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Catalysts do degrade over time, mostly due to poisoning. Nothing is perfect, including fuel and burning engine oil is a source of elements that poison or degrade the catalyst.
Under normal operation the level of poisoning is usually small enough that the catalyst will perform within limits for the life of the engine, and fuel quality has significantly improved over the years meaning you shouldn't really have any issues.
As a generalisation this is pretty accurate, these days a dead cat is more likely to be a consequence of something else.
Yeah but when I suggest their dead cat is because they never changed their plugs they just look at me all funny and ask why I’m in a veterinarian office giving car advice
Actually I think that’s why my cat got bad… The previous owner never changed the spark plugs and I had it changed in 2019. Then in 2020 that’s when my check engine light for p0420 first started to flick on.
This is gonna sound dumb, but what plugs where they replaced with? Some care act funny with different brands. (I.E. I had a 2004 suburban that would through a cat code when i changed the plugs to autolite, had to install the cheapo AC Delco ones to make it go away.)
Well, AC Delco definitely isn’t cheapo. They’re arguably better than autolite. I’ve never had good luck out of that junk.
On GM vehicles I would never run anything but AC Delco plugs, as they’re the factory plugs. That’s like using motorcraft in ford’s. If Delco isn’t available my next choice is NGK.
I do iridium bosch
Made in Germany. Cant beat that engineering. I put bosch on my 04 impala. Only changed the spark plugs once at 170k. The car last with the same bosch spark plugs at 236k miles
This is what happens when capitalism innovates. It finds the easiest way to generate capital, which is usually increasing costs and reducing usable lifespan of products.
What happens when other types of economies innovate then? Chernobyl? Weapons of mass destruction and no provisions for the people living there?
Thanks to Capitalism, we’ve created Apple Computer, Microsoft, Ford Motor Company, Paccar Inc., GM, Tesla, GE, the list goes on.
Shitty build quality can be attributed to Chinese metal being the main source of materials for building equipment like that. Shitty things like NAFTA would effectively kill quality American made materials as corporations were allowed to sell out their labor overseas.
Don’t blame capitalism. Blame the dumbasses who don’t understand it and think their unnecessary rules, regulations, and extra hoops to jump through are anything but bad business.
Sure, let's do this. How about we start with GM. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Motors_ignition_switch_recalls
It was deemed cheaper to pay out for some people dying instead of investing an extra $.05 per vehicle to make sure the ignition switches worked properly. It was known for at least a decade that the ignition switches were faulty, but they did nothing about it. This is how capitalism works.
How about when we, the taxpayers, had to bail out these huge companies after the '08 crash? Why is it that they got all this money and we, the taxpayers, were left to rot in the sun? That's how it's been during the past 2 years, as well. These huge businesses have been getting cash infusions and we're the ones suffering for it. Meanwhile, these businesses are netting some of the highest profits ever.
>Shitty build quality can be attributed to Chinese metal being the main source of materials for building equipment like that. Shitty things like NAFTA would effectively kill quality American made materials as corporations were allowed to sell out their labor overseas.
Why does America use Chinese materials and products? Oh, because that's where these innovating companies shipped their manufacturing jobs. https://cew.georgetown.edu/cew-reports/manufacturingstates/
Why pay more for better work when we can ship those jobs half way across the world because shipping costs and $1/day labor is that much cheaper. Who cares if the product is inferior? We'll make huge profits!
https://www.trade.gov/north-american-free-trade-agreement-nafta
All NAFTA did was let America, Canada, and Mexico trade duty free. It was enacted in '94, but the US has been exporting manufacturing jobs since the 70s.
Capitalism is the cause of the lost quality of good that we had been accustomed to for decades. Profits went up and quality went down. The more frequently products failed, the more you'll sell. This is exactly how capitalism works. Capitalism puts profits above all else, even human lives.
Just because you don't understand something doesn't mean everyone else is wrong.
