Catalytic converters are often stolen and you may find yourself with a loud car heading to work the next day. In a situation like this, is it okay to drive without a catalytic converter, or do you have to sit still until someone replaces it?
In this guide, I answer the mechanical and legal aspects of whether or not you can drive without the cat, what happens when you drive without it, and how to protect the catalytic converter from theft.
Can You Drive Without a Catalytic Converter?
There is nothing mechanically stopping you from operating your car without the catalytic converter, and your car will run, although you will face unusual sounds and performance issues.
However, it’s illegal to drive without a catalytic converter, making it less than advisable.
Every state requires a catalytic converter to reduce the air pollution burden of your vehicle. Overall, you probably are not harming the vehicle by driving without it, although it is damaging our planet.
For that reason alone, you do NOT want to run your car for an extended period of time without it. Your best option is to get a replacement as soon as possible.
Effects of Driving Without a Catalytic Converter
#1. Loud Exhaust Noise.
Most people know that the catalytic converter has been stolen as soon as they start their engine. When you start your vehicle, most people will instantly hear the loud exhaust noise.
It sounds like the car is roaring instead of purring softly. The louder sound is very apparent when you step on the gas pedal as well.
There’s simply no mistaking the sound of a vehicle with the catalytic converter removed. It is also sure to turn a lot of heads when you drive down the street.
#2. Rough Performance.
Without all of the exhaust systems pieces in place, the engine can start to run rough. The Check Engine Light should come on the dash.
Without this component, the computer won’t be able to read the oxygen in the exhaust reading properly, leading to engine performance issues.
The performance change won’t be quite as noticeable as a misfire, but you will have noticed it. Of course, you’ll know the cause roughness by simply the sound, so wondering if your vehicle is running right isn’t a concern.
#3. Inspection/Emissions Failure.
Every state mandates that a vehicle has a catalytic converter. If you try to go for your yearly inspection, there is a good chance that the mechanic fails your vehicle.
While there are many parts to the inspection that are important, one of the top inspections could be having an intact exhaust. Not only does your vehicle need a good catalytic converter, but most states will also check the exhaust pipe, the muffler, and possibly several other parts.
The catalytic converter is needed to convert harmful toxins into less harmful byproducts.
For example, what would be harmful emissions are broken down into carbon dioxide and water vapor once the emission’s chemical reaction occurs.
If that catalytic converter is not in place, you will not have emissions to filter and the chemical reaction will not take place.
When you take the car for the emissions test, the car is going to fail. You are going to have to have the converter fix before the car can get a passing grade because the car is contributing to air pollution.
#4. Police Fine.
If your catalytic converter was stolen, it’s still your responsibility to replace it in a reasonable amount of time.
The good news is that most police departments understand catalytic converters are popular to steal, so while you should report it as soon as you believe it was stolen, police honestly won’t bother you either way, since it’s just a catalytic converter.
This doesn’t mean that you should break the law and take it off. You may be held liable for a fine if you deducted the converter.
It is illegal in every state to tamper with the emissions control system if it ultimately causes failure; any fine you pay for it will depend on the state you are living in and how many previous tickets you’ve received for the same issue.
Ultimately, it’s still best just to put the catalytic converter back on to avoid future wasted money.
Prevent Catalytic Converter Theft
#1. Install Protective Gear.
Since many catalytic converters are stolen each year, there is a market for devices to protect them. An anti-theft device can be installed, making it tougher for someone to steal the catalytic converter.
Most people do not go through with installing one of these devices until after they have had the first catalytic converter stolen and have had to then protect the new one. Each of the protective devices will offer different degrees of protection and cost.
In general, you might expect to spend between $200 and $500 for the device and installation as compared to the cost of having the catalytic converter replaced. Most people will have some shield of some type installed on their vehicle, but you will also see products like straps and other gear.
#2. Park Wisely.
By thinking ahead, you can save yourself a lot of headaches. Of course, the best place to put your vehicle at the end of a long day is in the garage. However, if you don’t have a garage, or you are out on the town, you may need to think of these smarter parking options.
- Stick to the light. If it is daytime, park in a well-lit area – preferably under bright lights or in an area that has street lights.
- Park with the people. If you are choosing a parking garage or lot and there is a choice of lots, don’t park in one without cars. While this is good practice to avoid your vehicle getting damaged, it may make it less attractive to thieves. You want a lot with lots of people in and out, showing thieves that if they try to steal from you, they will have a good chance of getting caught.
- Park where the cameras are. If you can park in a space with a security camera looking over it, get as close to that as you can. Thieves are sure to dress the area before putting into the act. Security cameras are sure to deter thieves.
Putting all of these practices together will help you a better chance at not only saving your catalytic converter, but the vehicle and valuables with it.
At the very least, between the cameras and possible eye-witnesses, you will have a better chance at recovering it in the occasion something happens.
#3. Use an Alarm.
You can install a security alarm in your car to help deter catalytic converter theft, but again, there are plenty of car alarms that will not work for this scenario. They may not even go off unless you physically break into the car.
So, you want a car alarm that triggers on vibrations. If thieves move the car while cutting the converter, the alarm should go off so you might actually catch them in the act or at least scare them off when you do.