{"id":182031,"date":"2025-09-12T18:27:48","date_gmt":"2025-09-13T01:27:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/?p=182031"},"modified":"2025-09-12T18:27:51","modified_gmt":"2025-09-13T01:27:51","slug":"what-does-a-catalytic-converter-look-like-on-a-car","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/what-does-a-catalytic-converter-look-like-on-a-car\/","title":{"rendered":"What Does a Catalytic Converter Look Like On a Car?"},"content":{"rendered":"<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\">\n<html><body><span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 2<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span>\n<div class=\"summary-widget\">\n    <h3>Summary<\/h3>\n    <ul class=\"summary-grid\">\n            <li class=\"summary-grid-list\">\n            <div class=\"sm-item\">\n\n                                    <p class=\"sm-title\">\n                        A catalytic converter looks like a cylindrical metal container with a pipe on each end, similar to a muffler, and often has a heat shield.                    <\/p>\n                \n            <\/div>\n        <\/li>\n            <li class=\"summary-grid-list\">\n            <div class=\"sm-item\">\n\n                                    <p class=\"sm-title\">\n                        Inside, it has a honeycomb structure coated with palladium, rhodium, and platinum that react with exhaust gases.                    <\/p>\n                \n            <\/div>\n        <\/li>\n            <li class=\"summary-grid-list\">\n            <div class=\"sm-item\">\n\n                                    <p class=\"sm-title\">\n                        It sits between the engine and muffler, with one or more units placed along the exhaust system before the muffler.                    <\/p>\n                \n            <\/div>\n        <\/li>\n        <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/catalytic-converter\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"catalytic converter\">catalytic converter<\/a> often looks like a cylindrical metal container with a metal pipe sticking out of each end and will usually include a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/catalyst-heat-shield\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"heat shield\">heat shield<\/a>. It looks like a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/muffler\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"muffler\">muffler<\/a> with a pipe on both ends.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">From the inside, the catalytic converter has a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/how-to-unblock-a-catalytic-converter\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"honeycomb-like structure\">honeycomb-like structure<\/a> that&rsquo;s coated with precious metals like palladium, rhodium, and platinum, which help convert exhaust emissions into less harmful substances.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"367\" src=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/light-off-catalyst-and-oxidation-catalyst-1024x367.jpg\" alt=\"light off catalyst and oxidation catalyst\" class=\"wp-image-182032\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Typically, there will be a light-off catalyst for each bank of cylinders very near the engine and one or two secondary oxidation catalysts farther back on the exhaust system. The muffler will be after the catalyst as you follow the exhaust system toward the rear of the vehicle. These photos show both catalysts on the same four-cylinder vehicle. | Image Source: Richard McCuistian<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Tips On How to Access the Catalytic Converter<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The catalytic converter sits between the engine and muffler, so you&rsquo;ll need to raise your vehicle to get a better view.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you&rsquo;re planning to remove your old catalytic converter, make sure that the engine has cooled down completely. Note that, in many cases, the catalytic converter is part of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/exhaust-system-parts-101-the-basics-diagram-included\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"exhaust system\">exhaust system<\/a> and it may be difficult to remove, so don&rsquo;t get in over your head if you haven&rsquo;t done a lot of wrench work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Catalytic converters are often attached to the vehicle using bolts, which you can loosen with the help of penetrating oil and a trusty wrench.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Also, make sure to remove the rear bolts first before the ones in front.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 2<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span>A catalytic converter often looks like a cylindrical metal container with a metal pipe sticking out of each end and&#8230; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/what-does-a-catalytic-converter-look-like-on-a-car\/\" rel=\"nofollow\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1651,"featured_media":121272,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":true,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1034,52,3750],"tags":[1189],"ppma_author":[2607,2985],"class_list":["post-182031","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-auto-repair","category-diy","category-exhaust-system","tag-catalytic-converter-2","entry"],"acf":{"adrotate_specific_mobile_ad":"","adrotate_specific_desktop_ad":""},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>What Does a Catalytic Converter Look Like On a Car? - In The Garage with CarParts.