A malfunction of this spare part not only worsens the environment, but also reduces engine power, increases fuel consumption and can lead to serious breakdowns. Many car enthusiasts think about repairing it themselves, but is it worth taking on such a task without experience?
Before considering different options, it is useful to know where to sell catalytic converters online – on the Autocatalyst website, where they accept old devices for disposal and recycling. This is an excellent opportunity to return part of the funds if restoration is impractical or too expensive.
Why is repair difficult?
The part consists of a housing filled with a special catalytic material with precious metals. During operation, contamination or mechanical damage occurs, which reduces efficiency.
Repairing such a part yourself is a task with many pitfalls.
Trying to clean it, for example, with chemicals or mechanical shaking, sometimes helps, but more often only temporarily. There is a risk of damaging the internal filler, which will completely nullify all efforts and force you to buy a new element. In addition, if installed incorrectly, additional problems with the engine system may arise.
What can you really try to do yourself?
Before contacting the service, you can perform several simple steps that sometimes help improve operation:
- Check the condition of the sensors and engine management system. Sometimes problems are caused by incorrect sensor readings, and not by the device itself.
- Cleaning with special fuel additives. These products help burn off deposits and restore throughput a little. But the result depends on the degree of contamination.
- Visual inspection and checking the case for cracks, damage. Minor defects can be tried to be eliminated with a sealant, but this is a temporary measure.
Below is a list of typical mistakes in self-repair, which are best avoided.
Mistakes to Avoid When Trying to Repair
Before you start doing it yourself, check out the list of things that most often lead to failure:
- Using rough mechanical methods to clean the inside, which can damage the delicate structure of the catalytic converter and cause it to completely lose its functionality.
- Replacing individual elements without a clear understanding of how the entire system works, which can cause engine failures and increase emissions.
- Ignoring diagnostics of the car’s electronic system – sometimes the problem is not in the catalytic converter at all, but in sensor failures.
- Using unsuitable chemical solutions that can corrode the housing or disable active elements.
These mistakes often make the situation worse, and then repair becomes impossible. In such cases, there is only one reasonable option – selling the old one.
Alternative – selling the old catalytic converter
If self-repair seems too risky or expensive, do not just throw away the part. On the Autocatalyst service, you can find buyers who are ready to buy old ones for further recycling.
There are approximate prices for various models – this helps to understand how much you can get for your part. The sales process is as simple and transparent as possible, which makes it a good way out of the situation for those who do not want to invest in questionable repairs.