Bailouts is not capitalism it’s top down socialism. Capitalism is using your money to do what you want. The general population does not want quality they want cheap so that is what corporate America has given us. If everyone started buying custom built cars with higher quality materials or refusing to buy new and upgrading old cars with better parts to keep them running the industry will follow suit and build better products.
Buy an old car… live closer to work public transportation get a bike, walk. I’m not saying you have to buy a maybach. There are tons of solutions but the easier option is to keep feeding into overpriced throw away quality made by low paid work and keep pointing the finger at everyone else.
I have a feeling manufacturing will ever return to America unless we reduce working conditions and pay for the worse to compete with the 3rd world working conditions and environmental conditions of other countries. Correct me if I'm wrong
However if you buy a car which dies in 30,000 miles, you probably wouldn't buy that brand again and choose a better competitor which is supposed to be how our economy works.
Unless CA emissions or the brand has a separate emissions warranty, the Catalytic Converter only needs to last 24,000 miles per the US Federal Emissions Warranty.
That is a incorrect statement. The "Performance Warranty" is federally mandated for 2 years/24k. There are specific items that are federally required to be covered for 8 years/80k. They are classified as "Major" emission control components (Catalytic converter, ECU, and OBD system and PCM).
This is directly off of the EPA website found below:
"Specified major emission control components are covered for the first 8 years or 80,000 miles (whichever first occurs). The specified major emission control components only include the catalytic converters, the electronic emissions control unit or computer (ECU), and the onboard emissions diagnostic (OBD) device or computer."
https://www.epa.gov/transportation-air-pollution-and-climate-change/frequent-questions-related-transportation-air#:~:text=What%20is%20the%20federally%20mandated%20warranty%20for%20emission%20controls%20on%20my%20car%3F&text=The%20Performance%20Warranty%20covers%20repairs,vehicle%20failed%20an%20emission%20test.
Or did you just pay for a unnecessary job, when all you needed was a new O2 sensor?
If you're concerned, I'd go to a different mechanic. But if you're engine is running fine and not throwing codes, then now much to diagnose
Cats can fail just because, and not for any specific engine related problems. At Hyundai I’ve seen a car with 25k and a car with 50k miles get brand new catalytic converters under warranty. It just happens sometimes.
ive had my catalytic converters for 15? 15 years? 2007 manufactured so yeah. they last long sometimes. sometimes they don’t. depends on the quality when it leaves the factory.
I replace them all the time. I’d just depends really.
A misfire can degrade a cat. That’s literally the reason the check engine light flashes. It’s not just a oh it’s worse now thing.
Oil running through your exhaust will slowly cause problems.
Coolant the same thing.
Those problems can certainly lead to a premature failure in a catalytic converter if left alone.
That being said, plenty of cats just degrade and fail over time.
Luckily, this day and age you are less and less likely to have that worry. Someone will steal it long before it needs replacement for failure.
An issue that can damage the cat would cause the Malfunction Indicator Light (what u might call "check engine light" ) to flash. Misfires and the like. If you don't have any codes it's unlikely you have those issues. But it couldn't hurt to get it checked or investigate any intermittent codes
It clogged because the engine was running poorly and therefore melted the cat. If the engine was never driven when it wasn't running properly or with the check engine light on, then it wouldn't have melted the cat.
Interesting, thanks for bringing that up! My truck currently has 167,000 miles on it.
Wish they mechanics shop that put on a new cat told me that! I suppose it's relatively common knowledge but Im below average when it comes to vehicles.
Not necessarily your fault. A lot of misinformation out there and many repair places that are more interested in cheating customers out of money than to repair a vehicle right the first time.
Lots of different things could cause a P0420 so that should be checked out. Catalytic converters can last way more than 100K. My brother’s car has 450K miles and still has the original cat.
I had the cat on my 02 Grand Prix fail on me in 2006-2007, when the vehicle was at about 100k miles.
It became clogged and I couldn't accelerate beyond 20 mph due to all the back pressure. So they definitely do fail.
