Catalytic converter self-gutted?

[Steel City 06]

Anyone ever see this?

There's literally no catalyst in my catalytic converter. Didn't throw P420 codes until the oxygen sensor was replaced. Sounds like something rattling around in there.

Unethical repair by a PO? Or did I really blow out the entire converter?

Found all the pieces rattling around...

 

[someguysjeep]

it degrades and falls apart.

 

[dbbd1]

And usually plugs the muffler. You're lucky that you caught it.

 

[Steel City 06]

And usually plugs the muffler. You're lucky that you caught it.

I think it plugged the 3rd cat...

 

[Tranz Zam]

Finish gutting the other and reinstall.

 

[reddvltj]

The cat on the 97 SE I had came apart and plugged the muffler bad enough the back pressure blew the muffler off of the back of the cat in down town Marysville, WA... scared the you know what out of the people driving next to me... I'd be lying if I said I didn't have a near soiled briefs experience myself!!

 

[Steel City 06]

I knew something was up... had very bad misfiring that suddenly went away. Then the catalytic converter code popped up after replacing O2 sensors.

Currently installing 3 brand new Magnaflow cats

 

[Steel City 06]

Well the Magnaflow installation went as smooth as possible. No codes. Thing fit like a glove. Had I not snapped a bolt on the header connection, it would have been a very easy job.

 

[Chris]

It’s actually more common than you’d think

 

[Jim King]

How many miles on the Jeep?
I also have an 06, but only 73,000 miles.

 

[Steel City 06]

54,000 miles. Certainly thought the cats would outlast that...

 

[Jim King]

Hmph.

 

[dbbd1]

I think it plugged the 3rd cat...

Der, uh, that's what I meant.

 

[Steel City 06]

Der, uh, that's what I meant.

I did check out the muffler. Compressed air seemed to flow freely through it.

The back of the original 3rd cat looked fine, but I didn't cut the pipe to look. Lot of junk rattling around. Based on how much soot there was in the engine on all cylinders, I'm going to guess it was pretty well plugged.

The Magnaflow kit replaced all 3 cats, so I don't have to worry.