Nissan Frontier Catalytic Converters

• The Nissan Frontier is a reliable midsize pickup truck that is suitable for heavy workload and daily use.
• To keep this truck in good working condition, faulty parts like a failing Nissan Frontier catalytic converter must be replaced.
• The most common signs of a faulty cat: poor fuel efficiency and acceleration, rattling noises, the smell of rotten eggs, and an activated check engine light.
• An aftermarket Nissan Frontier catalytic converter can cost you anywhere between $50 and $1,180.

The Nissan Frontier is a midsize pickup truck that perfectly embodies what Nissan is all about: reliability. With a powerful engine and a strong build, the Frontier is capable of performing the toughest job that only a pickup truck can handle daily. It also has several convenient features that make the ride as comfortable as possible for both the driver and the passengers.

Barring any major physical damage, you can count on your Nissan Frontier to last for a long time. Proper maintenance is necessary to keep it running in good condition. Parts need to be repaired or replaced parts when they start to show signs of failure. This ensures that the problem is fixed before it leads to other vehicle problems. One part that you need to keep an eye on is the Nissan Frontier catalytic converter.

Several factors can cause a Nissan catalytic converter to fail. While most causes of cat failure are unavoidable, it helps to know the telltale signs that the part needs to be replaced. Here are some of them:

The Smell of Rotten Eggs

The catalytic converter’s job is to water down the exhaust gases to make them less harmful to people and the environment. Once it fails, the smell of the sulfate from the fuel—which is often described as the smell of rotten eggs—will be more noticeable. This may be a sign that your catalytic converter is faulty.

Poor Acceleration

A failing catalytic converter can keep exhaust gases from being emitted from the vehicle’s exhaust system. This problem can have a negative effect on engine performance.

Poor Fuel Efficiency

A vehicle may also experience reduced fuel efficiency because of a clogged catalytic converter. As exhaust gases from the engine build up, it becomes harder for the system to draw oxygen for combustion. This will cause an imbalance in the air-fuel mixture, which may result in reduced gas mileage.

Rattling Sound

Inside your vehicle’s catalytic converter is a honeycomb mesh. If the catalytic converter gets clogged, this honeycomb material can break into pieces and get stuck within the catalytic converter. This may produce rattling sounds while the vehicle is running.

Emissions Test Failure

Without a fully functioning catalytic converter, a vehicle will certainly fail an emissions test. The function of the cat, after all, is to convert exhaust gases and vehicle emissions within legal limits.

Check Engine Light Is On

An illuminated check engine light can mean a lot of things, including a bad catalytic converter. To make sure that the cat is the culprit, connect the vehicle to a scan tool to retrieve the code. Better yet, have a professional mechanic inspect your vehicle.

An aftermarket Nissan Frontier catalytic converter typically costs anywhere between $50 and $1,180. It can be purchased as a single component, in sets of two or four, or as part of an assembly. Depending on your location, you may get a catalytic converter that is 47-state or 50-state legal.