Of course,the good old car exhaust is undoubtedly a distress purchase. Significantly, it can also be an expensive purchase. However most small to medium cars are reasonably priced and affordable.
Undoubtedly, your car exhaust is one of the most unnoticed parts of your car. Of course, unless you are a real car enthusiast. So, a lot of car enthusiasts actually replace their original car exhaust. Naturally, to better looking twin sports tail pipes.
Automotive Catalyst Diagnostics: How, Where and How Much
Automotive Catalyst Diagnostics: How, Where and How Much
The catalytic converter is one of the most important devices which make up the vehicle system. It was designed and implemented to solve emissions problems and make a growing number of cars more friendly to the environment. But a cat performs its functions properly only when the device is clean inside. The worse the quality of fuel you use, the sooner shallow holes of the honeycomb inner structure of the converter get clogged. When this happens, the airflow is restricted and metal parts can crack under the strain. In the worst case some engine problems occur.
That is why it is required to keep the cat unclogged. This is useful and pragmatic, since it is much cheaper to maintain the device rather than buy another one prematurely. But before contacting an automobile repair shop, you should get to know how the procedure is conducted.
How Emission Problems Can Be Solved
A comprehensive vehicle inspection consists of the following steps:
Obtaining the vehicle history and to answer the questions concerning fuel consumption, whether the engine is hard to start, the cat has been repaired or replaced, etc.
Correcting codes of the engine. You should know that typically codes from P0420 to P0424 and from P0430 to P0434 in order indicate some catalyst problems.
Checking cat temperature, back pressure, O2 sensor, and internal cooling system.
Fuel system inspection.
Measuring emissions with the help of a gas analyser.
Running a cylinder balance test.
Examining the mechanical condition of the parts and devices.
If you have noticed some exhaust system troubles, the vehicle doesn’t need to undergo a full technical inspection. Contact a repair shop for just a catalyst testing.
In case the inspection has revealed a crucial catalyst problem due to which the device should be replaced, we suggest you look for a new one on the website https://autocatalystmarket.com/us/en. This is the biggest catalyst market where you can select a catalytic converter for any car brand and model. The range comprises over 24,000 items! The company has been working in the market of catalytic converters since 2005. Each device on the website has real pictures and a detailed technical description for you to facilitate the selection process.
How Much Does Catalyst Inspection Cost
The price depends on such factors as the car brand and model, current condition of the device, the amount of solid fuel residue in the grid holes, etc. In general, a cat repair costs between $900 and $2500. If you fill your vehicle with the fuel of good quality and keep the engine maintained, you need to have the converter repaired not less than every 100,000 km kilometres driven.
https://www.pellonautocentre.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/catalytic-converter.jpg443664Eric Robertshttps://www.pellonautocentre.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Logo_Pellon.fw_.pngEric Roberts2024-04-26 07:39:032024-04-26 07:39:03Automotive Catalyst Diagnostics: How, Where and How Much
Exhausts systems also cost much more than 10 years ago
I can honestly say that I have lived during the most radical changes ever made to cars, due to the new rules about “global warming” and emissions from cars. Back in time, when we had Vauxhall Vivas Cavaliers, Chrysler Horizons, old type Minis, and Ford Cortinas, life in the garage was much easier and certainly more stable.
The exhaust systems on those cars would stay the same year after year. So much so that we could order hundreds of systems at a time and keep a large stock that we always sold. In fact, we could order exhaust systems by the container load, and they would all be sold, (happy days).
Then the computer came along .
Exhausts Changed
Car manufacturers could very quickly change car models, they became very flexible, changing parts on different models at will.
This includedsystems. We were finding that Exhausts. Like other parts, they would be left on the shelf unsold. Hence, we were becoming very reluctant to keep exhaust systems on the shelves. Without, getting stuck with them. Consequently, at this time, exhaust wholesalers began to spring up. As a result, and in a short period of time,. We decided not to keep any exhaust stock at all. So, leave it to the wholesalers. In fact. The last stock that we kept was from Bosal Exhausts. Probably, (the best exhausts in the world, and that was in the late nineties.
The next thing to affect exhausts were vehicle emissions controls.
Exhausts Changed
The British government introduced these. Thus, cars had to be fitted with “catalytic converters,” as we know them. Therefore, they are fitted between the car’s engine and the exhaust pipe system. The gas from the engine is filtered through the catalytic converter. into a very fine filter system. made from ceramics to withstand the high temperature. The cat also has some precious metals to help filter out the particulates. (This is why cats are so expensive.)
Some car models have a direct engine fit. Thus, the engine sends out waste gases. that are filtered by the cat. As a result, the cleaner gases pass through the rest of the system. The exhaust change boxes are made of fibreglass material. Naturally, that has an extra filter effect but will also muffle the sound that the gases make when leaving the engine. We all know how noisy a car is when the exhaust breaks.