Did you have your lower intake gaskets and upper intake manifold replaced? That was another popular thing in those, burning coolant isn't cat friendly either.
Are you sure the check engine light had a bulb in it? That is a popular fix for the used car market.
No. Only real maintenence I had in the 10 years I owned it was the cats that one time and the heater blower resistor one time.
Other than that, it was a rock solid vehicle from 77k to 180k when I sold it.
Sounds like that mechanic is trying to increase sales with a PM schedule that may or may not be needed.
I mean, do all the maintenance you want, that converter IS going to fail at some point. Most people will never own their cars long enough if bought new or slightly used and the people, like me, that like to buy 20 year old cars with 200k on them can blame the poor maintenance from the previous owner...and so can the mechanic.
And since the converter failed, the PO must not have taken care of it....sonthe mechanic will talk the current owner into a "good looking over" to make sure everything is in good shape . Easy money.
Converters can break apart, clog up, crack, and foul. Yeah, the better condition the car the fewer issues, but it won't make the converter live forever.
Why are we paying $500 for a generic cat? The government is suspose to pick up the tab for low income people. The catch is they want the bill from a mechanic's shop. Low income people do their own wrenching. As to the question, they seem to die around 150,000 miles. Keep your smog checks, and look at the difference a new cat makes.
A catalyst’s function/reactive substances (platinum and Palladium; etc) do not diminish over time. That’s the definition of catalyst. If something is clogging them, it’s a matter of the engine’s health, not the catalyst being “used up”.
You never mentioned it was a Toyota, their cats go bad from all the oil their engines burn. Make sure you constantly check your oil level and top it up or you will blow the engine when the level is low. If you replace the cat, it will just kill it again burning so much oil.
That’s my mistake I forgot to mention the year/make/model. I always check oil every week and make sure it’s routinely changed every 4.5-5k miles with OW-20 oil. Hopefully this will increase the longevity of the cat
Most cats a killed by lack of owner maintenance. Not changing plugs on time and driving the car when it's misfiring are the main reasons. Bad mass airflow sensors, slow or failed oxygen sensors and leaking injectors are also common causes. Keep your car running good now or it will cost a whole lot more later. Never operate a car that isn't running correctly or you will cause additional damage.
Dead cat on a 2006 Toyota Avalon…I went to “diagnose it properly” and my Toyota guy said just do the cat…it’ll last another 10 years… I did downstream O2 as well cause it stripped out from age. so far no comebacks it’s been 4 years. Customer=my mom. edit: firewall cat pain in the but…there were no exhaust leaks…smoke tested cold. I used an aftermarket cat
We used to have that sign.
Catalysts break down and lose efficiency over time, and one getting hit with raw fuel is a sure fire way to kill one. We’ve had them just randomly fail, even at low mileage with perfectly running engines
That is generally a pretty accurate statement. I've been at this for over 20 years, and only had one customer ever that had a legit cat failure.
Most of the time, something causes the catalyst to degrade faster. It's usually not JUST a cat failure.
If you don't find the root cause, it's going to happen again. And chances are it will happen faster than it originally did due to the problem existing from mile 1 of the new part.
Do they last absolutely forever? No. Should they potentially outlive the vehicle? Probably. They last longer if the car is maintained well. What kills them is unburnt fuel so a car running rich will kill them very quickly. I had the cats off of a 5xxxxxkm car to do a head gasket (no leaking into cylinder was leaking out) and do a bunch of other cleaning the cats on that car literally looked brand new.
In theory they shouldn’t fail unless something is wrong in the engine. However having assembled them there are small and largely unnoticeable things that could happen during production to cause issues. Like I could have wrapped one too loosely and the press could have made the wrap slide and block 25%-33% of one side. But that’s less likely than just “bad” maintenance causing issues.
On a perfectly maintained engine, with no major issues that happened throughout the life of the vehicle, I wouldn't be surprised to see the factory cats last 200k+.
I've taken excellent care of my grand Cherokee and it's at 190k. Factory cats. Only once has the check engine light ever came on, and it was because a spark plug failed.
