters. Specific rules and regulations enforced by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) may even vary within the same state among many regions. 

The usual state requirement is that a car or other types of motor vehicle should have a catalytic converter that works properly before you can drive it or sell it to somebody else. Older cars that came out from their production plants without the catalytic converter are usually given exemptions from this requirement.

In most cases, the easiest indicator you’ll see that could mean your catalytic converter is up for replacement is when the engine light turns on. When your engine light gives the P0420 and P0430 codes, this indicates a catalytic converter failure. Ignoring the engine light when it’s up is one of the worst things you can do to your car. 

Experienced mechanics would usually follow a general rule in diagnosing what’s wrong with your car. They’d usually find out if there are other engine fault codes to repair. Then, they check for any leaks in your exhaust. If the engine fault code on converter failure persists, that’s the time they’ll replace your catalytic converter.

When your car seems to have trouble going up to max power when you’re driving, this is another warning sign that there might be something wrong with your catalytic converter. When the cat converter is not performing its usual job anymore, contaminants coming out of the exhaust system can clog up in your engine. This can result in poor performance and engine driving power.

When your cat converter isn’t working, another indicator is that your car’s exhaust will smell rotten. You might smell something coming out of your exhaust, which is quite similar to the smell of rotten eggs. This is what happens when the cat converter couldn’t burn up the contaminants and they accumulate inside your exhaust system.

Another indicator that there might be something wrong with your cat converter is when your car’s fuel consumption isn’t that efficient. Your engine has to use up more fuel to drive up the same power as before because of the contaminants that have gotten into your engine. If you notice that you’ve been buying more gasoline than before but driving for less, your cat converter may be at fault. If you hear some backfiring sounds when you’re driving, it could be for the same reason. Here are the usual signs of cat converter fault:

• Car engine stalls or feels rough when driving 
• Even when you’re on idle, the engine makes a rattling noise
• Engine light turns on with the common codes
• The tailpipe gives off a rotten smell

Cost Of Replacement

Several factors determine how much you’re going to pay for the cost of replacing parts of your vehicle or repair works. Some of these factors are the type and model of your car, the kinds and quality of the replacement parts that have to be installed, and even where the servicing shop is located can add to your bill.

Here are some estimates of the cost of replacing the catalytic converter based on actual prices. They’re quite helpful in showing how these factors affect the prices and costs of parts replacement. 

• Labor time spent on the 2005 Honda CR-V, which has a 2.4-liter engine, would be around 0.6 hours. Replacements using factory parts would cost USD$2,726. Walker parts, which are CARB certified, would cost USD$304. A non-certified Davico would cost USD$188. Your total bill should be approximately USD$2,786 if OE parts are used. Aftermarket parts that are certified would cost USD$364 while noncertified parts would cost USD$248. 
• The 2005 Nissan Maxima has a 3.5-liter V-6 engine. It has two catalytic converters in the front and the rear. They can be replaced as separate units. It’s going to take around an hour to replace the front catalytic converter, but for the rear, it will take approximately 3.4 hours. 

The cost of factory parts would be USD$256. Your total bill for the front job should be USD$840 if they use factory parts and USD$256 if they use Walker parts that are CARB certified. Aftermarkets, which are certified, would cost USD$356. For the rear job, the cost of factory replacement would be USD$740. Walker parts, which are CARB certified, would cost USD$244. Your total bill for the rear job should be around USD$1,080 if they use factory parts and around USD$584 if they use aftermarket parts that are certified.  

• The 2006 Chevrolet 1500 truck, which has a 5.3-liter engine, should take around 1.4 hours of labor time. Replacement costs for factory parts would be USD$459 and USD$460 if they use CARB-compliant Walker parts. Noncertified Walker parts would cost USD$322. Your total bill should be around USD$599 if they use factory parts. Aftermarket parts that are certified would most likely cost you USD$600, while noncertified parts would cost USD$462.
• Labor time for the 2007 Jeep Wrangler, which has a 3.8-liter engine, would be around 1.8 hours. Replacements using factory parts would cost around USD$945, and approximately USD$864 if they use CARB-certified AP parts. Noncertified Davico parts would cost USD$424. Your total bill should be around USD$1,125 if they use OE parts. Aftermarket parts that are certified would most likely cost USD$1,044, while noncertified parts would cost USD$604.

The repair shop also charges a small amount for the gaskets and other small hardware items used for the replacement job. Sometimes, they would also need to replace the O2 sensors. If the ones in the old converter are still good, they can just take them and put them on the new catalytic converter. However, if the exposure of the catalytic converters to intense heat from the exhaust gases has already caused damaged threads and contaminated the converter, some mechanics would also recommend that you change the sensors.

Clean Emissions, Better Running Condition

The catalytic converter is that part of your vehicle that changes the exhaust fumes into elements that are less harmful to the environment. When your car converter isn’t working that well, contaminants may clog up in your engine. The engine might have to drive up more power than it used to for the same ride. This will affect your engine’s fuel consumption economy. It would have to use up more gas for the same trip. Another effect is that your car would blow up dark fumes that can harm the environment. Thus, it’s good to know about when to change your cat converter and how much a replacement would cost in case you need this information in the future.