# Honda Civic catalytic converter heat shield

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/honda-civic-catalytic-converter-heat-shield/74249>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** civic, honda\
**Created:** [August 23, 2012, 7:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/honda-civic-catalytic-converter-heat-shield/74249 "2012-08-23T19:37:35Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![aurum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ccd318/32.png) [@aurum](https://community.cartalk.com/u/aurum)\
**Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 7:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/honda-civic-catalytic-converter-heat-shield/74249/1 "2012-08-23T19:37:35Z")

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The heat shield on the catalytic converter of my 2005 Honda Civic rusted and was hanging on by one nut, so I decided to rip the bottom part off. Is it necessary to get a replacement or can i go without it?

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**Author:** ![RemcoW](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/remcow/32/2471_2.png) [@RemcoW](https://community.cartalk.com/u/RemcoW)\
**Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 7:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/honda-civic-catalytic-converter-heat-shield/74249/2 "2012-08-23T19:48:57Z")

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As long as you don’t park on top of grass or other stuff that likes to catch fire, you’re fine.

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**Author:** ![keith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/keith/32/5518_2.png) [@keith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/keith)\
**Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 7:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/honda-civic-catalytic-converter-heat-shield/74249/3 "2012-08-23T19:59:56Z")

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You could have gotten an oversized washer (body washer) and a used it to bridge the rusted out holes, but its too late for that now. If you can bend and drill some sheet metal, you could make a new one pretty cheap. It should be replaced.

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**Author:** ![missileman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/missileman/32/1366_2.png) [@missileman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/missileman)\
**Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 9:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/honda-civic-catalytic-converter-heat-shield/74249/4 "2012-08-23T21:10:14Z")

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I remember when the first vehicles rolled out with catalytic converters. They were catching fire quite frequently because most, if not all, were not equipped with heat shields. I would replace the shield as keith has already mentioned.

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**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\
**Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 11:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/honda-civic-catalytic-converter-heat-shield/74249/5 "2012-08-23T23:41:48Z")

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If you happen to start a national park on fire, they’ll come after you for the cost.

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**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\
**Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 12:42am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/honda-civic-catalytic-converter-heat-shield/74249/6 "2012-08-24T00:42:57Z")

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If you still have the part, you can secure it with one or two large worm-drive hose clamps from the local hardware store. If not, you do risk a fire.