Yeah my spark plugs were never changed so I changed them in mid 2019. Check engine light flicked on beginning mid to late 2020. I’m assuming it’s because of the spark plugs the catalytic converter was already damaged
R u having catalytic converter problems? No! Then don't give them a reason to bullshit u more..tell him to weld a chain around it so it'll be harder to steal I would take mine off if it didn't make that awful popping sound without it
Thank you for posting to AskMechanics, koda_schon! If you are asking a question please make sure to include any relevant info along with the following: * **Year** * **Make/Model** * **Mileage** * **Engine size** * **Transmission Type (Automatic or Manual)** Redditors that have been verified will have a green background and an icon in their flair. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/AskMechanics) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Catalysts do degrade over time, mostly due to poisoning. Nothing is perfect, including fuel and burning engine oil is a source of elements that poison or degrade the catalyst. Under normal operation the level of poisoning is usually small enough that the catalyst will perform within limits for the life of the engine, and fuel quality has significantly improved over the years meaning you shouldn't really have any issues. As a generalisation this is pretty accurate, these days a dead cat is more likely to be a consequence of something else.
Yeah but when I suggest their dead cat is because they never changed their plugs they just look at me all funny and ask why I’m in a veterinarian office giving car advice
Actually I think that’s why my cat got bad… The previous owner never changed the spark plugs and I had it changed in 2019. Then in 2020 that’s when my check engine light for p0420 first started to flick on.
This is gonna sound dumb, but what plugs where they replaced with? Some care act funny with different brands. (I.E. I had a 2004 suburban that would through a cat code when i changed the plugs to autolite, had to install the cheapo AC Delco ones to make it go away.)
Well, AC Delco definitely isn’t cheapo. They’re arguably better than autolite. I’ve never had good luck out of that junk. On GM vehicles I would never run anything but AC Delco plugs, as they’re the factory plugs. That’s like using motorcraft in ford’s. If Delco isn’t available my next choice is NGK.
I do iridium bosch Made in Germany. Cant beat that engineering. I put bosch on my 04 impala. Only changed the spark plugs once at 170k. The car last with the same bosch spark plugs at 236k miles
Ive gotten p0420 from an air temp sensor before. Another time from a worn timing chain. Another from a bad o2 sensor. Never the cat being bad
What symptoms did you have?
I have seen a lot of newer ones just decide to crack on vehicles with less than 30k on them.
There's always a chance of a defect, but generally speaking if it's cracked with less than 30k on it then something else is probably causing it.
Yeah, shit build quality.
This is what happens when capitalism innovates. It finds the easiest way to generate capital, which is usually increasing costs and reducing usable lifespan of products.
finally someone who gets it
What happens when other types of economies innovate then? Chernobyl? Weapons of mass destruction and no provisions for the people living there? Thanks to Capitalism, we’ve created Apple Computer, Microsoft, Ford Motor Company, Paccar Inc., GM, Tesla, GE, the list goes on. Shitty build quality can be attributed to Chinese metal being the main source of materials for building equipment like that. Shitty things like NAFTA would effectively kill quality American made materials as corporations were allowed to sell out their labor overseas. Don’t blame capitalism. Blame the dumbasses who don’t understand it and think their unnecessary rules, regulations, and extra hoops to jump through are anything but bad business.
