I have a 2000 V6 mustang. I hear a noise like there might an exhaust leak. I don't hear it when the car is idle or going on slower speeds, only when it reaches 40mph or more. I took my car for an oil change this weekend and asked the mechanic if he can check for any exhaust leak. The mechanic said the exhaust looks fine, but the catalytic converter might be clogged. I searched online, and it looks like catalytic converters are supposed to last for the lifetime of the car. Can any one tell me is this a common problem? And is it easy to repair a clogged converter or it has to be replaced? And how much will it cost?

Thanks.

 

if they get too hot, the shape inside can change and clog....

 

Is it easy to repair? Or should it be replaced?

 

It can NOT be repaired and original equipment ones are pretty expensive. Also the catalytic convertors are covered under a federal emission warranty. Some states are 8 years or 80,000 miles so if are you within that mileage then its good news for you and take it to a dealer for the repairs . And make sure that your vehicle is running fine and not causing exsessive exhaust temperatures. [sm=badbadbad.gif]

 

^+1 thats a fact just had my mothers nissan extera in for the same issue and come to find out it was just the shield rattling.... they were trying to get her to buy new cats because it had 84,000 mles on it and the warranty only goes to 80,000 miles....

 

My heat shield broke on me ( weld on the right rear side broke ) I just tach welded it together and havent heard it since, but mine only rattled at low speeds.

 

There is a way to tell if the cats are clogged using a vacum gage but I think clogging a cat is rather unlikely.

 

^im pretty sure it happens to a lot of people

 

^can ne one back that up??

 

if your cat is clogged your engine will bog down and will not run. it will give symptoms of a bad alternator... the car cranks over, runs for a few minutes shuts down, then battery seems dead... you can jump it but it wont run very long.

i had a clogged cat a few years back, until the car shut down completely i couldnt go above 25 miles an hour.