When to Replace Dodge Charger Catalytic Converter?
The Dodge Chargers’ catalytic converter plays an important role to it’s emissions control system. It is responsible for converting harmful pollutants into less harmful components before they are released into the air.
The catalytic converter helps to reduce air pollution and allows the Dodge Charger to meet emissions standards set by the government. Over time, wear and tear can cause the converter to become worn or damaged, leading to a decrease in performance and increased emissions.
If you own a Dodge Charger, it’s important to have your catalytic converter checked regularly so that it can be replaced if necessary, helping your vehicle stay safe and legal on the road.
Why is a Catalytic Converter Important?
A Dodge Charger catalytic converter is a major parts of a vehicle’s emissions system, as it helps to reduce pollutants from entering the environment. It works by converting harmful gases into harmless substances, thereby reducing the amount of pollution released into the atmosphere.
Without a properly functioning catalytic converter, your car would not be able to pass emissions tests and ultimately fail its inspection. The Dodge Charger catalytic converter is essential in keeping your vehicle running cleanly and efficiently. Without it, you could be putting yourself and your environment at risk.
Also Read > Guide for Dodge Charger Wheel and Tire packages.
How Many Catalytic Converters In Dodge Charger?
If you’re asking about how many catalytic converters are in a Dodge Charger, the answer depends on the model and year of your car.
Generally, modern Dodge Chargers come equipped with three catalytic converters, though some models may have more or fewer depending on their engine size and type. If you know about your Dodge Charger, you’ll be able to figure out exactly how many catalytic converters it has.
Potential Issues with a Catalytic Converter: Why It Fails
A catalytic converter has no moving components, so you might assume it would be quite sturdy and long-lasting; in fact, it is, but even with all the improvements in catalytic converter technology, they sometimes break.
In Weatherford, Texas, at Viper Motorsports, we replace catalytic converters practically daily. Catalytic converter failure is often a harbinger of a more serious problem with the car.
If you don’t address the underlying issue that led to the failure of your original equipment manufacturer’s catalytic converter, you may expect the new converter to fail in short order. The following are examples of damage that are not covered by the warranty of a replacement catalytic converter.
There’s a good chance that one of the following caused the factory-installed catalytic converter to fail and need to be replaced.
01. Engines Require Maintenance
Older engines that burn oil owing to worn cylinder walls, stuck rings, and worn valve guides can produce a byproducts that can foul the converter, and engines in need of servicing will produce even more. Damage to the catalytic converter and premature engine wear might result from operating an engine outside of recommended parameters.
If the air and fuel aren’t mixed right, the timing is off, or the spark plugs don’t work right, the catalytic converter could fail or something even worse could happen.
02. Worn-out Or Faulty Spark Plugs/Wires
Unburned fuel is released into the exhaust system when spark plugs fail to ignite or misfire. This unburned fuel could catch fire inside the converter, which would cause the high temperatures inside the converter to melt part or all of the ceramic catalyst.
03. A leak in the exhaust system caused by oil or antifreeze
The ceramic honeycomb catalyst in the catalytic converter becomes coated and eventually clogged with thick carbon and soot when oil or antifreeze makes its way into the exhaust system. In two ways, this is problematic.
First, the accumulation of carbon prevents the catalytic converter from effectively reducing emissions from the exhaust. Second, as the ceramic catalysts’ pores become blocked, exhaust flow is reduced, and back pressure rises.
Because of this, engine heat and exhaust are trapped within the vehicle. Engines can be damaged from the inside out by excessive back pressure.
Exhaust gas recirculation can cause your engine to lose power and overheat by reintroducing spent fuel into the combustion chambers. Possible causes include engine parts that have warped, gaskets that have failed, poor valve seals, or worn piston rings.
04. Exhaust system contamination by unburned fuel
The combustion chamber is where your vehicle’s fuel is actually burned. The catalytic converter is a potential ignition source for any unburned fuel that makes it through the exhaust system. This can cause the converter to overheat much beyond its safe operating range, which can lead to a meltdown.
An inappropriate fuel/air ratio, bad timing, damaged spark plugs, a faulty oxygen sensor, a stuck float, a faulty fuel injector, or a broken check valve could all contribute to the problem.
