OBDII Catalytic Converters
The catalytic converter closely resembles a muffler in appearance and is located in the exhaust system typically towards the front of the vehicle. The converter outer shell is made up of stainless steel and the inner workings contain a catalyst made from a noble metal such as platinum, palladium or rhodium.
At least one catalytic converter has been used on cars since 1975. Today, vehicles may have two or more depending on the engine configuration and auto manufacturer. The catalytic converters job is to reduce the level of harmful poisonous gasses in exhaust emissions. These gasses are carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and oxides of nitrogen. All of these emissions pose are serious health, environmental and ozone hazards.
A catalytic converter changes the poisonous gases in the vehicles exhaust using a chemical reaction into harmless carbon dioxide, nitrogen, oxygen, and water. catalytic converters do not 
require maintenance of their own, but their long-term livelihood depends on proper care and maintenance of your vehicle. The first indication of a bad converter is reduced engine power or a rotten egg smell emitting from the exhaust.
Popular OE Replacment Converters - Legend | Audi 80 | BMW 535 | Civic | Jag XJ12 | 300E | Nissan Maxima | Porsche 944 | Scirocco | Volvo 740
The leading cause of a catalytic converter failure is filling your vehicle with leaded fuel, a bad Oxygen Sensor, or ignoring your vehicles poor running condition. So if your vehicle begins to run rough, or the CHECK ENGINE light appears, have the vehicle checked out immediately by a professional technician. Further symptoms of a faulty or failing catalytic converter may include, failing an emissions test, increased engine temperature, bucking and engine hesitation.
Catalytic converters become ineffective in the presence of lead, and triggered the end of leaded gasoline. Catalytic converters, sometimes misspelled as catalitic converters, have made a lot of progress, and now do not rob your power and allow relatively free flow exhaust while cleaning up nasty pollutants from your car or trucks engine.
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