Restore Proper Exhaust Flow and Emissions Performance.
The catalytic converter converts harmful exhaust gases into less harmful emissions before they leave the tailpipe.
Modern vehicles may use multiple catalytic converters and oxygen sensors that work with the engine computer to monitor catalyst efficiency.
A failed or restricted converter may reduce performance, trigger the check engine light, cause an emissions-test failure, create exhaust restriction, or produce rattling noises.
Common Symptoms of Catalytic Converter Problems
What Is Your Vehicle Doing?
Select the symptom that best matches your concern.
Catalyst efficiency, oxygen sensor performance, exhaust leaks, fuel mixture, or engine condition may be involved.
Recommended: Catalyst-efficiency diagnosis.A restricted converter can increase exhaust backpressure and reduce acceleration under load.
Recommended: Exhaust restriction and backpressure testing.Internal substrate damage, loose heat shields, impact damage, or exhaust hardware may be involved.
Recommended: Converter and exhaust inspection.Converter efficiency, oxygen sensors, engine condition, exhaust leaks, or incomplete monitors may prevent a pass.
Recommended: Emissions and readiness diagnosis.Fuel-mixture problems, overheating catalyst material, or converter damage may be involved.
Recommended: Engine and catalyst inspection.We can evaluate codes, oxygen sensor data, fuel trims, exhaust leaks, backpressure, converter condition, and engine performance.
Recommended: Complete catalytic-converter diagnosis.How a Catalytic Converter Works
Reduces Harmful Emissions
Converts hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen oxides into less harmful gases.
Works With Oxygen Sensors
Oxygen sensors monitor exhaust gases before and after the converter to evaluate efficiency.
Requires Proper Engine Operation
Ignition, fuel delivery, air-fuel mixture, and engine condition all affect converter life.
The Converter Is Often Damaged by Another Problem.
Prolonged engine misfires, leaking fuel injectors, rich fuel mixtures, coolant contamination, excessive oil consumption, overheating, ignition-system failures, and physical impact can all damage a catalytic converter.
Replacing the converter without correcting the original cause may damage the replacement converter as well.
A Restricted Converter Can Reduce Engine Performance.
Internal melting or substrate collapse can restrict exhaust flow, reducing acceleration, increasing exhaust backpressure, decreasing fuel economy, and causing the engine to struggle under load.
Oxygen Sensor Codes Do Not Always Mean the Converter Is Bad.
Oxygen sensor faults, exhaust leaks, engine misfires, vacuum leaks, and fuel-delivery problems may create converter-related codes.
Complete testing helps identify whether the converter actually failed or another engine problem created the catalyst-efficiency fault.
What We Inspect, Test & Repair
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