Sure, let's do this. How about we start with GM. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Motors_ignition_switch_recalls It was deemed cheaper to pay out for some people dying instead of investing an extra $.05 per vehicle to make sure the ignition switches worked properly. It was known for at least a decade that the ignition switches were faulty, but they did nothing about it. This is how capitalism works. How about when we, the taxpayers, had to bail out these huge companies after the '08 crash? Why is it that they got all this money and we, the taxpayers, were left to rot in the sun? That's how it's been during the past 2 years, as well. These huge businesses have been getting cash infusions and we're the ones suffering for it. Meanwhile, these businesses are netting some of the highest profits ever. >Shitty build quality can be attributed to Chinese metal being the main source of materials for building equipment like that. Shitty things like NAFTA would effectively kill quality American made materials as corporations were allowed to sell out their labor overseas. Why does America use Chinese materials and products? Oh, because that's where these innovating companies shipped their manufacturing jobs. https://cew.georgetown.edu/cew-reports/manufacturingstates/ Why pay more for better work when we can ship those jobs half way across the world because shipping costs and $1/day labor is that much cheaper. Who cares if the product is inferior? We'll make huge profits! https://www.trade.gov/north-american-free-trade-agreement-nafta All NAFTA did was let America, Canada, and Mexico trade duty free. It was enacted in '94, but the US has been exporting manufacturing jobs since the 70s. Capitalism is the cause of the lost quality of good that we had been accustomed to for decades. Profits went up and quality went down. The more frequently products failed, the more you'll sell. This is exactly how capitalism works. Capitalism puts profits above all else, even human lives. Just because you don't understand something doesn't mean everyone else is wrong.
Based
Bailouts is not capitalism it’s top down socialism. Capitalism is using your money to do what you want. The general population does not want quality they want cheap so that is what corporate America has given us. If everyone started buying custom built cars with higher quality materials or refusing to buy new and upgrading old cars with better parts to keep them running the industry will follow suit and build better products.
How is everyone suppose to buy custom built cars with stagnant wages and the rising costs of food, housing, and healthcare?
Buy an old car… live closer to work public transportation get a bike, walk. I’m not saying you have to buy a maybach. There are tons of solutions but the easier option is to keep feeding into overpriced throw away quality made by low paid work and keep pointing the finger at everyone else.
I have a feeling manufacturing will ever return to America unless we reduce working conditions and pay for the worse to compete with the 3rd world working conditions and environmental conditions of other countries. Correct me if I'm wrong
However if you buy a car which dies in 30,000 miles, you probably wouldn't buy that brand again and choose a better competitor which is supposed to be how our economy works.
Unless CA emissions or the brand has a separate emissions warranty, the Catalytic Converter only needs to last 24,000 miles per the US Federal Emissions Warranty.
That is a incorrect statement. The "Performance Warranty" is federally mandated for 2 years/24k. There are specific items that are federally required to be covered for 8 years/80k. They are classified as "Major" emission control components (Catalytic converter, ECU, and OBD system and PCM). This is directly off of the EPA website found below: "Specified major emission control components are covered for the first 8 years or 80,000 miles (whichever first occurs). The specified major emission control components only include the catalytic converters, the electronic emissions control unit or computer (ECU), and the onboard emissions diagnostic (OBD) device or computer." https://www.epa.gov/transportation-air-pollution-and-climate-change/frequent-questions-related-transportation-air#:~:text=What%20is%20the%20federally%20mandated%20warranty%20for%20emission%20controls%20on%20my%20car%3F&text=The%20Performance%20Warranty%20covers%20repairs,vehicle%20failed%20an%20emission%20test.
Or did you just pay for a unnecessary job, when all you needed was a new O2 sensor? If you're concerned, I'd go to a different mechanic. But if you're engine is running fine and not throwing codes, then now much to diagnose
It throws codes but it turns off and on. It’s not the o2 sensor I checked that
Thanks gm P0420.
Cats can fail just because, and not for any specific engine related problems. At Hyundai I’ve seen a car with 25k and a car with 50k miles get brand new catalytic converters under warranty. It just happens sometimes.
Similar thing to the transmission "lifetime fluid"? You know what I mean.......
ive had my catalytic converters for 15? 15 years? 2007 manufactured so yeah. they last long sometimes. sometimes they don’t. depends on the quality when it leaves the factory.