Exhausts systems are better made these days
Some cars have two or even three boxes, depending on the size of the engine and the car. Here in the UK, we do not change the exhaust until it actually breaks, and then we have it replaced, and in my opinion, this is the best thing to do. Even the worst-looking rusty old car exhausts can last for years, and it is no use changing your exhaust just because it looks rusty and old; replace it when it breaks, unless it fails the MOT test. The main part to fail on the test will be the cat; if it fails the test, the cat will need replacing.
Foreword: now to 2024.
catalytic converter thefts on the increase.
Exhausts Changed
Catalytic converter thefts have been on the rise in recent years, particularly in urban areas. The value of the precious metals found in catalytic converters, such as platinum, palladium, and rhodium, frequently serves as a driving force behind these thefts. The thefts have caused problems for car owners, as the cost to replace a stolen catalytic converter can be quite high. Some police departments and insurance companies have started to track catalytic converter thefts and are working to find ways to prevent them.
So, I have found over many years that anything metal left about and outside the premises will very quickly be stolen. In our part of Yorkshire there are people in transit van pickups, constantly driving around looking for anything metal to collect. In some instances metal objects are even stolen.
Indeed a friend of mine was recently given a metal greenhouse for the garden. Unable to erect it straight away, he left the greenhouse on the lawn close to the erection site.
Would you believe it! The following day the metal greenhouse had vanished. We now who did but the police were not interested. Anything left outside that is metal will be stolen. It has all a value and is worth the risk to these people, who make their living from other people’s misery.
Exhausts were once the target.
About twenty years ago we had to build a special locked up compound to keep all our metal scrap secure from theft. Attempts to steel our scrap metal were common place. This leads up to the present day and catalytic convertors.
The unexpected and inconvenient realisation that someone has tampered with cars exhaust system. While you are asleep in bed is something that every owner of a motor vehicle dreads.
In recent years, there has been a huge rise in the Thefts of Catalytic Converters. We know because many of our customers have become victims of this crime.
So, now this has developed into an ongoing issue that is difficult to control. This article delves into the why, how, and preventative measures that can be taken regarding the persistent tide of criminal activity.
Catalytic converter thefts have become an epidemic in recent years.
Theft of a catalytic converter is considered a more serious offence than a minor theft. It’s an epidemic that’s spreading all across the world.
The exhaust emission control system, which is an essential component of every contemporary car, has become a rising target for thieves. The reason why? The precious metals that are contained within. Criminals can make a lot of money by stealing catalytic converters since they contain high-value materials like platinum, palladium, and rhodium.
What’s Behind the Recent Uptick in Stolen Catalytic Converters?
Why has there been such a significant increase in the number of Thefts of Catalytic Converters? Looking at supply and demand can reveal the story. When emission rules are tightened all around the world, there will be an increased demand for these valuable metals. Meanwhile, dealers on the illegal market want converters because of the value they have for recycling, which adds gasoline to the fire of criminal activity. To put it another way, these sneaky and quick-moving criminals will consider your parked car an easy target.
How Criminals Steal Catalytic Converters is the Headline of This Article
Thieves are known for their meticulous methods. A seasoned criminal can remove a catalytic converter from a vehicle in a matter of minutes, frequently without being discovered. They will use simple tools to get beneath your vehicle, make quick cuts, and then get away with the prize. Who was the victim? You are now stuck with a high repair price and a car that sounds like a raging monster when it drives.
Theft of Catalytic Converters: Preventative Steps
Awareness is a powerful tool. The power of knowledge might be your greatest asset. Investing in a security system, such as alarms, cameras, or parking in well-lit, frequented locations, can serve as powerful deterrents to potential criminals. Some people even go so far as to choose catalytic converter protection devices, which is a more direct technique. Another possible solution would be to engrave the vehicle identification number (VIN) onto the converter. This would make the car less desirable to potential Thefts of Catalytic Converters and would make it simpler to locate if it were stolen
.
The thievery of catalytic converters is not a minor annoyance.
It’s an ongoing issue that requires constant care. Your vehicle can be protected from becoming a victim of this crime if you take preventative steps and maintain a state of vigilance. Always keep in mind that the cost of prevention is almost always going to be less than the cost of replacement. A Last Plea for Help in the Fight Against the Thefts of Catalytic Converters.
It is absolutely necessary to maintain a step advantage in this day and age of escalating Thefts of Catalytic Converters. Maintain an up-to-date knowledge base, make an investment in preventative measures, and check that your vehicle is secure. Let’s make it more difficult for these thieves to get away with their crimes and help put an end to this persistent problem.
