Hey Scotty!
I recently purchased a 1999 Buick Century from a private party, and I only noticed the check engine light after I was a good few miles down the road and had purchased the car. It’s automatic, and it currently has 80,322 miles on it. The code on it is P0420. Two things that are likely irrelevant, but I’ll include just in case: The gas gauge goes back and forth when the tank is probably around half full, and the cigarette lighter doesn’t work either as a cigarette lighter or a charger.
Here’s my question, please: How urgently do I need to replace the catalytic converter, and are there cheaper options I should consider?
Thanks!
Dave
Regarding where I live, I travel a lot, but I’m based in Sioux Falls, SD. For the next two weeks, I’m in Georgia and roaming the southeast.
It is FEDERAL LAW to have your car equipped with a catalyst. Whether you live in a state that does inspections or not, I would install one that actually works. Some people are suggesting to replace it with a straight pipe, but that is not a nice option. Be respectful to the environment. I give this same story to people who want to remove their catalyst for performance purposes...not worth the slight horsepower gains IMO.
But as for right now, it's not doing any damage to your engine. It's used to cut down on smog.
I couldn't have said it better myself. Great post.
Where you live is extremely relevant to what you can or have to do and how soon, so I would suggest adding that piece of information 🙂
Sioux Falls, SD, usually, but I’m in Georgia and all over the southeast for roughly the next two weeks.
If it’s not harming performance no biggie. But if you have problems like having a hard time accelerating, or going up a hill, than normal, probably time to fix it.
A car needs to exhale, just like a human. If it’s clogged, it can’t exhale.
A new cat is worth more than your car.
Make a cut in the exhaust pipe, punch out all the cat bits, and put it back together. put a piece of black electrical tape over the check wallet light.
( you probably shouldn't listen to me )
Mechanically it won’t damage anything just needs to be replaced before it needs to go through emissions or inspection depending on what your state requires. There are aftermarket ones available that will lighten the blow of the cost a fair amount
How urgent it is depends on whether emission inspection is done in the state the car is registered in. If not, and the cat is not plugged up and causing problems, I would not worry about it at all.
Cost to replace the catalytic converter depends on the car and whether you can do the work yourself. I replaced the cat on one of my vehicles several years ago with an aftermarket part and I think the cost was all of about $150, but I bolted it on myself. (I did need to replace it because the flange on the old one busted off.)
You might try replacing the downstream O2 sensor since that might be giving a false reading. You could also try something like this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzm52m0AWSQ
I love this.