Unclog a Catalytic Converter With a Hammer: Easy Ways

Learning to unclog a catalytic converter with a hammer is important as it is one of the methods that can be utilized with efficiency if your converter is all clogged up and you don’t feel like taking your car to a professional mechanic. While it is true that an expert will know exactly what is wrong and how to solve the issue properly, it would serve little purpose to spend money going there when you might be able to solve it on your own at home.

Required by law in several countries worldwide, this component turns the harmful gasses of your vehicle into harmless ones, thus protecting the environmental surroundings and the people in it. Therefore, having a clogged converter can be hazardous if not fixed properly, which is what you will be able to learn by scrolling down to read our detailed article on how you can use a hammer to fix this essential component!

How Can You Unclog a Platinum Catalytic Converter With a Hammer?

You can unclog your platinum catalytic converter with a hammer by locating the converter, heating it up, and then taking a piece of pipe as a wedge. After this, you may then use a small or large hammer to unclog the component.

– Locating the Converter

To unclog your platinum catalytic converter without a hammer, you first have to locate the catalytic converter’s position in the car. You can find it near the engine when you go in the car.

As soon as you find it, you have to get a screwdriver. Now, you have to use the screwdriver and start loosening the bolts holding it still in its place. After you have removed the bolts, you will have to move on and remove the catalytic converter from its place in the car.

– Heating It Up

The next thing that you have to do is to heat the catalytic converter. To heat the catalytic converter, you must use any blowtorch you have with you. Once you do this, you must take out the cold chisel.

You will have to tap the side of the converter using the chisel. Ensure you do this lightly and do not damage anything in the car. It might be essential to do this several times. You can stop doing this once you notice that the converter is unclogged.

– Unclogging the Converter

Moving onto the next step, you must take any piece of pipe. Once you have the piece of pipe with you, you will have to insert it into the inlet of your catalytic converter. After you have done so, you will have to get your hammer.

Now, you have to hit the pipe using your hammer. When you hit it, if there is any dirt stuck in the converter, it will be removed from there at once. At last, you will have to tap the top of the converter with your hammer. When you hit the top, then any dirt that will be inside will come out of the converter.

Next, you will have to attach the catalytic converter to the car again. You will have to tighten all the bolts you took out in their right places. After this step, you will be done with unclogging your converter. Your converter will now work very well.

– Using a Small Hammer

Another method that you can use if you want to unclog your converter is to use a small hammer. To start with this method, you must take a small hammer and go to your converter. After that, you must tap on the back of your converter using the small hammer. Ensure you do not hit the converter with the hammer, since it could cause the converter to break permanently.

When you tap the converter, it will make all of the dirt that is stuck inside get loose. Once the dirt gets loosened, it will be really easy for you to remove it. After that, you can remove the dirt by using a wire brush. If you do not possess one, you can use any other tool to remove the dirt.

– Using a Larger Hammer

Another way that you can use to unclog the debris inside of your converter is by using a larger hammer. To start, you first have to get a larger hammer and go to the converter in your car. Once you are with the converter, you have to hit the front of the converter by using the hammer.

It is essential to remember that when you hit the converter, you do not have to be too harsh since that can cause the converter to break. When you hit the converter, it helps break all the clogs inside. Once the dirt is loosened, you can remove it using any tool.

The best thing that you should use to remove the dirt and debris out will be a wire brush. On the other hand, it will be best to use a power washer if it is not easy for you to remove the dirt from inside the converter. The power washer will completely make your converter new.

How Can You Unclog a Palladium Catalytic Converter With a Hammer?

You can unclog your palladium catalytic converter with a hammer by finding the converter’s location in the vehicle and getting a screwdriver. Carefully heat it using a blow torch, and then you can hit and unclog it with your hammer.

– Finding the Converter

If you want to unclog your palladium catalytic converter with a hammer, you must start by locating the catalytic converter you will work with. The converter is usually located beneath the car, and you can find it near your car’s engine. Once you have found the catalytic converter, you must get a screwdriver.

With the help of the screwdriver, you will slowly have to loosen the bolts on the converter. The bolts keep the converter in its place. After you have removed the catalytic converter, you will have to take the converter out of its place and out of your car.

– Using a Blow Torch to Heat It

Then, you have to get a blow torch. The blowtorch will help to heat your converter. After you have heated your catalytic converter with the blowtorch, you must take out a cold chisel. Now, with the chisel, you must tap on the converter. Take note that you have to tap it on the side.

