Catalytic Converter....

[Kiriken]

The catalytic converter on my 89' Caprice Classic (Brougham) is pretty rusty and has been making an awful rattling sound (similar to banging multiple coat hangers on a coffee can) recently (mostly while idle or warming up). It's so rusty that if I tap it with my palm, small chunks of rust will fall out of the honey-comb like areas. Besides the noise, my car has been kind of put-putting after what feels like a cough in the exhaust system (It'll feel like a small jerk or two forward and the noise will follow)... Now I'm no rocket-scientist, but I'd assume replacing that'd be the best step forward... So my question is, is there anything specific I should look for in a catalytic converter? I assume I should buy a new one as opposed to going to a junk yard? Would anyone make any recommendations?

PS: I'm in California, the land of hippies and environment regulations if that complicates things

[Headnsouth]

Look on either autozone, oriellys or advanced auto parts. Put in your make, model and year and it'll give you the part you need. Buy a new one, I just replaced one on my 98 Pontiac. Cost me $180 out the door. Just amke sure it says its approved for Cali. emissions.

I did spray the bolts with some PB balster a few days before I tackled the job. Prolly took me an hour and i was done.

[silicon212]

Your only choice is to buy a new one. US Federal regulations prohibit the resale of used catalytic converters.

I replaced mine about 3 years ago with one from Autozone. The direct fit one bolts right in and costs about $70.

[randy78]

so the shield is reattling

its common happens all the time

reattach it or remove it

it doesnt mean the cat needs replaced or that its bad

its only bad if its plugged or not passing emissions testing

good luck

[n3rd61rl]

cat is going on my Cap 89 9C1....WV has yearly inspect, so have to replace like him. Any other items I should shop for besides the Cat (found a good one for the police package thru Parts Train), previous owner was convinced its just an O-sensor being "dirty". But man that thing is starting to warm my passenger's feet just a little. Nice in the winter, not so great in summer. ;-)

[Blt2Lst]

Originally Posted by Kiriken

The catalytic converter on my 89' Caprice Classic (Brougham) is pretty rusty and has been making an awful rattling sound . Would anyone make any recommendations?

PS: I'm in California, the land of hippies and environment regulations if that complicates things

To be legal in Cali, the cat must have the correct CARB number stamped on it to pass smog. Some smog shops will check for this during your smog check and some will not, go figure..

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by n3rd61rl

cat is going on my Cap 89 9C1....WV has yearly inspect, so have to replace like him. Any other items I should shop for besides the Cat (found a good one for the police package thru Parts Train), previous owner was convinced its just an O-sensor being "dirty". But man that thing is starting to warm my passenger's feet just a little. Nice in the winter, not so great in summer. ;-)

just to be sure whats your problem ............If the cat converter is getting too hot/ glowing red etc...this is usually too much unburned fuel getting to the cat converter..bad plugs/plug wires/fuel injectors/carb / fuel evap control devices and other stuff..

in most cases a bad cat converter causes low power,hard starts,very poor MPG....

if your converter is running too hot this will be the end result..so make sure you fix what is causing the over heated converter before installing new one !

calif is picky on emissions testing , I doubt where you live on a 1989 they will even look at the conveter as long as the testing is with no failures on emissions..

[n3rd61rl]

Not red hot, not even close to that hot, just warm. The light is intermitent... of course today I say something about it, and no light, and purred like a kitten. Smooth sailing. But then it went by the mechanic today and I think it was just trying to impress him. Cranked right up, ran like new. Telling ya, it's a Zombie car and the HooDoo was working today.

[silicon212]

I don't think the cat is the problem. As jcat stated above, when the cat goes out, your engine will have low power, it will run hot, no economy, and there will generally be a strong rotten egg smell.

If the cat is getting warm, that will indicate a rich running condition with the engine. It could well be a 'lazy' oxygen sensor, as this condition generally will fool the computer into thinking the engine is too 'lean', causing the computer into compensating by enriching the mixture, thereby providing the extra fuel to heat the cat.

If you have access to a scanner that can tell you real time data about your engine, you should be able to catch this.

A lot of times, when a sensor gets lazy, you will never see the MIL / check engine / service engine soon light come on, as the computer is not detecting a problem (the sensor is feeding the computer erroneous info, tricking it into believing everything's good).

If you are getting a light, then check your air cleaner. It just might be plugged.

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by n3rd61rl

Not red hot, not even close to that hot, just warm. The light is intermitent... of course today I say something about it, and no light, and purred like a kitten. Smooth sailing. But then it went by the mechanic today and I think it was just trying to impress him. Cranked right up, ran like new. Telling ya, it's a Zombie car and the HooDoo was working today.

post what failure codes you have. since the check engine light comes and goes I am guessing it is the O2 sensor . on these engines this is how it usually begins to fail...if you find that this is the failure . replacing will make the engine run much smoother and the MPG does increase with better fuel management.

it is possible if the O2 sensor is defective it can do some damage to the converter..