WHEN SHOULD YOU REPLACE YOUR CATALYTIC CONVERTER?

South Colorado Springs Nissan - Everything You Need to Know About Catalytic Converter Replacements.

If your Nissan's catalytic converter is broken or missing, it's essential to have this part replaced. Leaving the problem unresolved will mean that your car is expelling toxic gases, which is not good for you or the environment.

Additionally, driving without one can be dangerous because your vehicle won't accelerate properly. You may also notice that your car has lesser power in lower gears. Therefore, replacing the catalytic converter is important and should not be delayed.

WHAT IS A CATALYTIC CONVERTER, AND HOW DOES IT WORK?

A catalytic converter is a car part located near the exhaust pipe underneath your Nissan vehicle. Some vehicles have one catalytic converter, whereas others, such as hybrids or those with V8 engines, have two. If your car has two exhaust pipes, it will likely have two catalytic converters.

This part aims to convert toxic gases such as carbon monoxide and nitric oxide into safer ones like carbon dioxide. Without a catalytic converter, your car will not function properly, and dangerous fumes will be expelled into the environment.

A catalytic converter works by forcing those toxic gases over metallic catalysts. These catalysts contain valuable metals such as platinum, rhodium, and palladium. Because of this, it is replacing the catalytic converter can be expensive. However, it's unsafe to drive without one. 

HOW MUCH DOES A CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACEMENT COST?

The average price range of a catalytic converter is between $500 and $2200. However, expensive models will require a more expensive part because they typically contain more valuable metals.  

SHOULD I REPAIR MY CAR OR BUY A NEW ONE?

Whether or not it's worthwhile replacing the catalytic converter or buying a new car depends on the value of your vehicle. For example, your vehicle may not be worth much if your Nissan is old or has many miles clocked up. Because of this, your car may also encounter other mechanical problems, which could add to the overall cost of repairs.

These are important factors you will need to weigh, and you can always ask for a quote before proceeding with any repairs. If you are looking at new catalytic converters online, keep in mind that it's not just the part that costs money. You will also need to pay someone for their time and labor when it's installed.

Another point to consider is that you must buy a new catalytic converter. Unfortunately, due to safety reasons, you cannot get a second-hand one installed. Because of this, you are purchasing a genuine Nissan part is recommended.

Therefore, if the cost of a new catalytic converter almost matches or exceeds the value of your car, then it might be worthwhile investing in a new car. However, if the replacement cost is low, getting a new catalytic converter would be cheaper than buying a new car.

WHY BUY GENUINE NISSAN PARTS?

A genuine part is an item installed in your Nissan when it was manufactured. Hence, when you buy a replacement part from Nissan, you are guaranteed a product that works best with your vehicle.

Therefore, aftermarket parts are reversed engineered, meaning that another company has tried to match the exact specifications of the genuine part. However, there is no guarantee that this part will work to the same standards.

WHICH CARS ARE LEAST LIKELY TO HAVE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS STOLEN?

Electric vehicles such as the Nissan Leaf will not encounter this problem because they do not have a catalytic converter. Since they run on gas or diesel, only gas cars or hybrids contain these parts.

In general, it's believed that Nissans are less likely to have their catalytic converters stolen. However, no car can dodge this possibility.

Thieves generally aim for expensive models such as the Nissan GTR because they contain the most valuable catalytic converter. They also target hybrids like the Nissan Rogue because they include an expensive catalytic converter. Additionally, vehicles with more height (SUVs or trucks) make it easier for thieves to grab the catalytic converter.

Therefore, if your Nissan is not an expensive model or has a lower height, this may deter some thieves. Nonetheless, there is still a possibility of your catalytic converter being stolen.