# Should I refrain from driving cross country with an iffy catalytic converter? **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Tags:** civic, honda\ **Created:** [April 27, 2020, 2:51am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/should-i-refrain-from-driving-cross-country-with-an-iffy-catalytic-converter/163445 "2020-04-27T02:51:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ari11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Ari11](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Ari11)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2020, 2:51am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/should-i-refrain-from-driving-cross-country-with-an-iffy-catalytic-converter/163445/1 "2020-04-27T02:51:17Z")
Hello, I have a 1998 Honda Civic. About 2 years ago, my mechanic informed me that some O2 sensors had gone off, and my catalytic converter would need to be replaced at some point. He advised me to wait until failure, because it wasn’t urgent. Here I am 2 years later, it hasn’t failed me yet, and I’m preparing to move from South Carolina to Colorado, a drive of about 1,600 miles. I’m ready to get a new car, but would ideally like to wait to get it in my new state of residence. I’m wondering whether it would be safe to give my 98 Civic one more road trip before I trade it in, sell it or donate it. I don’t want to replace the converter, because it’ll probably cost as much or more than the car is worth. Can anyone advise me as to what I should do? Thank you! ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2020, 3:23am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/should-i-refrain-from-driving-cross-country-with-an-iffy-catalytic-converter/163445/2 "2020-04-27T03:23:33Z")
If the contents of the catalytic convertor are rattling or if it has become damaged from a misfire (melted) then an exhaust restriction may occur during the trip. If the problem is a check engine light with a P0420 code then the road trip may cure the problem, the catalyst efficiency can improve with highway driving. ---
**Author:** ![Manolito](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/manolito/32/3070_2.png) [@Manolito](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Manolito)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2020, 4:17am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/should-i-refrain-from-driving-cross-country-with-an-iffy-catalytic-converter/163445/3 "2020-04-27T04:17:17Z")
1998 is early OBD II. On that car, a code for “catalyst efficiency low” simply means that the oxygen sensors are slow to respond, which is common if they have over 100k mile on them. If that was the only symptom, there may be nothing at all wrong with the catalyst. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2020, 4:34am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/should-i-refrain-from-driving-cross-country-with-an-iffy-catalytic-converter/163445/4 "2020-04-27T04:34:18Z")
> [@Manolito](#): > > a code for “catalyst efficiency low” simply means that the oxygen sensors are slow to respond That’s not exactly what P0420 means . . . ---
**Author:** ![pleasedodgevan2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ad7895/32.png) [@pleasedodgevan2](https://community.cartalk.com/u/pleasedodgevan2)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2020, 5:15am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/should-i-refrain-from-driving-cross-country-with-an-iffy-catalytic-converter/163445/5 "2020-04-27T05:15:55Z")
With a 1998 car the worst thing that can happen is that you are driving an old car. Keep driving it until forever happens or you get tired of the car. The best feeling is to be warranty free. ---
**Author:** ![Ari11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Ari11](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Ari11)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2020, 5:31am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/should-i-refrain-from-driving-cross-country-with-an-iffy-catalytic-converter/163445/6 "2020-04-27T05:31:04Z")
Thanks for your reply! I do not hear any rattling whatsoever, but I do believe the mechanic said something about the O2 sensors melting. The way he described it, the car might just stop running one day, and I’ll just have to get it towed, and they could replace the converter at that point. My fear is that this could happen while I’m on the middle of my road trip. The check engine light is also related, however. I’ll give them a call in the morning to see if they have a record of whether it was a P0420 code. Thank you for your advice! ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2020, 1:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/should-i-refrain-from-driving-cross-country-with-an-iffy-catalytic-converter/163445/7 "2020-04-27T13:10:18Z")
> [@Ari11](#): > > this could happen while I’m on the middle of my road trip Keep a charged cell phone handy. There are tow trucks everywhere. There are motels everywhere. There are repair shops everywhere. I wouldn’t worry about it. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2020, 1:26pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/should-i-refrain-from-driving-cross-country-with-an-iffy-catalytic-converter/163445/8 "2020-04-27T13:26:59Z")
> [@Ari11](#): > > The way he described it, the car might just stop running one day, and I’ll just have to get it towed, and they could replace the converter at that point. You’d have plenty of warning before this happened. I’m wondering about your mechanic. ---
**Author:** ![circuitsmith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/circuitsmith/32/40376_2.png) [@circuitsmith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/circuitsmith)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2020, 1:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/should-i-refrain-from-driving-cross-country-with-an-iffy-catalytic-converter/163445/9 "2020-04-27T13:48:36Z")
> [@Ari11](#): > > I do believe the mechanic said something about the O2 sensors melting. The way he described it, the car might just stop running one day O2 sensors will not make it stop running. However, lots of other things can make a 22 y.o. Civic stop running, like a broken timing belt. Is it caught up with general maintenance? Has it been pretty trouble free for the last couple of years? ---