Theft of catalytic converters, vehicle theft, preventative measures, and exhaust systems are some of the keywords that might be used here. thefts of catalytic converters, which cars are least likely to have catalytic converter stolen, catalytic converter theft prevention, catalytic converter theft Cambridge, catalytic converter lock fitted price. catalytic converter theft in uk.
https://www.pellonautocentre.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Logo_Pellon.fw_.png00Eric Robertshttps://www.pellonautocentre.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Logo_Pellon.fw_.pngEric Roberts2024-01-11 06:39:032024-01-11 06:39:03Thefts of Catalytic Converters-Are a Persistent Epidemic-How Here’s to Protect Yourself and Your Business
So, this is a follow-up to a recent post that I did about cat/converter thefts from the Halifax area of the UK. Unfortunately, this problem is nation-wide. Because of the make-up of these catalysts, they have become an easy target to steal. Cats contain precious metals that are in short supply. Consequently, illegal thefts are becoming commonplace.
Unfortunately, we are experiencing many of the thefts coming from Honda car models. Luckily, some customers are covered by their car insurance, but many are not. Going forward, it would be worth drivers checking out their insurance companies. Hence, to see if they are covered or not!
Of course, this type of practise is nothing new. Catalytic converter thefts
Consequently, I know of a company in the Elland industrial area of West Yorkshire that was badly hit. So, for ease of access to there vans, they were kept parked outside. Drivers made early starts, giving the drivers a quick turn-around in the early morning.
However, one Monday morning, the drivers turned up only to find that the whole fleet was stripped of their catalytic converters. What a horrific find ?
According to recent reports, catalytic converter thefts have been on the rise in the United Kingdom.
This is due to the fact that these devices, which are used to reduce harmful emissions from vehicles.
are, of course, made of precious metals. important, such as platinum, palladium, and rhodium. In order to prevent these thefts from occurring. Then it is important to take precautions. Cleverly, such as parking in a well-lit area or in a locked garage.
Catalytic converter including exhaust thefts have been on the rise here in West Yorkshire and the rest of the UK. Once again, the converters are made of precious metals, such as platinum and palladium, which have been rising in value.
The thieves are targeting vehicles that are easy to access. Of course, such as those that are parked on the street or in public parking lots. Even in well-lit areas, thieves have the uncanny ability to crawl underneath a vehicle and remove the catalytic converter without detection.
Some well-lit car parking areas have had multiple thefts in one fowl swoop by the thieves.
Cat/converter thefts have dramatically increased since June with the number cases of reported to be “significant”. Crimes dropped to just 52 in April from over 400 at the start of the year in January but
EXHAUST SYSTEM Last Longer Than They Did? Now drivers Benefit
EXHAUST SYSTEMS AT A GLANCE
EXHAUST SYSTEMS AT A GLANCE
So, thinking about this, I suppose that there are many reasons that an exhaust system fitted to a modern car will last longer. Than say a car exhaust would 15 to 20 years ago. The cars of yesteryear were not subjected to the emission laws that today’s modern cars are. The big change came when all cars were fitted with catalytic convertors.
In fact, it was about 22 years ago that the new cars were produced. Hence, it had to be fitted with a petrol and diesel catalytic converter. Cars registered after January 1, 1992 (i.e., K prefixes onwards) .
This is about the same time that exhaust systems. Thus, they appeared to last longer than their predecessors. In the good old days, we used to buy car exhausts from the manufacturers directly in containers. We knew that certain cars were fitted with exhausts that would only last about 2 years. Certain cars, such as Vauxhall Vivas and Cavaliers,. They were very vulnerable to their back box’s rotting. They used to collect the dilute acid from the engine in the tail boxes, and this would rot them from the inside.
Better exhaust systems were made with the addition of the catalytic converter.
Also, there were many more models of cars produced by the manufacturers.
I would buy say 100x VW Beetle exhausts. Simply because there were so many of them out on the roads. Today, because of computers, car makers can alter and change a model within minutes using modern computer software. I believe that it is the same with exhaust systems. The designs are much better and are made of better materials than they used to be.
We in the trade do not stock the same number of systems anymore. Because of the large amount of variations within one model of car. Of course, where there was one exhaust to fit one model whatever the engine size. Staggeringly, there will now be ten different systems and shapes for the different engine sizes. So, this could be to do with the different catalytic converter sizes that a different engine size may have to have, there for the rest of the exhaust will be a different shape or size.
The exhaust system has now become part of the emissions service.
We have now had to become qualified in car emissions, using sophisticated hand-held computers to diagnose any faults in the system. Also the addition of the catalytic converter to the front of the exhaust system. I also added the need for a better-quality exhaust pipe product. The catalytic converter is made of a ceramic or stainless steel honeycomb core. A silica and aluminium wash coat, and a precious metal for the catalyst (platinum). The car makers then started to use aluminium exhaust systems to match the quality of the catalytic converters and enable the guarantee to extend to two years on a replacement system.
