First Fix the Issues That Damagedthe Original One (NAPSA)—‘You need a new catalytic converter.” That’s certainly not good newsfor any vehicle owner, since converters are fairly expensive to replace. However, the job can become even more expensiveif your service provider doesn’t fix all of the issues that damaged theoriginal unit. “Catalytic converters contain no moving parts, so whentheyfail there is usually another problem that has triggered the failure,” explains Joe Bacarella, an ASE L1 certified master technician who is also technical assistance manager for Tenneco Inc., one of the world’s largest converter manufacturers. “Unless you resolve those issues before investing in a new converter, you’re probably going to end up with the same complaint downthe road.” Catalytic converters help to clean up poisonous gases produced by internal combustion engines. These gases are fed into one or more converters beneath most vehicles. As the gases flow over a layer of precious metals within the converter, a chemical reaction changes them into carbon dioxide and water vapor. The most common types of converter failure are “poisoning” by antifreeze, certain engineoil additives and chemical sealants; coat- ing or fouling related to carbon buildup within the engine; oil in the exhaust stream or the use of an improperfuel; internal melting caused by excessive pollutants in the exhaust; and structural dam- age from a hard impact. Note that all but one of these failure modes is related to the engine’s operating condition. To ensure a lasting repair, ask your technician to explain what damaged youroriginal converter. If he or she can pinpoint the root cause and assure you that it has been corrected, chances are you're getting a comprehensiverepair. For more information on con- verter design, operation and troubleshooting, visit www.walker exhaust.com.
