Toyota Corolla Catalytic Converters

Proper Maintenance Tips to Prolong the Service Life of a Toyota Corolla Catalytic Converter

Thanks to catalytic converters, exhaust emissions today aren't so much of a threat to the environment as they were years ago. It's such a vital car component that it's even illegal for you to tamper or replace your catcon without the advice of a certified mechanic. When a catcon gets damaged, expect a big dent on your wallet and overall engine performance. To avoid this, check out some of the following maintenance tips for your Toyota Corolla catalytic converter:

• Routine engine check-up is the key.

Don't make the mistake of neglecting regular engine check-ups just because you feel like your car is still running the way it's supposed to. You never know what's happening under the bonnet, the last thing you want is a surprise catcon cookout. Performing this task don't require the help of a mechanic, you can save your wallet from the additional expenses by simply doing this yourself. One of the things you can do is to change your oil every 5,000 miles to keep the catcon from getting contaminated. Pay special attention to your car's fuel system. Look for leaking parts to keep possible contaminants from getting into your catcon. Monitoring the condition of the spark plugs and adjusting the engine timing is also a good idea. Replace faulty components if necessary.

• Avoid short sluggish drives as much as possible.

Did you know that there's a particular temperature that your catcon needs to reach before it can clean and restore its catalyst? To reach this operating temperature, you must drive your car far enough at high speeds. Don't let your car go idle for an extended amount of time and try to avoid short trips as these may cause the catcon to fail prematurely.

• Don't ignore the warning signs.

There are signs that can warn you of a budding catalytic converter problem and you shouldn't ignore them when they occur. Being alert can save your catcon from irreparable damage. One of the things you should keep an eye on is the check engine light. This is used to alert you in case there's an incorrect fuel and air mixture in the engine. If not tended to immediately, this may lead to engine misfires which can cause your catalytic converter to breakdown in a matter of minutes. You should also be wary of any unusual odors and sounds coming from your exhaust system.

• A properly working catalytic converter prevents more harmful gases from coming out of your vehicle’s exhaust system.
• Toyota Corolla catalytic converters usually last for a long time but may still fail after several years of use.
• Symptoms of a bad Toyota Corolla catalytic converter include poor engine performance and gas mileage, smell of sulfur or rotten eggs from exhaust, rattling noise, increased emissions, and a check engine light.
• Replacement Toyota Corolla catalytic converters on CarParts.com have a price range of $42 to $1,190. They are sold individually or as an assembly.
• CarParts.com makes it easy to search for a replacement Toyota Corolla catalytic converter with its vehicle selector and various filtering options.

Without a working catalytic converter installed in your vehicle, the process of burning gasoline is guaranteed to let out more harmful gases into the air. The “cat” or “catcon” basically prevents people from inhaling toxic gases like carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide. It’s a crucial part that requires immediate replacement when it starts showing signs of failure.

Although your Toyota Corolla catalytic converter is made durable and can last a long time, it can still fail after several years of use. If you want to know when it’s time to repair or replace it, watch out for these symptoms.

Smell of sulfur or rotten eggs from the exhaust

Once you smell something similar to rotten eggs from your exhaust, it is a sign that your catalytic converter is not working anymore. Smelly hydrogen sulfide, which is a product of the combustion process, is supposed to be turned into odorless sulfur dioxide by the catalytic converter before it exits the exhaust system. That won’t happen if the converter is faulty.

Poor engine performance

Carbon buildup inside your Toyota catalytic converter does not only prevent it from doing its job but also blocks good exhaust flow. With a restricted exhaust flow, the engine won’t be able to perform at its optimum level. This is more noticeable when accelerating or going up a hill.

Poor gas mileage

Similar to poor engine performance, a clogged Toyota Corolla cat that prevents good exhaust flow can cause poor gas mileage. Lower airflow means negatively affects your car’s acceleration, which forces you to keep stepping on the gas pedal. Doing this sends more fuel into the engine cylinders, resulting in a richer fuel mixture than usual.

Check engine light is on

One possible reason why your check engine light is on is that the oxygen sensors in your car detect that the cat is not converting the exhaust gases properly. To make sure that this is really the case, you can get the trouble codes from your vehicle by using a diagnostic tool.

Rattling noise

There’s a honeycomb-like material inside your Toyota Corolla cat that may break because of excessive heat or incur damage from road debris or running over a curb. If this material breaks apart, you may hear a rattling sound from under your car especially when driving or idling.

Increased emissions

The catalytic converter essentially filters the exhaust gases to make it less harmful. If it is faulty, your car will release gas consisting of carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, and hydrocarbons. Not only will this be harmful to the environment, but it’s also a surefire way to fail your emissions test.

Replacement Toyota Corolla catalytic converters on CarParts.com have a price range of $42 to $1,190. They are sold individually or as an assembly. Product fit also varies. They can either be a direct fit, universal, and semi-universal.

Thanks to our vehicle selector, it’s easy to find the catcon that would fit into your Toyota. For example, if you own a 2003 Toyota Corolla, you can just select your vehicle’s year, make, and model to get search results for a replacement 2003 Toyota Corolla catalytic converter.

You can also filter the search results based on how much a replacement catalytic converter costs. Toyota Corolla aftermarket parts from our website are offered at exclusive prices that you won’t find anywhere else.

Your Toyota Corolla catalytic converter controls your exhaust emission before it's released into the environment. Although it's constructed to be tough, it's still not indestructible. Sometimes the catcon may get damaged long before the end of its service life. To keep your entire engine from getting damaged as well, check out some of the following signs of a failing Toyota Corolla catalytic converter:

No power and low fuel mileage

If you recently feel like your car is decreasing in fuel efficiency, losing its power, or having a hard time accelerating, consider checking your catalytic converter because it could be the source of all your woes. The usual catcon-related cause of this issue is clogging. Your catalytic converter may get clogged up due to a ton of different reasons including dirty fuel injectors, defective sparks plugs, and faulty exhaust valves. Inspect all the components associated with your catcon and replace them if necessary to ensure that unburned fuel or other substrates won't be contaminating it. You can also conduct a backpressure test to confirm if there's indeed an obstruction in your entire emission system.

Foul odors

Did you know that there's a small amount of sulfur present in your car's fuel? It's normally the job of the catalytic converter to turn this chemical into an odor-less compound. If you smell rotten eggs from your exhaust, it may be the catcon telling you that it's working extra hard to convert the rich fuel mix that's flooding it. It may still be doing its job, but if you let this go on much longer, the catcon will eventually fail and melt down. First thing you can do to diagnose this problem is to check if the oxygen sensor is in good working form, this is usually the culprit behind an incorrect air and fuel mixture. Make sure to get it replaced if you confirmed that it's the one causing your headaches.

Unusual rattling sounds

If you recently drove over a high bump on the road and felt like the underside of your car has taken quite a beating from it, jack it up to check if your catcon is still in good shape. Lightly hammer it with a rubber mallet and listen for any rattling or vibrating noises. If you hear any, you may need to have your catcon replaced.