EXHAUST SYSTEMS AT A GLANCE-Your exhaust system lasts longer because they are now aluminised: EXHAUST SYSTEMS AT A GLANCE
Previously, most exhausts were made from mild steel, which would only last about eighteen months. Small niche businesses that produced replacement exhaust pipes from mild steel made these. Because of the growing demand for cheap exhaust prices from fast-fit centres, such companies as Pioneer Exhausts did a roaring trade.
Companies like Bosal Exhaust system made aluminium systems for car manufacturers and gradually started to sell their products to motor manufacturers and specialised exhaust system wholesalers, who would in turn supply garages and fast-fit centres. The only problem was that they were more expensive and would only be bought by customers with up-market cars; the regular guys still wanted the best price for exhaust for their cars.
The larger companies were on the streets ahead. EXHAUST SYSTEMS AT A GLANCE
Cleverly, with the equipment they used to make the catalytic converters and exhaust systems,. In fact, most of the exhaust system parts were built very accurately with “robots.”. The robots also made better exhaust systems. Because they are more precise when welding the parts together. Bosal Exhausts also added a small hole in their back boxes to allow the excess acid to drain away.
The simple fact is that yes, exhausts are made from far better quality products and built to a much higher standard (no dodgy welding); therefore, they last much longer than they used to, hence the two-year warranty given to the replacement parts fitted.
https://www.pellonautocentre.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/car-exhaust-system.jpg479719Eric Robertshttps://www.pellonautocentre.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Logo_Pellon.fw_.pngEric Roberts2023-12-15 06:39:182023-12-18 10:59:34EXHAUST SYSTEMS AT A GLANCE
So, here we are still in the grip of this terrible pandemic. Millions of businesses are now struggling due to government restrictions. Especially the pubs and catering establishments. Of course, as a businessman, I really do feel for the people who are pulling their hair out trying to survive. Fortunately, as a garage and MOT testing station, we are able to open.
So, earlier, we did have to close for a while!
Because of this, the government decided to suspend MOT testing for six months. Of course, this killed our business over night, and we kept one fitter to fit and repair tyres. Unfortunately, the rest of the garage staff had to be furloughed. Anyhow, we are back to almost normal trading at the present time and are thankful for all our loyal customers.
Our customers are supporting us, and we are keeping prices as low as we can to help support them in this terrible period of time. On the other side, we are also trying our best to support local businesses in the Halifax area!
Catalytic converters like this one are the target of thieves because they are made partly from precious metals.
Increase in cat thefts
Sadly, we are now seeing an increase in Catalytic Converter Theft. Especially here in the Halifax area. This week, October 2020, we had two Honda cars submitted with the catalytic converters cut off. These cats are manufactured using precious metals. So, this is to filter the engine’s emissions to give us cleaner air.
Vehicle owners do not realise the value of this part hanging underneath and connected to their exhaust pipe. Incredibly, most catalytic converts contain many different types of precious metals! Including rare and precious metals such as platinum, palladium, and rhodium. So, other valuable metals such as copper, magnesium, cerium, iron, and nickel are also in the mix.
This makes these cats worth stealing, and thefts are increasing. Catalytic Converter Theft
The worst case of this has come from a tyre wholesaler in Elland. All their vans were left out over the weekend. Consequently, thieves stole the catalytic converters from all the vans! Incredible!
Police advice to motorists: Catalytic Converter Theft
After looking at this problem, I have discovered that the problem is nation-wide. In fact, the police have given out some advice about preventing this from happening. The advice is given on the “West Yorkshire Police” web site.
The images are from one of the Honda Jazz cars, showing where the catalytic converter was cut off.
In recent months, there has been a concerning rise in the number of thefts of catalytic converters.
Naturally, from vehicles in the United Kingdom. Catalytic converters are devices fitted to the exhaust systems of motor vehicles. Importantly, they use a chemical process to convert harmful gases into less harmful substances.
The converters contain precious metals such as platinum, palladium, and rhodium. So they are valuable to thieves. There are a number of ways to help prevent catalytic converter thefts. Such as fitting security devices to vehicles or parking in well-lit, busy areas.
Auto thefts in the U.K. have been on the rise in recent years. Catalytic Converter Theft
Unfortunately, one of the most common items targeted is catalytic converters. These devices, located between the engine and the exhaust pipe, are made of precious metals. Like platinum, palladium, and rhodium, and can be sold for scrap metal value. In order to prevent your catalytic converter from being stolen,.
Nationally, officers of the Metropolitan Police Service recommend engraving your car’s registration number on the device. Alternatively, have it marked with a forensic coding system. CCTV cameras can also be effective in discouraging thieves
https://www.pellonautocentre.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Logo_Pellon.fw_.png00Eric Robertshttps://www.pellonautocentre.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Logo_Pellon.fw_.pngEric Roberts2023-12-14 18:39:362023-12-21 06:42:28Catalytic Converter Theft: Watch where you park your car !
