Easy guide on how to change a catalytic converter yourself.
Estimated time: 1-2 hours Difficulty: Easy/Medium
Begin by raising the vehicle as you will need to work underneath the vehicle when removing the old catalytic converter and fitting the new catalytic converter. Lift the vehicle up using a wheel jack or ramps and hold it in place using blocks or safety stands, ensuring it is safely in place. This will allow you to access the part in question.
Make sure the vehicle hasn’t been in use for at least a couple of hours to allow the parts to cool down. You don’t want to be working with hot parts.
There will be an
oxygen sensor connected to the top of the catalytic converter, using a wrench loosen off the nut and disconnect the sensor from the catalytic converter. Check the sensor for any loose wires or bad connections, if it is damaged then now would be a good time to replace this part.
Step 2
Now you can loosen the retaining bolts at the front and the rear of the convertor using a socket set. Once both sets of bolts are loosened off you can remove them. To remove the convertor you will need to push it back towards the rear of the vehicle to disconnect the front, pull it down and then slide the rear out to totally remove the part.
There will be a heat shield cover fitted over the top of the old part. Remove the four bolts from this and pull the cover off as you will need to fit this to the new part.
Step 3
Check your
new converter against your old one to ensure that it’s the same, and will fit to your vehicle. Now place the heat shield cover over the new part and put the four bolts into place, tightening them all once they are in place, securing the heat shield to the convertor.
The new part should come with two gaskets, one to fit each end of the convertor. Fit these in place and before fitting the convertor ensure the oxygen sensor connection is on the top.
Final step to complete installing the catalytic converter
Fit the catalytic converter in place, placing the front bolts on and then the rear bolts. Tighten the rear bolts securely then tighten the front bolts securely. Once these bolts are fitted tightly then you can connect the oxygen sensor. Secure this correctly to the convertor, lower the vehicle and test the vehicle.
This completes the installation.
