Is it Expensive to Replace a Catalytic Converter?

A catalytic converter is necessary for any fuel-powered vehicle. If the catalytic converter goes bad, you must get it replaced. But because this vital automotive part is so expensive, it is common for the cost of replacing a catalytic converter to exceed the current market value of the vehicle in whole. In such a case, a car would be deemed a total loss by the presiding insurance carrier. If this happens to you, it would be more beneficial for you to sell your car or file an insurance claim for a totaled vehicle rather than paying to replace the catalytic converter.

Continue reading the learn more about catalytic converters, including their average cost and what to do if your car is a total loss after yours breaks down.

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Indianapolis Cash for Totaled Cars 317-218-7133

The Importance of Catalytic Converters

Your car’s catalytic converter is so important because it filters the dangerous emissions produced by burning fuel. More than just a tailpipe, the catalytic converter is designed with an internal, honeycomb-like structure that inventively eliminates harmful emissions, thus protecting our surrounding environment from pollution. It also prevents your car’s muffler from billowing large clouds of smoke on the road, which can be very dangerous to other drivers.

Cost to Replace a Catalytic Converter

To get straight to the point, catalytic converters are not cheap. Because they are such an essential automotive component designed to perform a critical to perform such critical tasks, they must be manufactured from high quality, precious metals like platinum and titanium.  For this reason, they can only be so cheap.

On average, you can expect a catalytic converter to cost anywhere between $800 and $2,200 if purchased brand-new. This however does not include the cost of labor and any necessary parts required to perform the catalytic converter replacement job. When all said and done, the total cost to replace the catalytic converter can be as high as $3000. If you are purchasing a used catalytic converter, you can expect to save anywhere from 10 to 20%. However, you will still need to pay an auto repair shop to perform the work for you.

When Catalytic Converter Cost Exceeds Car Value

Sometimes, catalytic converters are so expensive they exceed the current market value for the actual vehicle. For this reason, it doesn’t make sense to replace the catalytic converter. Instead, it is recommended to turn your car over to your insurance carrier, or seller to a local Indianapolis cash for cars company. When you sell your totaled car to a local junkyard buyer, you get paid instant cash on the spot, which can be put toward a new vehicle purchase!

Are you ready to sell your totaled vehicle for cash on the spot? Contact Benjamin’s Junk Cars at 317-218-7133 to sell your junk car in Indianapolis for cash on the spot! We serve all of Central Indiana.

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Why Catalytic Converters Get You More Money for a Junk Car

Catalytic converters are vital automotive components. They are in charge of eliminating excessive exhaust emissions that are harmful to the environment. But even when your vehicle is totaled or junked, the catalytic converter continues to have value. This means that a junk car with a solid catalytic converter intact, whether working or not, is worth more money at your average auto salvage lot.

Continue reading to find out why, and where you can get the most cash for your junk car or car parts in Indianapolis.

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Indianapolis Indiana Cash for Junk Cars 317-218-7133

Facts About Catalytic Converters

Catalytic converters are special because they serve such a critical purpose. It is thanks to their special design and structure, which allows them to work with extremely high temperatures. This means they are made from some pretty serious metals; platinum, rhodium, and palladium to be specific. These are known as precious metals, which are metals that are naturally-occurring and have high economic value. The different and unique properties of platinum, rhodium, and palladium make catalytic converters more efficient at what they are designed to do.

Platinum – A precious metal that is dense, malleable, and ductile, making it perfect for high heat transfer applications like converting harmful exhaust emissions.

Rhodium – A very rare precious metal mostly used as one of the catalysts in a 3-way catalytic converter. This is because it is extremely hard and resistant to corrosion.

Palladium – A rare precious metal that is used in the manufacturing of catalytic converters because it retains natural properties like high density and very low melting points.

Catalytic Converter Repair and Replacement

Because catalytic converters are such important auto parts made from high-value materials, they are well-known for being expensive to repair or replace. For this reason, many older or problematic cars that experience breakdowns with their catalytic converters are often deemed totaled because it costs more to repair it than what the car is actually worth. The average cost to repair a catalytic converter is between $900 to $2500, more or less. Signs of a failing catalytic converter include a rotten egg smell, engine stalling, rattling noises in the undercarriage, or an illuminated Check Engine Light.

Junk Catalytic Converter Value

Because all metal can be recycled and repurposed 100%, infinitely, all junk auto parts have value; even when they are no longer mechanically functional. Accordingly, precious metals are even more valuable because of their amazing properties and economic price tags. For these reason, a junk car with an intact catalytic converter will be worth more cash than a junk car without one. Scrap values for junked catalytic converters vary depending on several factors, namely current market values for scrap metal.

Are you ready to sell your junk car because the catalytic converter is bad? Contact Benjamin’s Junk Cars at 317-218-7133 to learn how to make instant cash for junk cars in Indianapolis, Indiana! We serve all of Indianapolis and Central Indiana. Request a free quote, anytime.

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Central Indiana Junk Car Buyers
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