Catalytic Converter Replacement Cost
The role of the catalytic converter in your car is to reduce pollution and toxic emissions caused by the burning of gasoline in your engine and if you have ever had one go bad you know that catalytic converter replacement cost can be quite high.
It is inevitable though because over time the catalytic converter wears out just like every other part in your engine and exhaust system and it can no longer capture the excess wastes produced by your engine. When that happens you have no choice except to either repair or replace this crucial part of your emissions system.
How Do You Know the Catalytic Converter is Failing?
The first clue you will get that your catalytic converter is going bad is a failing grade in your annual emissions test required now by almost every state. These tests are mandatory to ensure that your car is not emitting gases that are harmful to the environment. If you are fortunate the mechanic will be able to make a quick adjustment to the catalytic converter that will enable it to pass this test. If that is not successful you will need some additional tests to determine if your exhaust is flowing with enough pressure. Even before your emissions test is done you may have some clues that something is going wrong because your car will exhibit symptoms such as poor gas mileage, overheating, stalling and low power during acceleration. Fixing the catalytic converter usually does away with these other symptoms.
To test the pressure in your emissions system the mechanic will drill a small hole in the exhaust pipe as well as a second small hole just before the catalytic converter. These two holes will allow him to measure the pressure both before and the harmful gases go through the conversion process. If the pressure is not balanced between both sides it means you will need to repair or replace the catalytic converter.
Catalytic Converter Replacement Cost
You will often face a trade off concerning catalytic converter replacement cost because even though you can get converters at a low price these units typically involve a greater deal of labor than the more expensive catalytic converters. Expect to pay anywhere from 2 hundred to 2 thousand dollars for a new catalytic converter. The trade off comes because the 2 thousand dollar units are usually bolt on and require very little labor. The less expensive units however are installed by cutting the old unit away with a torch and then welding the new unit in its place. Labor is intensive for this and with the high hourly costs of mechanics you will probably pay much more for the labor compared to the price of the converter.
Should You Do it Yourself?
If you are mechanically inclined and have the right tools or access to them through a friend you could save a lot of money by doing the repairs yourself. If you are like most people though it will make more sense to simply take your car to a mechanic or muffler repair shop to have the repairs done. This also ensures that the converter is properly installed and the environment is kept safe. If you choose to take the car to a professional you may want to get several estimates as labor costs can vary from place to place. For a common replacement like this you can probably get quotes over the phone making it easy to compare and locate the best price.
If you decide to take on the challenge of replacing the converter yourself the first step you need to take is locating a suitable replacement. No problem there as you can easily locate a replacement catalytic converter at your auto parts store or even online. If you choose to go through your local auto parts store they may need to order the part, but usually delivery is fairly quick. And if you live in California you will have no choice except to use the local auto supply place because most online auto supply stores will not ship to California due to their strict emissions regulations which are designed to protect the environment.
Steps to Remove and Replace a Catalytic Converter
- Place your car on a flat stable surface and jack the car up. Place it on jack stands.
- Get under the car and locate the catalytic converter. It will be a larger square or rectangle along the exhaust system.
- Look and see how the converter is attached. If bolted on located the proper size ratchet to remove the bolts. If one solid piece get your blow torch ready to cut it off or change plan and take the car to a mechanic or muffler shop.
- Remove the bolts or cut the converter off with a torch, depending on your model of converter.
- Pull the converter out from the exhaust.
- Insert the new converter and bolt in place. If you had to cut the old converter off, go get your welding gear and get set to weld the new converter in place.
Sometimes you may get the smell of rotten eggs in your exhaust and think that your catalytic converter is going bad, but this odor is usually just due to a build up in the exhaust system and not due to harmful gases escaping the converter. There are several catalytic converter cleaners available that will rid you of this problem. Simply add a can of the cleaner to a full gas tank and within a few days you should notice that the smell is gone. These cleaners usually cost under $20 which is significantly cheaper than a catalytic converter replacement.
No matter which method you choose, mechanic or do it yourself, replacing a catalytic converter will not be a cheap proposition. If you are replacing one of the cheaper units you will be hit with labor costs or will have to take up your own time and labor to do the job. And if you have one of the bolt on units you will pay a considerable amount just for the unit even though very little labor is needed for the replacement. Either way you will find catalytic converter replacement cost to be quite expensive.