This step may take place a few times. Once the converter gets unclogged, you can stop tapping on the converter. Tapping your converter around four to five times will be quite enough.

– Unclogging It

For the next step, you will have to unclog your converter. To do so, you first need to get a piece of pipe. After you have the piece of pipe with you, you will have to put it in the inlet of your clogged catalytic converter. Make sure that you do this carefully.

Then, you will have to get a hammer, and using the hammer, you will have to hit the pipe. It is alright if you hardly hit the pipe, but it is important not to damage anything. When you hit the pipe, it will cause any dirt clogged inside to get unclogged.

Next, you will have to take your hammer and tap on the top of your catalytic converter. Doing this will also allow any dirt inside to get unclogged so that it is easier to remove. Lastly, you have to take your converter back into the car. There, you will have to reattach the converter to its original place.

Once you fit it, you have to start to tighten the bolts you removed. All the bolts should be tightened in their places. All of these steps are quite simple and easy to do. With these steps, you can expect all the debris or dirt to be out of your converter.

– Hitting the Front With a Larger Hammer

Another technique you can apply if you are looking for methods to get rid of the dirt clogged in your converter is by using a larger hammer. For this technique, you need to have a large hammer with you. Once you have the required hammer, you must use it to hit the front of the converter.

Make sure that you hit the clogged catalytic converter enough so that it works at all. When you hit the converter, it will loosen the clog and help you remove it faster. However, if you have trouble removing the dirt from the inside, the best solution will be to use a power washer. The power washer will remove all the dirt and clean it up entirely.

– Tapping With a Small Hammer

You can also try unclogging the catalytic converter using a small hammer. To begin the process, you must get a small hammer. Once you have it, you can tap the back of your catalytic converter.

When you tap the back of it, the clog inside of the catalytic converter will get loose. Once this happens, it will be really easy for you to remove the dirt inside. To do so, you can use a wire brush. If you do not have a wire brush, you can also use any other tool.

How Can You Clean Catalytic Converter To Unclog It?

You can clean a catalytic converter to unclog it using a chemical cleaner or go to a mechanic to get proper professional help. Using a hammer may clean and unclog it as well. You can also clean the converter by yourself at home.

– Using a Chemical Cleaner

You can use a chemical cleaner to clean your catalytic converter to unclog it. The chemical cleaner can be found in several places, such as auto parts stores. Once you get your chemical cleaner, you have to read all the instructions on the package.

After you have read the instructions, you just have to follow the instructions while you are cleaning the converter. In this way, you can expect your converter to be completely clean.

– With Professional Help

You can also use professional help if you want to. To do so, you have to go over to your converter and remove it from its place. When removing the converter, you have to loosen the bolts that keep the converter in one place. After you have removed the converter, you have to take it and go to a professional.

The professional can clean the catalytic converter for you in the right way. If your converter clogs too much, this is the best method you can use. By doing so, your converter will not be damaged in any way.

– DIY Cleaning

Another method that you can use is DIY cleaning. You must remember that this option is only suitable if you have had experience with auto repairs. It is also essential to have the right tools present when you start working on it yourself. To begin, you will have to go over to your car and locate the converter.

The catalytic converter will be located inside the car and near the engine. Once you have located it, you must remove it from the car. When removing it, you will first have to take out the bolts holding it in place. After that, you can take it out of the car.

The next thing that you have to do is take a wire brush. Using the wire brush, you will have to remove any of the deposits you can see on the surface of your converter. After that, you must use a drill fitted with a carbide bit. This will help you make holes inside the deposit.

Lastly, you have to take your power washer to clean up the catalytic converter. The power washer will throw all the debris out of the converter. It is essential to remember that after you have cleaned the converter, you should reinstall it to make the catalytic converter work.

Conclusion

Using a hammer is one of the easiest and surprisingly effective methods of unclogging your clogged catalytic converter to get your car in its best shape. While you will occasionally require other tools, most of the time,

you can get your results with just a small or large hammer, as you may review below:

• Catalytic converters are usually made of either platinum or palladium, and when clogged, they can be generally unclogged with a hammer.
• To unclog a platinum or palladium converter, you must first locate its exact position and heat it, usually with a blow torch.
• Next, you may use an instrument that acts like a wedge, such as a pipe or a screwdriver, and then you can hit or tap it with your hammer to unclog it.
• If your catalytic converter is clogged, a thorough cleaning will unclog it easily.

A clogged catalytic converter can present several problems for your car and the environment it operates in. However, following our detailed steps above, you can easily unclog catalytic converters with just a hammer!