how to install universal catalytic converter without welding

In order to do that, you’ll need to remove the catalytic converter from the exhaust piping. When the catalytic converter goes bad, the next best thing is to replace it with a new unit.īut you can still try cleaning the converter and see if it’s enough to erase the MIL in the console. But then again, this is not always the case. In some cases (or if the fault is caused by excessive blockage or contamination), cleaning the catalytic converter will erase the check engine light and P0420 trouble code. If you notice the downstream O2 sensor readings are fluctuating as you increase or decrease the idling speed, you are most likely dealing with a broken or burned out catalytic converter. Press the gas pedal to increase the engine speed. The downstream O2 sensor readings should also be steady at this point.

In a vehicle with a working catalytic converter, the upstream O2 sensor reading should be fluctuating from rich to lean and vice versa at idling speed. The trick is to observe the live data on both the upstream and downstream oxygen sensors. Unfortunately, it is highly illegal to do that in most states.īut if you have an OBD2 scan tool, you can easily check the condition of the catalytic converter. The only way to tell if a catalytic converter is going bad is to remove it from underneath the vehicle and cut/open/break it in half. Besides the fact that you can’t judge the performance of the catalyst by simply looking or removing it, it happens to be located underneath the vehicle, which also makes it hard to access. The truth is it’s hard to tell if your catalytic converter is failing or not.

How to install universal catalytic converter without welding