A catalytic converters is an integral part of your vehicle’s exhaust system that transforms harmful emissions into less damaging ones. This keeps the engine running efficiently and reduces air pollution.
Unfortunately, catalytic converters are highly valuable and easily stolen. Toyota uses more precious metals in their converters than other OEMs do to protect against theft.
What is a catalytic converter?
Catalytic converters are an exhaust system that transforms the dangerous gases your car emits into less hazardous ones. These include carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons and oxides of nitrogen.
Catalytic converters are designed to reduce harmful emissions and protect the environment by converting CO, HC and NOx into more benign substances like carbon dioxide and water.
Today, almost all new cars feature catalytic converters, which are typically located near the engine.
Catalytic converters operate at very high temperatures, typically 400 degrees or higher, to maximize their efficiency and effectiveness. To reach these temperatures quickly, the converter needs to be placed close to the engine for quick heating up.
Catalytic converters are typically composed of stainless steel housings with a ceramic honeycomb inside filled with platinum, palladium and rhodium. These precious metals have high monetary values which makes catalytic converters valuable to scrap metal dealers.
How do catalytic converters work?
Catalytic converters are essential elements of a vehicle’s exhaust system, working by converting harmful emissions like carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOx) and hydrogen cyanide (HC) into harmless gases like oxygen and water.
Most vehicles, the converters are located beneath the engine inline with exhaust on both sides of the car, making them highly accessible and vulnerable to theft.
Toyota has made significant modifications to their 2022 Tundra, including leaving two of the catalytic converters fully exposed, making theft more challenging.
When your converter becomes clogged, it can create significant backpressure that reduces engine performance – potentially leading to the illumination of your check engine light.
Therefore, it’s essential to monitor the health of your catalytic converter and address any issues before they worsen. Doing this will save you from costly repairs down the line.
What are the symptoms of a clogged catalytic converter?
Catalytic converters are essential parts of your car’s emissions system, helping convert harmful exhaust gases into less damaging emissions while improving engine efficiency and protecting the environment.
Unfortunately, they’re not perfect and over time can become clogged with carbon deposits and other debris. This has an adverse effect on your vehicle’s performance and fuel economy.
Unfortunately, it’s easy to recognize the signs of a clogged catalytic converter. Here are some common warning signs that your converter may be failing:
There may be a strong, foul smell or an unpleasant rotting egg smell coming from the exhaust pipe.
Lack of acceleration when pressing the accelerator;
A failed check engine light indicates the following symptoms:
If you observe any of these symptoms, it’s essential to have them examined by a certified mechanic. They could help prevent an expensive catastrophic failure that could cost you thousands of dollars in repairs.
How do I replace my catalytic converter?
Replacing your catalytic converter isn’t cheap. A quality replacement from Magnaflow or Walker can cost up to $1,500. Furthermore, due to supply shortages caused by an unpredictable parts industry, repair shops may have to wait up to one month for parts they require.
That is why it’s essential to protect your Toyota with high-quality replacement parts. The last thing you want is for your catalytic converter to be stolen and have to spend money on a new one that’s in worse condition.