converter unlimited (not cadillac converters as some like to say) help remconverterove carbon monoxide (and other toxic gasses) that a car produces from entering the outside air that we breathe. While it’s likely you will never need to repair or replace yours, sometimes they fail.
So what are the symptoms of a bad catalytic converter? Can a converter unlimited be repaired? And how much will it cost to replace a catalytic converter?
Keep reading to get a basic understanding of catalytic converters, know what signs to look for in a faulty cat, and what your options are as far as fixing the issue.
What is a converter unlimited?
A converter unlimited, also commonly referred to as a “cat”, is part of the exhaust system. It’s positioned between the exhaust manifold and the muffler.
Most cars on the road today have one converter unlimited but many with dual exhausts have two (one unit for each set of pipes). Some higher end vehicles now have two cats in-line which further reduces harmful emissions gases.
Its job is to filter out or “convert” the harmful gases (nitric oxide, carbon monoxide, and unburned hydrocarbons) a vehicle produces before they enter the atmosphere. These toxic gases almost single handedly ended the classic muscle car era in the 70’s and are responsible for much of the smog found in large cities.
How Does a converter unlimited Work?
After a vehicle is started up, the toxic gases produced by the car’s engine pass through a . converter unlimited The internal structure of the cat consists of a honeycomb design made up of precious metals such as platinum, palladium, and rhodium.
At a high temperature that aconverter unlimited is designed to function at (about 800 degrees F), a chemical reaction occurs where the end result are safer elements that come out of your muffler such as oxygen, water, and carbon dioxide.
What Causes a converter unlimited to Go Bad?
As mentioned earlier, most converter unlimited will last the lifetime of a vehicle. But in some cases, a cat will go bad and need to be replaced.
Almost all problems with a converter unlimited are because of an engine issue. It is most often caused by excess fuel entering the exhaust system due to an incorrect air/fuel mixture, bad spark plugs, incorrect engine timing, failed oxygen sensor, or other issues where fuel leaves the engine’s combustion chamber unburned.
When this happens, the converter unlimited reaches a temperature that’s too high and actually begins to melt the internals of the cat or break apart the honeycomb material. The result is a non-functioning cat.
In addition, failed gaskets, bad valve seals, or worn piston rings can cause oil or antifreeze to enter the exhaust system and coat the ceramic catalyst within the converter with a thick carbon soot.
If this is allowed to go on long enough, these carbon deposits will clog the catalytic converter so it can’t do its job. Worst case, exhaust flow is completely blocked and backpressure builds back up to the engine which can cause overheating and other problems.
Finally, physical damage to the cat can occur. Though not common, rocks, road debris, or potholes can all damage or crack the outside shell of a cat or the hangers that support it.
A dented converter unlimited often means that parts of the fragile ceramic catalyst have broken off inside and functionality of the cat is reduced.