**Author:** ![zaverxexperiments\_166654](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/zaverxexperiments_166654/32/20517_2.png) [@zaverxexperiments\_166654](https://community.cartalk.com/u/zaverxexperiments_166654)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2020, 1:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/should-i-refrain-from-driving-cross-country-with-an-iffy-catalytic-converter/163445/10 "2020-04-27T13:53:49Z")
I would think a melted/broken O2 sensor would cause a bit of an issue for the engine computer, so I would think it might decrease power some but it wouldn’t stop running completely ---
**Author:** ![Robert-Gift](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/robert-gift/32/356_2.png) [@Robert-Gift](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Robert-Gift)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2020, 2:09pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/should-i-refrain-from-driving-cross-country-with-an-iffy-catalytic-converter/163445/11 "2020-04-27T14:09:53Z")
I wouldrive it and hope that gentle acceleration and highway driving will blow outhe catalyticonverter. ---
**Author:** ![wentwest](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/wentwest/32/6073_2.png) [@wentwest](https://community.cartalk.com/u/wentwest)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2020, 3:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/should-i-refrain-from-driving-cross-country-with-an-iffy-catalytic-converter/163445/12 "2020-04-27T15:49:08Z")
If you are about done with the car anyway then my vote is to go ahead and drive it out West. Bring along the title to the car and if it breaks down on you be ready to give up on it there if necessary. It’s pretty unlikely to happen. Long rides are not hard on cars, local stop and go is much worse. ---
**Author:** ![Ari11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Ari11](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Ari11)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2020, 12:28am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/should-i-refrain-from-driving-cross-country-with-an-iffy-catalytic-converter/163445/13 "2020-04-28T00:28:57Z")
Generally speaking, yes I’ve kept up with general maintenance. Replaced the timing belt maybe 4 years back, and got a new battery about 1 year ago. Get biannual oil changes. The only other thing I can say is that she’s been kind of weak in terms of acceleration and uphill driving for the past few years. But other than that, she’s been very reliable. ---
**Author:** ![Ari11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Ari11](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Ari11)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2020, 12:34am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/should-i-refrain-from-driving-cross-country-with-an-iffy-catalytic-converter/163445/14 "2020-04-28T00:34:44Z")
I have indeed experienced a decrease in power. The car doesn’t accelerate that well anymore, and is pretty pathetic going uphill if I haven’t built up some speed first. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2020, 1:54am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/should-i-refrain-from-driving-cross-country-with-an-iffy-catalytic-converter/163445/15 "2020-04-28T01:54:41Z")
> [@Ari11](#): > > I do believe the mechanic said something about the O2 sensors melting. The sensors are made of steel, near as I can tell I’m having a hard time believing that the sensors are actually melting 🤔 ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2020, 2:00am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/should-i-refrain-from-driving-cross-country-with-an-iffy-catalytic-converter/163445/16 "2020-04-28T02:00:26Z")
> [@Ari11](#): > > I have indeed experienced a decrease in power. The car doesn’t accelerate that well anymore, and is pretty pathetic going uphill if I haven’t built up some speed first. Well, now I’m not so crazy about going across country in it. ---
**Author:** ![Manolito](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/manolito/32/3070_2.png) [@Manolito](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Manolito)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2020, 2:17am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/should-i-refrain-from-driving-cross-country-with-an-iffy-catalytic-converter/163445/17 "2020-04-28T02:17:05Z")
Power loss may result from an obstructed exhaust, which might indicate that the catalyst has been damaged after all. The low tech way to check for an obstructed exhaust is to put your hand next to the exhaust pipe end while the car is idling. You should be able to easily feel the individual bursts of exhaust. If it is more of a smooth stream of exhaust blowing out, the exhaust is obstructed, and the most likely culprit for that is the catalyst. ---
**Author:** ![zaverxexperiments\_166654](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/zaverxexperiments_166654/32/20517_2.png) [@zaverxexperiments\_166654](https://community.cartalk.com/u/zaverxexperiments_166654)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2020, 12:03pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/should-i-refrain-from-driving-cross-country-with-an-iffy-catalytic-converter/163445/18 "2020-04-28T12:03:32Z")
It might be a good idea to get the converter replaced. If everything else on your car is fine, just get the cat fixed (or just be a punk and delete the thing 🙃) and then go on your journey. I guess it would be better to be safe than sorry, but it is your decision. ---
**Author:** ![pyrolord314](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/6a8cbe/32.png) [@pyrolord314](https://community.cartalk.com/u/pyrolord314)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2020, 12:50pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/should-i-refrain-from-driving-cross-country-with-an-iffy-catalytic-converter/163445/19 "2020-04-28T12:50:00Z")
> [@zaverxexperiments\_166654](#): > > (or just be a punk and delete the thing 🙃) Which is illegal, and which would likely make the car impossible to sell when the OP gets to Colorado since they follow California emission standards ---
**Author:** ![zaverxexperiments\_166654](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/zaverxexperiments_166654/32/20517_2.png) [@zaverxexperiments\_166654](https://community.cartalk.com/u/zaverxexperiments_166654)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2020, 12:52pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/should-i-refrain-from-driving-cross-country-with-an-iffy-catalytic-converter/163445/20 "2020-04-28T12:52:21Z")
of course it’s illegal, it was a joke ¯\_(ツ)\_/¯ [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/should-i-refrain-from-driving-cross-country-with-an-iffy-catalytic-converter/163445.md?page=2)