Provo Catalytic Converter Repair

Vehicles registered in Utah County with model years less than six years old are required to have an emission test once every two years. Provo vehicles in this category that have even-numbered model years must have an emission test in even-numbered years, and vehicles that have odd-numbered model years must have an emission test in odd-numbered years.

Catalytic Converter Repair in Provo

For more information and to know whether your vehicle is due for an emissions test, visit the Utah County Emissions Requirem Cancel ents.

Is a catalytic converter really necessary?

A catalytic converter is an important component of your vehicle’s exhaust system. Sometimes referred to as a “cat”, this emission control device converts toxic gases and pollutants in exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine into less-toxic pollutants. A catalytic converter is usually associated with internal combustion engines fueled by gasoline or diesel fuel.

Catalytic Converter Repair in Provo

How do I know if my car might need catalytic converter repair or replacement?

First, let’s take a moment to clearly understand why your car needs a catalytic converter in the first place. Most vehicles sold in the United States after 1975 are equipped with a catalytic converter to comply with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s regulation of exhaust emissions.

Catalytic Converter Filters

Catalytic converters help reduce airborne pollutants that can harm people and the environment by turning 90% of harmful emissions into less harmful gases. A well-maintained catalytic converter improves the efficiency of your car and directly affects its overall health and performance.

Failing Catalytic Converter

Over time, like any other part of a vehicle, catalytic converters can fail and stop functioning. When this happens, naturally the next thing to do is look into repairing or replacing the unit.

What to look for

Here are a few of the most common reasons your catalytic converter may fail and what you can look for.

• Your check engine light is on: If your check engine indicator lights up on your dashboard, you should consider bringing in your car for a check engine light diagnostic. Your vehicle’s computer system will record inconsistencies and problems with your catalytic converter and store them in a memory bank for review. With a proper diagnostic, we can assess whether your catalytic converter is performing properly and provide expert recommendation on what to do next. If your catalytic converter is in need of repair or replacement, we can provide a competitive quote on the spot.
• Fuel efficiency suddenly drops: Clogged catalytic converters can result in poor engine performance and cause your engine to work harder than it should. When a catalytic converter gets plugged up, your fuel economy may drop dramatically and you will get fewer miles to the gallon than normal. If you sense your fuel economy is getting worse, it may be time to come in for a free inspection on your catalytic converter.

Clogged Catalytic Converter

• Acceleration is less responsive: If you happen to be driving around Provo and Orem and push the gas pedal down but your car hesitates or doesn’t go faster, there may be something wrong with your catalytic converter. It can often feel as if the car isn’t getting enough fuel, when what is actually happening is the catalytic converter isn’t performing properly.
• Your car won’t start easily: If your vehicle’s catalytic converter is clogged, exhaust gases can’t get through to the muffler and out the back of the car. This can cause back pressure and stall your engine.
• Your car stalls easily or runs but feels jerky: If your vehicle’s catalytic converter gets choked up from buildup of particulate matter, your engine will not be able to ‘breathe’ properly. When this happens, the exhaust flow can become severely restricted and cause loss of power or acceleration and you may feel jerky movements. This can be a sign you may need to have your catalytic converter inspected.
• Engine misfire: If your vehicle experiences a cylinder misfire, the fuel in the cylinders can’t combust and provide power to the car. A misfire from one or more cylinders can be caused by many reasons from a faulty ignition system, fuel system, or internal engine failure. This can occur when there are worn-out spark plugs, spark plug wires, or a faulty ignition coil. When this happens, it can cause raw fuel to enter the catalytic converter which can cause damage to the converter itself, plug the filtering system, or perhaps even cause an engine fire.

Stolen Catalytic Converter

Surprisingly, one of the more common reasons people come into our shop for a catalytic converter repair or replacement in Provo is simply because the catalytic converter was stolen. We have had customers come in complaining that their car suddenly sounds a lot louder than normal. When we lift the vehicle up to check the exhaust system, we sometimes notice the catalytic converter has been outright stolen.

Authorities have seen an increase in stolen catalytic converters in Provo over the past few years. Thieves crawl under the car at night and cut off the catalytic converter by sawing off the exhaust pipe in front of, and behind the catalytic converter and quietly sneak off with their stolen cat.

Stolen Catalytic Converter

Why would someone steal a catalytic converter? Criminals are stealing catalytic converters because they are made with precious metals they can convert into quick cash. Rhodium, platinum and palladium are known as platinum group metals, or PGMs, which are known for their catalytic properties. Unscrupulous people steal the catalytic converter and trade it for a few hundred dollars at dealers who eventually crush the converters and extract the precious metals.

If you are experiencing louder-than-normal engine noise, you may be a victim of this ridiculous crime. Bring your car in for a checkup and we’ll examine your exhaust system for free and show you the condition of your exhaust system while it’s on the lift.

How much does it cost to repair or replace a catalytic converter?

It is not easy to repair a catalytic converter, it is usually faster and cheaper to simply replace it. In our experience, catalytic converter replacements can range from just under $1,000 to well over $2,000 or more depending on a few factors. Depending on the year, make, model and trim of your vehicle, you should expect to pay up to a few thousand dollars for parts, labor, and quality.

What affects the price you pay?

• The year, make, and model of your car
• The number of hours it takes to replace
• The quality of the replacement part

At Cougar Tire in Provo, we recognize most people don’t have thousands of dollars laying around for auto repairs. So we do our level best to help with repair costs by researching your best options and providing you with intelligent information about various parts and labor so you can make an informed decision. We also offer a Lowest-price Guarantee so you can rest assured you will not overpay for your catalytic converter repairs in Provo.

Free Inspection

At Cougar Tire & Auto, we offer free inspections of your catalytic converter right here in Provo. This is a relatively quick and easy inspection process that takes only about 10 minutes once we have your car up in the air on the lift. Our certified technicians can examine the entire exhaust system and check for any loose fittings or connections, potential exhaust leaks, abnormal rattles or squeaks, and generally assure you about the condition of your exhaust system and catalytic converter.

Free Catalytic Converter Inspection in Provo

After the under-car exhaust and catalytic converter inspection, we can lower the vehicle and scan your vehicle’s computer using our OBD II scanner and check for any abnormalities or functionality issues. If your vehicle is not performing properly, it will likely have stored codes in its computer system which we can detect with the scanner. We can then print out any codes that may have been stored and advise you of next steps for repairs or replacement.

We are Provo Utah’s best trained catalytic converter experts and know how to get you back on the road again soon.

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