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The catalytic converter looks pretty simple from the outside and is fairly easy to locate. 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Guided by CarParts.com's thorough editorial process, our team strives to produce guides and resources DIYers and casual car owners can trust."},{"term_id":2985,"user_id":1646,"is_guest":0,"slug":"richardmccuistian","display_name":"Richard McCuistian, ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician","avatar_url":{"url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/richard-mccuistian.png","url2x":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/richard-mccuistian.png"},"author_category":"","user_url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/author\/richardmccuistian\/","last_name":"McCuistian","first_name":"Richard","job_title":"ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician","description":"<div class=\"auth-social-links\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/richard-mccuistian-2681891b\/\" class=\"btn\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"linkedin\" aria-labelledby=\"linkedin\">LinkedIn<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/McCuistian\" class=\"btn\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"instagram\" aria-labelledby=\"instagram\">Youtube<\/a><\/div>\r\n\r\nRichard McCuistian grew up in Alabama learning from his father who ran an automotive repair shop. Richard has worked for nearly 50 years in the automotive field as a professional technician, an instructor, a freelance automotive writer for Motor Age, ACtion magazine, Power Stroke Registry, and others (published every year since May 2000). He has developed training courses and written or edited training material for companies in the U.S. Canada, and the Netherlands, and even Bulgaria. He maintained an \u201cask a mechanic\u201d website for 10 years answering questions emailed to him from all over the world.\r\n\r\nRichard has an instructional automotive YouTube channel \u201cMcCuistian\u201d with 13,500 subscribers and over 1,300 videos. Much of his professional work requires photography and videography in shop environments, but Richard also enjoys taking pictures of landscapes, skyscapes, old barns and houses, small towns. He has produced a coffee table book of digital watercolors called \u201cMemories of South Alabama\u201d created from his personal photos, along with a dozen Christian fiction short original novels and a collection of short stories, all available in Kindle or softcover format. Richard has written a 2,500-word Bible study every week for the past 20 years and uses it to teach a small group at his church every Sunday morning.\r\n\r\n<strong>Credentials:<\/strong>\r\n\r\n<ul class=\"author-list\">\r\n<li><p>ASE Certified for more than 30 years in 10 categories, including L1 Advanced Engine Performance and Light Vehicle Diesel.<\/p><\/li>\r\n<li><p>Professional Mechanic\/Technician for 25 years with experience on diesel and gasoline engines, vehicles and equipment (including hydraulics).<\/p><\/li>\r\n<li><p>Spent 5 years in fleet maintenance, 20 years in independent shops and dealerships (VW, Mazda, Renault, Jeep, Ford, Lincoln), specializing in driveability and electronics for the last 14 years of his career at the same dealership.<\/p><\/li>\r\n<li><p>Senior Contributing Editor at Motor Age Magazine, first published in Motor Age in May of 2000 and every year since. He has won two International Automotive Media Awards for technical articles published in trade magazines.<\/p><\/li>\r\n<li><p>Has attended hundreds of hours of automotive training from OEMs including GM, Volkswagen, Mazda, Renault, Jeep, Chrysler, as well as additional training at events like KC Vision and MACS (Mobile Air Climate Systems Association).<\/p><\/li>\r\n<li><p>Taught college level auto mechanics for 19 years.<\/p><\/li>\r\n<li><p>Has written for automotive training companies (including course development work for training companies in Canada and the Netherlands) and has been hired to teach professional trade show technician courses at multiple training events in Texas and Alabama.<\/p><\/li>\r\n<li><p>While still teaching at the college level, Richard launched a new automotive program in Geneva, Alabama, setting up a dual enrollment department in a new building, organizing the shop and classroom, teaching morning classes to high school students for 2 years while still teaching at the college in the afternoon.<\/p><\/li>\r\n<li><p>Richard\u2019s college program at Lurleen B. Wallace Community College worked at professional shop speed during his tenure to prepare graduates for production level work in the real world.<\/p><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>"}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/182031","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1651"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=182031"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/182031\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/121272"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=182031"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=182031"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=182031"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=182031"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}