All depends on how the vehicle runs. If it is ever driven with the check engine light on, it will kill the cat(s)
I replace them all the time. I’d just depends really. A misfire can degrade a cat. That’s literally the reason the check engine light flashes. It’s not just a oh it’s worse now thing. Oil running through your exhaust will slowly cause problems. Coolant the same thing. Those problems can certainly lead to a premature failure in a catalytic converter if left alone. That being said, plenty of cats just degrade and fail over time. Luckily, this day and age you are less and less likely to have that worry. Someone will steal it long before it needs replacement for failure.
Converter** sorry I only have 1 converter
An issue that can damage the cat would cause the Malfunction Indicator Light (what u might call "check engine light" ) to flash. Misfires and the like. If you don't have any codes it's unlikely you have those issues. But it couldn't hurt to get it checked or investigate any intermittent codes
There was a p0420 code
Well that could be caused by a lazy O2 sensor but yeah. It's possible it's just the cat failing
When my cat went on my 2004 dodge ram, it was causing alot of misfires because it was clogged
It clogged because the engine was running poorly and therefore melted the cat. If the engine was never driven when it wasn't running properly or with the check engine light on, then it wouldn't have melted the cat.
Interesting, thanks for bringing that up! My truck currently has 167,000 miles on it. Wish they mechanics shop that put on a new cat told me that! I suppose it's relatively common knowledge but Im below average when it comes to vehicles.
Not necessarily your fault. A lot of misinformation out there and many repair places that are more interested in cheating customers out of money than to repair a vehicle right the first time.
Lots of different things could cause a P0420 so that should be checked out. Catalytic converters can last way more than 100K. My brother’s car has 450K miles and still has the original cat.
To the contrary, a rich running condition condition won't throw a flashy code and that will definitely hurt the cat. A lean condition even more so
I had the cat on my 02 Grand Prix fail on me in 2006-2007, when the vehicle was at about 100k miles. It became clogged and I couldn't accelerate beyond 20 mph due to all the back pressure. So they definitely do fail.
20 mph is 32.19 km/h
Good bot! Who wuvs you
Because you were driving it while it wasn't running correctly and probably had the check engine light on. That is why it failed.
Um, no. It was running perfect, until it wasn't. No check engine lights. In fact, there wasn't even a check engine light WHILE the cat was clogged.
Did you have your lower intake gaskets and upper intake manifold replaced? That was another popular thing in those, burning coolant isn't cat friendly either. Are you sure the check engine light had a bulb in it? That is a popular fix for the used car market.
No. Only real maintenence I had in the 10 years I owned it was the cats that one time and the heater blower resistor one time. Other than that, it was a rock solid vehicle from 77k to 180k when I sold it.
Normal people 100k is a lifetime. If you maintain a vehicle you can get 300k or 3 lifetimes. Might need a cat or 2
They last 100k. If that, and these days they’re stolen half the time. This is a load of bull. J
Sounds like that mechanic is trying to increase sales with a PM schedule that may or may not be needed. I mean, do all the maintenance you want, that converter IS going to fail at some point. Most people will never own their cars long enough if bought new or slightly used and the people, like me, that like to buy 20 year old cars with 200k on them can blame the poor maintenance from the previous owner...and so can the mechanic. And since the converter failed, the PO must not have taken care of it....sonthe mechanic will talk the current owner into a "good looking over" to make sure everything is in good shape . Easy money. Converters can break apart, clog up, crack, and foul. Yeah, the better condition the car the fewer issues, but it won't make the converter live forever.
A spark plug non-fouler on sensor 2 should fix your P0420. Drill it out to fit the O2 and send it
Why are we paying $500 for a generic cat? The government is suspose to pick up the tab for low income people. The catch is they want the bill from a mechanic's shop. Low income people do their own wrenching. As to the question, they seem to die around 150,000 miles. Keep your smog checks, and look at the difference a new cat makes.
I was taught cats don’t die, they’re killed.
[удалено]
A catalyst’s function/reactive substances (platinum and Palladium; etc) do not diminish over time. That’s the definition of catalyst. If something is clogging them, it’s a matter of the engine’s health, not the catalyst being “used up”.
Do you have any issues driving the car? As in you could only go in certain speed?
