When was the catalytic converter mandatory

Depending on the engine and exhaust configuration, a vehicle can have more than one "cat". While catalytic converters require no maintenance during the expected life of a vehicle, they can be damaged by leaded fuel and some additives, which gather on the ceramic coating and render them useless. A broken or failed "cat" will not harm the vehicle, but they are required by law.

Replacement prices run from a few hundred to a couple of thousand dollars. Do you have car maintenance or repair questions? E-mail us: globedrive globeandmail. Follow us on Twitter: globedrive Opens in a new window. One of the men got out of the car with an electric saw in hand while the other watched for police. Instead he lay on his back and slid under the van.

His target? He cut through the clamps holding the catalytic converter in place and pulled it away. A few minutes later a police car approached. Erik Gholson and Marshawn Green, the two thieves, fled in the Jeep but were arrested after a short chase. Police officers found six stolen catalytic converters in their truck along with a stash of saw blades.

Criminals like these are increasingly targeting the devices under cars instead of the valuables inside. Catalytic converters contain small amounts of expensive metals, such as platinum, palladium, and rhodium. These metals speed up the reactions of car exhaust gases, such as carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides, and convert them to less directly harmful gases. As the price of these metals has risen, so have thefts of catalytic converters.

Drivers pay much more to replace one. Cat stripping is also another form of decatting, which is the process of removing the honeycomb innards of the cat to simply reduce the amount of restriction inflicted on the exhaust gases.

Most people who go down the route of a full cat delete decide to chance it and simply have a cat waiting to put back in place for when MOT time comes around. But get caught by a keen police officer with a flashlight and it could be game over. And considering the horsepower gain could potentially be counted on one hand depending on the size of the engine, a sports cat seems like the much more viable option if you really feel like the stock cat on your car is holding your powertrain back.

The impact of decatting will be amplified in a turbocharged car however, as the removal of a precatalytic converter would allow an increase in flow of exhaust gasses into the turbocharger. Catalytic converters work best when at high temperature, so a precat is a smaller version found higher up the exhaust system to help break down emissions at start-up when the engine is running very rich. In a turbo exhaust system, the precat generally sits just upstream from the turbocharger, therefore a removal would derestrict that area of the exhaust.

Have you changed to a sports cat or walk the tightrope of a complete decat pipe? Comment below with your thoughts on this common yet risky modification! Please confirm you agree to the use of tracking cookies as outlined in the Cookies Policy.

Sign in or register. Michael Fernie 5 years ago. Remind me later. How long does a catalytic converter last? What happens when a catalytic converter goes wrong? Is it worth using a catalytic converter cleaner? Catalytic converter theft The value of the precious metals found within catalytic converters has risen sharply in recent years, making them a prime target for thieves.

There are a number of steps that you can take to prevent your catalytic converter from being stolen: Mark your catalytic converter - Embedding a unique serial code into the cat makes it harder for the thieves to sell it on. Some companies now offer a police-approved service that also adds this code onto a national database. Secure the fittings - If your cat is bolted on, ask your garage to weld the bolts shut.

Install a protective case - A number of companies will sell you a device that locks onto your cat to add an extra layer of security and a physical deterrent. Some manufacturers, such as Toyota , also offer this service to their customers. Parking - Thieves need to access the underneath of your vehicle in order to remove the cat. Try to park near high curbs, walls, or anything else that restricts access. If you have a garage, use it. Alarms - Fitting your vehicle with a tilt-sensing alarm will cause it to sound if the vehicle is jacked up.

Additionally, if your vehicle is located on a driveway, you could also invest in a motion-sensing alarm to detect if anyone is snooping around your vehicle. Car ownership Cars.