Can I drive my car with a stolen catalytic converter?
Driving without a catalytic converter makes the car extremely loud and can cause further vehicle damage if driven long-term. While it might technically make it a short distance to a shop, trying to drive it daily for work without fixing it is not sustainable.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
- 1Driving the vehicle to a muffler shop for an aftermarket replacement while wearing earplugs to handle the loud noise.
- 2Driving the car without a catalytic converter for a temporary period
- 3Living with the loud exhaust noise and check engine light
In their words
Unedited, most upvoted first, each linked to the thread it came from.
“Cars catalytic converter got stolen.”source ↗
“Will the car make it that distance ? I don’t wanna damage the car by doing this drive but I also thought the CC was just for keeping fumes down.”source ↗
“It’s expensive to fix and I really can’t afford it right now. So how bad is this for my car or can I drive this for the next two months( I drive for work)”source ↗
“The check engine light and the oil light is on but he said that’s normal. I hate it being loud honestly”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 2Catalytic converter clogged without check engine light
- 9Why does my car engine cut out after driving for a while?
- 3How to tell if a catalytic converter or oxygen sensor is bad
- 2Car shaking and burning smell while driving
- 2Why did my car battery die again right after a jump start?
- 2Is it safe to drive with broken shock absorbers?