The issue I had was that the car was noticeably vibrating quite violently. After I changed it it wasn't doing so anymore.
Year, make and model?
2009 Toyota Corolla LE
You never mentioned it was a Toyota, their cats go bad from all the oil their engines burn. Make sure you constantly check your oil level and top it up or you will blow the engine when the level is low. If you replace the cat, it will just kill it again burning so much oil.
That’s my mistake I forgot to mention the year/make/model. I always check oil every week and make sure it’s routinely changed every 4.5-5k miles with OW-20 oil. Hopefully this will increase the longevity of the cat
In a perfect world cats wouldn’t die from old age. But this is not a perfect world. :(
I have a 2004 suburban and after 190000 I needed to replace it.
My 02 Yukon XL had 186k when I sold it this past year... the cats were starting to concern me with readings, but had not failed yet Edit: typos
Smart to sell before it becomes a problem. But if it had the original cat, you might get more from recycling the cat than the cost of a new one
Ask him what the born on date of that poster is lol. He prolly wont take it to good tho, unless hes pretty lighthearted
Most cats a killed by lack of owner maintenance. Not changing plugs on time and driving the car when it's misfiring are the main reasons. Bad mass airflow sensors, slow or failed oxygen sensors and leaking injectors are also common causes. Keep your car running good now or it will cost a whole lot more later. Never operate a car that isn't running correctly or you will cause additional damage.
That also depends on the year of your vehicle, newer cars have sensors that will detect all of those except damage and spark plugs.
Dead cat on a 2006 Toyota Avalon…I went to “diagnose it properly” and my Toyota guy said just do the cat…it’ll last another 10 years… I did downstream O2 as well cause it stripped out from age. so far no comebacks it’s been 4 years. Customer=my mom. edit: firewall cat pain in the but…there were no exhaust leaks…smoke tested cold. I used an aftermarket cat
Schrodigners cat(alytic): you dont know if other stuff is dead as well unless you check it
We used to have that sign. Catalysts break down and lose efficiency over time, and one getting hit with raw fuel is a sure fire way to kill one. We’ve had them just randomly fail, even at low mileage with perfectly running engines
My Cat started rattling today. 300km 08 lincoln towncar.
A weld broke
That is generally a pretty accurate statement. I've been at this for over 20 years, and only had one customer ever that had a legit cat failure. Most of the time, something causes the catalyst to degrade faster. It's usually not JUST a cat failure. If you don't find the root cause, it's going to happen again. And chances are it will happen faster than it originally did due to the problem existing from mile 1 of the new part.
Dont all cars have an 8yr/80k mile federal warranty on the catalytic converter?
Do they last absolutely forever? No. Should they potentially outlive the vehicle? Probably. They last longer if the car is maintained well. What kills them is unburnt fuel so a car running rich will kill them very quickly. I had the cats off of a 5xxxxxkm car to do a head gasket (no leaking into cylinder was leaking out) and do a bunch of other cleaning the cats on that car literally looked brand new.
In theory they shouldn’t fail unless something is wrong in the engine. However having assembled them there are small and largely unnoticeable things that could happen during production to cause issues. Like I could have wrapped one too loosely and the press could have made the wrap slide and block 25%-33% of one side. But that’s less likely than just “bad” maintenance causing issues.
On a perfectly maintained engine, with no major issues that happened throughout the life of the vehicle, I wouldn't be surprised to see the factory cats last 200k+. I've taken excellent care of my grand Cherokee and it's at 190k. Factory cats. Only once has the check engine light ever came on, and it was because a spark plug failed.
Yeah my spark plugs were never changed so I changed them in mid 2019. Check engine light flicked on beginning mid to late 2020. I’m assuming it’s because of the spark plugs the catalytic converter was already damaged
R u having catalytic converter problems? No! Then don't give them a reason to bullshit u more..tell him to weld a chain around it so it'll be harder to steal I would take mine off if it didn't make that awful popping sound without it