cat converter problem

Submitted by harry18 on

Forum: 

hi, just wanna ask what are some indicators of a bad daihitsu catalytic convertersUnknw is it hard to replace? what are the tools needed, if in case?

thanks, hope you can help me, a friend of mine is having some prob with his car. Smile

CAT CONVERTOR

Submitted by oldminiman on

Usually you can't tell till the MOT wcheck the emissions.

A common problem is the rattle which tends to go at about 2600prm. I have it on both my Spotraks and one for more than ten years with no mot failure. It can be either the protective lower plate or internal. I have removed the lower skid plate on one but that hasn't improved the rattle at all and I have just learnt to live with it. I managed to get a CAT off ebay for £15 and keep it incase it fails the emissions, so far it has sat in the garage for 6 years.

Removal and replacement is quite easy in theory but in reality corroded bolts may cause you problems. If you can get the car on a lift allowing you to get some good leverage, all the better but from beneath on jacks expect a lot of puffing and straining. I replaced my entire exhaust with stainless and had to take it to my local exhaust shop to get the cat off, not KWICKFIT or the like, a small firm who were willing to do it without selling me an exhaust for £20. They used their gas torch to get the bolts to shift.

Hope this is of help

OLDMINIMAN

M J Young

Getting Catty

Submitted by assassin on

Catalitic converters can be checked at the MOT, or by getting a test done at the local MOT testing garage. A quick check can be done by hitting your cat underneath with the flat of your hand, a rattle indicates the monolith inside is detached or broken.
Other problems could be the lambda sensor, this screws into the exhaust, in front of the cat, and monitors the emissions to the cat, the lambda sensor then adjusts the engine via the electronic control unit, (ECU).
To maintain your cat, simply warm the vehicle with a drive of at least five miles, and then boot the throttle in a low gear, and allow the engine to run to full revs, do this several times, or alternatively run the vehicle on a long motorway run, this wil strike the cat up. Do not stand the cat for long periods as damp or moisture will degrade it over time.