05. There is a problem with the oxygen sensor
It’s possible for your car’s computer to receive erroneous information about exhaust gases if the oxygen sensor is malfunctioning. Inaccurate readings from sensors may cause the fuel-air ratio to be incorrect. If the fuel-to-air converter mixture is too rich, the catalyst will melt.
If there isn’t enough fuel, the converter won’t be able to transform harmful hydrocarbons into harmless ones. During the yearly State Car Inspection, this could cause your vehicle to fail the emissions test.
06. Road / Structural Damage
Inside a catalytic converter is a honeycomb structure constructed of a catalyst, which is a thin-walled, brittle ceramic. There is a thick insulating blanket around it. This pad serves to secure the catalyst in place while also protecting it from harm.
However, the catalytic converter can be shattered if it is hit by something, such as a pothole, speed bump, or a broken exhaust hanger. When a ceramic honeycomb is broken, the shards will vibrate against one another until they shatter completely.
Therefore, power is wasted and heat is generated as exhaust flow is obstructed and backpressure in the exhaust system rises. You can also need a new catalytic converter if corrosion, heat, metal fatigue, stress fractures, or stripped oxygen sensor threads have damaged your current one.
07. Short Trips
You may not be getting your catalytic converter hot enough to thoroughly burn away the hydrocarbons if you rarely travel long distances and instead make short journeys around town.
It is recommended to take your car out on the highway for at least 15 minutes once in a while to avoid the catalytic converter becoming clogged. This will allow the exhaust to heat up to a point where any deposits in the catalytic converter can be burned away.
Catalytic Converter Maintenance: When to Replace Yours
Catalytic converters help reduce emissions and, hence, air pollution. While this is certainly reason enough to get your car’s catalytic converter fixed once it starts acting up, there are additional benefits to doing so as well.
Not fixing a problem with the converter, for instance, could lead to overheating and the eventual shutdown of the engine. Some examples of when a catalytic converter replacement is necessary include the following:
01. If It’s Stolen
To keep your car’s engine running efficiently and clean the air around you. Its absence would lead to the release of potentially dangerous substances into the atmosphere. Small amounts of palladium, rhodium, and platinum can be found in catalytic converters; these metals are highly sought after by scrap metal traders.
The United States Clean Air Act mandates that all vehicles produced after 1974 have catalytic converters fitted, therefore, if yours gets stolen, you should get a new one right away.
02. Incorrect Ignition Switch
Complete fuel combustion is essential to the optimal functioning of your engine and vehicle. Incomplete combustion in the cylinder occurs when the catalytic converter fails. This reduces the engine’s efficiency and can make it difficult to start your car. As soon as you detect engine misfires, you must have the catalytic converter serviced or replaced.
03. Dreadful Exhaust Odor
Once the exhaust systems’ catalytic converter is in proper working order, all harmful substances are transformed into inert compounds. But if the converter is malfunctioning, the exhaust will have a sulfur or rotten egg odor. Having this problem is a solid sign that you need to replace your converter.
04. Sluggish Engine Performance
Reduced engine performance is often an indication that the converter isn’t doing its job. When the converter fails, back pressure builds up and has a negative effect on the engine’s performance. The engine could stall if the converter isn’t replaced or fixed right away.
How Much Does It Cost To Replace A Catalytic Converter In A Dodge Charger?
The cost to replace the catalytic converter on a Dodge Charger is around $1,800. Here are several ways to cut costs on the replacement before you have to pay for it out of your own pocket.
01. Verify Your Insurance Coverage
Since the converter was stolen, your full coverage auto insurance should help pay for some of the cost of getting a new one.
02. Verify Your Vehicle’s Emissions Guarantee
Some manufacturers offer guarantees that are much longer than the length of the vehicle warranty for the repair or replacement of emissions systems.
03. Shop Around
Find the most affordable replacement by comparing quotes from several service providers.
Conclusion
The Dodge Charger’s catalytic converter is a key component of the car’s exhaust system. It helps to reduce harmful emissions and improve fuel economy. The catalytic converter is designed to last the lifetime of the vehicle, however, it can become damaged or clogged over time due to normal wear and tear.
This can result in decreased engine performance, increased emissions, and higher fuel consumption. To ensure that your Dodge Charger runs efficiently and safely, regular maintenance should be done on the catalytic converter. This includes replacing parts when they start to wear out or become clogged.
