Is it necessary to fix the Catalytic Converter on my '97 Suzuki X90?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Angel G
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Angel G

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Yesterday the Catalytic Converter went out in my little car. I took it to the shop and they're saying it's going to cost $240 to replace it. I'm a high school student that makes minimum wage at a part time job, so I really can't afford to replace it if it's not needed.

I was told that it's just a pollution control that turns the exhaust into something better for the environment. But will it make my car run any different without it on there?

Please write back, I don't know what to do about it ????

I don't live in one of those cities where they do the emissions test so I don't have to worry about not passin it if they check my car.
 
It is illegal not to have a catalytic converter on your car. If it ever gets looked at by anyone they will not work on it without one and no sop will remove one because they will get shut down. It is a very easy fix to replace yourself and will probably save you lots of money. The cat is held in place by 4 nuts and usually some rubber hangers. You can find the cheapest local automotive place and order the part and gaskets for each side to seal it. They recommend replacing the rubber hangers but I don't because the new ones are miserable to work on. You can buy a set of automotive ramps to get under the car safely or use a hydraulic jack and jack stands. (Ramps are easier and more stable) You get some good penetrating oil and a butane torch to loosen the nuts (they get really rusted). You can try to loosen them but if they are jammed, just heat them with the torch. Pop the nuts off, slide out the old catalytic converter, clean the flanges very well with a brush to get the old gasket material off, replace the gaskets put in the new converter and rehang it, tighten the nuts and it's done. The hardest part is loosening the nuts the first time. After that it's cake. All told, I cut my bill in half last time even with buying the parts and tools. Shop around for parts. I got mine at advance auto parts and the bill was 30% less than the other places. I even found jack stands and a hydraulic jack for $30!
Good luck!
 
If the converter has no exhaust leaks and the problem is not that it's plugged up, you can still drive with out a problem. Nothing will be damaged. Sometimes the error code for a bad converter is caused by a bad downstream O2 sensor. The mechanic that diagnosed your car would have to monitor the voltage readings of the O2 sensors to confirm the converter is the problem and not the downstream O2 sensor. Just reading the codes won't pin point which part to replace, only which system the code is for is for.
 
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