Catalytic Converter Replacement Melbourne

Catalytic Converter Replacement in Melbourne, at Your Door

A blocked or failing catalytic converter robs the engine of power, lifts fuel use and keeps the check engine light on. Mechanic Near You sends a mobile mechanic to your home or workplace across Melbourne's west. We scan the fault codes and check the exhaust and oxygen sensors first, so you only replace the converter if it has failed. Catalytic converter replacement starts from $149 and takes about 1.5 hours.

The car that has lost its breath

It used to pull up the hill without a thought. Now you press the pedal and it hesitates, as if something is holding it back. There is a rattle underneath on cold mornings, and a smell you would rather the neighbours did not notice.

Something is holding it back. A blocked converter makes the engine push its exhaust through a clogged honeycomb, so it works harder to go slower.

A converter rarely fails on its own, either. Something else in the engine usually killed it, and finding that is half the job.

What does a catalytic converter do?

The catalytic converter sits in the exhaust, between the engine and the muffler. Inside its steel shell is a ceramic honeycomb coated with precious metals, including platinum, palladium and rhodium.

As exhaust passes through, that coating converts harmful gases such as carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides into less harmful ones. Petrol cars sold in Australia since 1986 have been required to have one.

Signs of a failing catalytic converter

• A check engine light that stays on
• Loss of power, most obvious uphill or when overtaking
• Higher fuel use
• A rotten-egg or sulphur smell from the exhaust
• A rattle from under the car
• Rough running or a poor idle
• A failed emissions test

Fault codes P0420 and P0430

These codes do not prove the converter has failed. A faulty oxygen sensor or an exhaust leak can set them too.

Is it really the catalytic converter?

A converter is an expensive part, so it is worth being sure. Before we recommend a new one, we check:

• The oxygen sensors. A bad sensor reading can set a converter code. O2 sensor replacement is from $149.
• Exhaust leaks. A leak can trigger the same code. Exhaust repair is from $149.
• How the engine is running. Misfires and an over-rich fuel mixture damage converters.

If a smaller repair will clear the fault, that is what we tell you.

What our catalytic converter replacement includes

1. Catalytic converter diagnostics and fault code scanning.
2. Exhaust system inspection.
3. Oxygen sensor inspection.
4. Exhaust leak inspection.
5. Catalytic converter replacement, with a converter matched to your vehicle.
6. Emissions system testing and engine performance verification.
7. Final system verification before we hand the keys back.

Converters are clamped, bolted or welded into the exhaust, depending on the car. Tell us the make and model when you call, and we will confirm whether yours can be replaced at your location. Our guide to choosing between a mobile mechanic and a workshop covers which jobs suit each.

Catalytic converter replacement cost

Our catalytic converter replacement starts from $149. The final price depends on your vehicle and the converter it needs, and we confirm it before we start.

For comparison, AutoGuru puts catalytic converter replacement in Australia at $300 to $3,000, with an average of about $1,275. The spread is wide because converters differ so much from car to car. Four things move the price:

• The car. Converters are made for particular models.
• How many. Engines with two banks of cylinders can have a converter for each bank.
• How it is fitted. Clamped, bolted or welded.
• What failed with it. An oxygen sensor or an exhaust leak may need fixing too.

How to get a catalytic converter quote

Call 0406 396 397 with your car's make, model, year and engine. If the car has been scanned, tell us the fault code. We give you a price before we come. Our car service quote guide explains how to compare quotes fairly.

Why catalytic converters fail

A converter can last as long as the car if the engine runs properly. Most failures start somewhere else:

• Misfires. Unburnt fuel reaches the converter, ignites inside it and overheats the honeycomb.
• Oil or coolant in the exhaust. It coats the catalyst and stops it working.
• A faulty oxygen sensor. The wrong fuel mixture overheats the converter or clogs it with carbon.
• Impact damage. A speed hump, a pothole or road debris can crack it.

That is why the cause has to be fixed along with the converter. Otherwise the new one goes the same way.

Servicing on schedule is the best protection. Our logbook service follows your car maker's schedule.

Can I drive with a failing catalytic converter?

Not for long. Driving on with a faulty converter risks further damage, including exhaust leaks, burnt-out oxygen sensors and engine problems.

A check engine light that flashes can mean an active misfire. That needs attention straight away, before it destroys the converter.

Is it legal to drive without a catalytic converter?

No. In Victoria, a vehicle must meet the emissions standards in the Australian Design Rules to be driven on the road.

EPA Victoria states that it is against the law to use, or permit the use of, a vehicle that does not meet those standards. Selling one is also illegal. Removing the converter is not a way around the repair.

Catalytic converter stolen?

Thieves cut converters off parked cars for the precious metals inside. RACV reports that older cars are common targets, along with hybrids such as the pre-2011 Toyota Prius.

A car without its converter will still start, but it is very loud, runs roughly and is illegal to drive. Report the theft and call your insurer. Then call us with the make and model, and we will tell you whether we can fit a replacement where the car is parked.

Catalytic converter replacement near you

We are based in Wyndham Vale and travel across Melbourne's west:

• Wyndham Vale and Manor Lakes
• Werribee and Hoppers Crossing
• Tarneit and Truganina
• Point Cook and Williams Landing

We also cover Eynesbury. See all our service areas for the rest.

Other jobs worth doing in the same visit

• General service, from $149, with new engine oil and filter and a vehicle health assessment.
• Buying a used car? A check engine light or a rattle from underneath is a reason to book a pre-purchase inspection first.

Why drivers call us for a catalytic converter

• We find the cause first. You don't buy a converter the car did not need.
• We come to you. A car that is down on power is no fun to drive across town.
• We explain the repair before we start. You know what failed and why.
• The price before the work. Nothing extra is done without your say-so.

Catalytic converter questions

How long does a catalytic converter replacement take?

About 1.5 hours for most cars.

How much does catalytic converter replacement cost in Melbourne?

With us, from $149. AutoGuru puts the cost in Australia at $300 to $3,000, depending on the car.

Will a new catalytic converter clear a P0420 code?

Yes, if the converter was the cause. A faulty oxygen sensor or an exhaust leak sets the same code, which is why we test first.

What does a failing catalytic converter smell like?

Rotten eggs. The sulphur smell is usually strongest when you accelerate.

How long does a catalytic converter last?

It can last the life of the car. It fails early when misfires, oil, coolant or a faulty sensor damage it.

Can you replace a welded catalytic converter at my home?

It depends on the car. Tell us the make and model, and we will confirm whether yours can be done at your location.

Losing power or smelling sulphur? Find the cause first.

Call 0406 396 397 between 7 am and 9 pm, 7 days a week. Tell us what the car is doing, and we will give you a price and a time.