Questions and Answers
Holy Converter Batman!
Q. Hi, I have a 1991 Pontiac Grand Am. Recently, something has happened to the catalytic converter. I took a look and I noticed that the converter has a round hole on the bottom side towards the engine.
It looks like there is a plug there that unplugged and the plug itself, a round flat piece of metal is loose on the inside of the converter. I started the car and there is untreated exhaust puffing out of that hole. Might you know what happened to the converter?
Please advise.
FrankA. That's exactly what it is, a plug. In the older catalytic converters the catalyst was replaceable. This plug is how the old catalyst was removed and new catalyst put in.
The plug, evidently, rusted out and what remained stayed inside the converter. I don't know if you can still get the plug from a GM dealer, but I would think it would still be available. You would have to get the old piece out and there is a special tool to install the new plug and crimp it into place.
Additional Information provided courtesy of ALLDATA
