Why Is My Catalytic Converter Red Hot?
Q. I own a 14 year old Nissan Maxima and my catalytic convertor is glowing red hot after about 10 minutes of driving. My SES light is on, after a lot of research on line it seems that the oxygen sensor may be an underlying cause. Do I need to replace all three catalytic converters? How do I find out which oxygen sensor is bad? I’m trying to keep costs down and don’t want to buy any unnecessary parts. I was told by a mechanic I only needed to replace the front catalytic convertor. This car only has 98,000 miles and I don’t drive much. What should I do?
A. I would start with finding a new repair shop. Replacing the catalytic converter without finding out why it is getting hot and turning red is just a waste of money. A good technician will check the car’s computer, read the fault codes and use a diagnostic flow chart to verify the problem, find the cause, and finally repair the car. Go to www.aaa.com for a list of AAA Approved Auto Repair facilities. These AAA shops will warranty their work for 12 months or 12,000 and in the event of a problem a AAA representative will look into the matter and mediate any issues.
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