Catalytic converter question-see post 25 for update

[CAJUNLAWYER]

Daughters car converter cracked. They might be able to weld it. Do y'all think using JB Weld would work instead? Car is a 2006 Honda crv and I'd rather not have to buy a new converter or spend any more money than I have to

 

[glenncal1]

I don't know if JB weld would be able to hold up to the heat generated by the converter. If it can be regular welded I think that would be better.

 

[Breakaway500]

Cats operate at well over a thousand degrees so JB won't handle it. Those 2006 CRV cats cost well under $100 for a new one (are easy to install) so why weld/repair it?
For 2002-2006 Honda CRV 2.4L Exhaust Catalytic Converter 16167 Manifold Assembly | eBay

And you can scrap the old one for about $30-40 bucks..

 

[Kp321]

JB Weld will not stand the heat. The outer body of a catalytic converter is stainless steel. A competent TIG welder should be able to sew it up for you.

 

[mtgianni]

It is not only the heat but standing up to heating and cooling. I bet even a good welder would be chasing cracks for a while.

 

[steelslaver]

A piece of thin steel that has been subject to repeated heating and cooling and various exhaust gasses could be welded, but the odds are that it won't take long before it cracks again right along side the weld.

Before I would weld it I would get a piece of stove pipe about the same diameter cut out a piece about 4" wide, put some stove gasket tape on it and screw it to the converter with self tapping screws.

Actually I would throw it away and use my pipe bender and wire feed to make a piece of pipe to completely replace it.

 

[LVSteve]

Actually I would throw it away and use my pipe bender and wire feed to make a piece of pipe to completely replace it.

That's fine if you live in a no-smog state or area of a state, but it won't fly at most state inspections.

 

[yaktamer]

As a fellow miser (who literally just used cable ties and duct tape to effect body repairs on my beater car), I say this repair requires a crowbar:

Step 1 -- Insert crowbar into wallet.
Step 2 -- Remove cash from wallet.
Step 3 -- Use cash to replace converter with a new one.

 

[Harrison]

A piece of thin steel that has been subject to repeated heating and cooling and various exhaust gasses could be welded, but the odds are that it won't take long before it cracks again right along side the weld.

Before I would weld it I would get a piece of stove pipe about the same diameter cut out a piece about 4" wide, put some stove gasket tape on it and screw it to the converter with self tapping screws.

Actually I would throw it away and use my pipe bender and wire feed to make a piece of pipe to completely replace it.

Been there and done that. It works fine as long as your state does not require an annual tailpipe sniffing.

 

[Harrison]

That's fine if you live in a no-smog state or area of a state, but it won't fly at most state inspections.

I do not know about La. but Texas requires an annual inspection. However, they do not check to see if you have a converter, or sniff your tailpipe. They are more interested in lights, brakes and windshield wipers.

 

[Farmer17]

I had a Nissan Titan pickup for 10 years and it had 265K miles and the thing ran like a champ. My biggest problem was the catalytic converters were attached directly to the exhaust manifolds and they got so hot they burned up the insides of the converters and cracked the exhaust manifolds. The truck still ran fine but the O2 sensor light was on and the dealer said before long it will probably shut down the engine. Nissan wanted about $3,000 to replace the manifolds and converters, so I took it to my local mechanic shop and told him about the problem. He said he could cut the guts out of the catalytic converters and weld up the exhaust manifolds. I said would that work? And he said I've done it to about 30 Titans and haven't had a complaint yet. I asked how much and he said 400 bucks, so I had him do it and the truck ran many more years without an issue there. I think it even got better gas mileage.

 

[K-22]

Is The Juice Worth The Squeeze?

That's fine if you live in a no-smog state or area of a state, but it won't fly at most state inspections.

I am not a lawyer, but I think that would be a federal offense.

 

[yaktamer]

I had a Nissan Titan pickup for 10 years and it had 265K miles and the thing ran like a champ. My biggest problem was the catalytic converters were attached directly to the exhaust manifolds and they got so hot they burned up the insides of the converters and cracked the exhaust manifolds. The truck still ran fine but the O2 sensor light was on and the dealer said before long it will probably shut down the engine. Nissan wanted about $3,000 to replace the manifolds and converters, so I took it to my local mechanic shop and told him about the problem. He said he could cut the guts out of the catalytic converters and weld up the exhaust manifolds. I said would that work? And he said I've done it to about 30 Titans and haven't had a complaint yet. I asked how much and he said 400 bucks, so I had him do it and the truck ran many more years without an issue there. I think it even got better gas mileage.

This is why I ended up selling my Titan.

 

[venomballistics]

High Temp JB weld might work, depending on the crack. A few good zaps with a wire feed would be better. As long as you don't poison the O2 sensors, you'll be fine

 

[Autonomous]

JB Weld is epoxy, it cannot tolerate the temperatures a catalytic converter produces.

 

[LVSteve]

I am not a lawyer, but I think that would be a federal offense.

One of the oddities of life in the US is that many things related to cars are mandated by the feds, but few are checked at the state level, and there is a minuscule chance that they would ever be checked by the feds. Gutted/removed catalytic converters and glaring lights fitted with LED bulbs that screw up the pattern, and wheels/tires that protrude beyond the fenders are but three I can think of.

 

[servmgr64]

Catalytic converter

I would take it to muffler shop such as Midas or some other brand (don't know what options are in LA). Get pricing on an aftermarket CAT they are usually several hundred dollars less than an OE one. At the same time with it being a 2006 I would make plans for it to be owned by someone else as the aftermarket CATs do not have the OE longevity, but will be great for a short term. Repairing or sealing up the crack would probably not be successful because of the extreme heat generated by the CAT. Good luck which ever repair you decide on.
Scott

 

[Racer X]

They are a couple of hundred bucks aftermarket, and both ends are flanged. Jusrt replace it.

 

[Ματθιας]

Salvage yard would be my first place to check.

 

[Ματθιας]

I am not a lawyer, but I think that would be a federal offense.

It's only illegal if you get caught.