Before they leave your exhaust and enter the atmosphere, some of the more harmful substances your engine produces need to be cleaned and filtered out by the catalytic converter. 

If your catalytic converter is having problems, you could be debating whether to repair it rather than replace it entirely. There are only a few situations and techniques that make sense if you want to repair your catalytic converter. Most of the time, if your catalytic converter is having problems, you will need to replace it. 

When should a catalytic converter be repaired? 

If the damage to the catalytic converter is slight, it could be repaired rather than replaced. Using fuel additives, removing, and cleaning the catalytic converter, and driving with a high RPM to get the catalytic converter hot enough to burn away any blockages and residue are some techniques to test. 

If you try to fix your catalytic converter with either approach or don’t see improvements, you should seek a replacement converter.  Catalytic converters are expensive and can cost upwards of $2,000 to replace. 

3 signs to replace a catalytic converter 

1. Hammering noise

A rattling sound coming from underneath your vehicle is one sign of a damaged catalytic converter. 

Approximately in the middle of your car is where you’ll find the catalytic converter. If you hear rattling originating from this location, your catalytic converter can be seriously damaged. 

2. Damage or discoloration

Additionally, distorted, warped, or cracked pieces on your converter will indicate serious damage. 

An older catalytic converter may have some heat-related staining, but any drastic or unusual color changes should be taken seriously. 

3. Rotten-egg odor

Sulfur odor is the final indicator of a failed catalytic converter. Your vehicle’s catalytic converter may be malfunctioning if you notice a rotten egg odor coming from it. 

An unpleasant stench results when the converter fails to convert hydrogen sulfide into sulfur dioxide. 

If you decide to replace your catalytic converter, you should consider selling the scrap item for recycling. Because of the precious metals found inside that could be utilized in new applications, recycling catalytic converters is crucial. This could also offer you with some extra money to help cover the expense of a new converter. Use our free catalytic converter price guide to determine the value of your scrap catalytic converter!