The purpose of your vehicle’s catalytic converter is to dispose of the emission gases in a safe manner. When it becomes faulty, your vehicle will fail an emissions test.
The only thing you will be able to do is replace the catalytic converter in most situations. But how much do catalytic converters usually cost and is it worth keeping your vehicle to install a new converter?
In this guide, I cover the general information for the catalytic converter and how much it would cost to install a new one. I also include some signs the catalytic converter has become faulty and must be replaced.
What is the Catalytic Converter?
The catalytic converter is a component of your exhaust system that looks like a muffler but has different materials.
Inside the car’s catalytic converter is a honeycombed structure that holds materials known as catalysts that interact with the exhaust gases. These catalysts can be rhodium, palladium and platinum.
As these unburned hydrocarbons from your exhaust move through the catalytic converter, they start to heat up and break down into less toxic and harmful emissions to the environment.
These exhaust gases continue to exit from the catalytic converter to the atmosphere through the tailpipe.
How Much Does a Catalytic Converter Replacement Cost?
The average replacement cost for catalytic converters is between $400 and $2,500, including parts and labor. Your wallet isn’t hurting from the labor though.
It’s the catalytic converter costing a premium because it uses expensive materials in the part’s interior construction.
Catalytic converter replacement can be one of the most expensive auto repair needs on your car. In some instances, based on the year, make and model, it might not make sense to replace the catalytic converter based on the car’s current value.
There is a way to help you avoid needing a new catalytic converter if you maintain your vehicle. If you have the spark plugs serviced and the car running the best it can, then the catalytic converter will continue to function as intended.
When you stop caring for your vehicle’s needs that is when the old catalytic converter starts to fail. Also, if the Check Engine Light illuminates, take it serious, and it should be checked out.
Factors Affecting Catalytic Converter Replacement Cost
#1. Vehicle Type.
Replaced catalytic converters are more affordable if you drive an older vehicle. Older vehicles have cheaper catalytic converters, which could price range in the hundreds.
Newer vehicles, however, have more sophisticated catalytic converters that increase the price significantly. Furthermore, if your vehicle has a dual exhaust system, you may have to deal with 2 catalytic converters.
#2. Quality of New Part.
Like any auto part, not all new catalytic converters are created equal. You can buy a generic catalytic converter that will get the job done, but that doesn’t guarantee the best fit or best materials.
For an example, a cheap catalytic converter has fewer precious metals inside, so it is less efficient and durable, meaning you’ll spend time replacing it again in the future.
A higher-end catalytic converter can contain a density of 6 times in materials than a cheap option. You may even see a check engine light together with the P0420 on your dashboard if you go this route.
#3. Labor Expenses.
As with any auto repair, you also have the labor expense to consider in your overall cost. If you are going to do the work yourself, you’ll save the labor cost; however, you aren’t going to do the job in your own garage most likely.
You’ll have to cut the old catalytic converter off, and then weld a new one on, if needed. If your vehicle has a dual exhaust, it just means you have to do this twice.
Also, labor rates differ from region to region. If you live in a city, your labor costs will be higher than if you live in a rural area. Also, if you bring your vehicle to a dealership – or an exhaust specialty shop – instead of your local garage, your labor prices increases.
So, you should always take a look around at prices, but don’t pick the cheapest option, because if a facility takes them twice as long to do the job, your cheaper shop could really cost you more.
#4. Other Diagnostics/Repairs.
Furthermore, when you take your vehicle to the shop, you also have other expenses than just to get the catalytic converter. For example, there are probably some diagnostic charges that you will need to pay for.
And just to complicate things, you may have also (and typically do) repairs on the exhaust system. There is nothing unusual for multiple parts or systems to fail at the same time, especially if something else caused the catalytic converter to fail in the first place.
Bad Catalytic Converter Symptoms
Here is a short overview of the most common symptoms you may notice. If you want a more in-depth guide, check out our other article: Symptoms of a Bad Catalytic Converter.
#1. Failed Emissions Test.
Thirty-four states require testing for emissions now. Sometimes the first time that drivers notice something is wrong is when their car fails its emissions test.
If the catalytic converter isn’t functioning correctly, there won’t be ideal emissions for the environment. Since additional gases are getting pumped into the atmosphere, you won’t pass your emissions test until you have the catalytic converter replaced.
#2. Check Engine Light.
Another one of the earliest signs is when the Check Engine Light comes on. As the catalytic converter begins to fail, the oxygen sensors signal the ECU that there’s a problem.
When you read the Check Engine Light with your code scanner, you should see where the problem lies. After you replace the catalytic converter and or any down parts to gain access to the catalytic converter, it should turn off the Check Engine Light.
#3. Rotten Egg Smell.
If you smell rotten eggs in your car, it could be you just left some trash in the cabin, but probably not. The rotten egg smell is more likely a problem with the catalytic converter.
The rotten egg smell is from hydrogen sulfide. When the catalytic converter is working correctly, it turns that compound into sulfur dioxide, which has no smell.
If it is coming from the tailpipe, reacting correctly or the compound is exiting the exhaust without being turned correctly, then you will smell the rotten eggs.
#4. Poor Acceleration.
As carbon builds in the honeycomb of the catalytic converter, it makes it impossible to continue converting gases correctly. Now the catalytic converter has a blockage, which in turns creates poor performance because the engine needs to create an optimal amount of airflow.
Things only get worse if there is a prolonged blockage and there is the wrong amount of backpressure, which impacts overall airflow. The less airflow, the less power, and you will feel it, especially when you are trying to accelerate.
#5. Decreased Fuel Economy.
The backups of the catalytic converters create more than just poor performance. As the engine struggles for air, the engine will not run as it should.
The harder the engine needs to work, the more fuel it will use, and you can expect reduced fuel economy every time you fill your tank.
Can You Remove a Catalytic Converter?
You may come to the conclusion that you can simply cut off the catalytic converter and use a straight pipe instead. That’s what some people do; however, is this a good solution? Although it is a cheaper repair there are reasons it isn’t advisable.
In the first place, your car is going to fail emissions inspection, you can bank on it. Further, the car performance and efficiency is going to severely suffer. In addition, you are going to add more pollutants to our environment, and then you are part of the problem.
The appropriate remedy is to have the catalytic converter removed and replaced with another one. If the car isn’t worth the cost to replace the catalytic converter, then you need to sell the car and buy a new one. Don’t take the cheap way out when replacing the catalytic converter.