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2000 E320 MB Wagon catalytic converter
I was told by MB that my catalytic converter needs to be replaced as it is rattling. I would not have known if they did not tell me. There are no other symptoms, fuel is fine, as is acceleration and the check engine light is not on. I am wondering if I need to hurry and fix is? I was told the rattling piece could go into the engine and cause bigger problems. Can anyone shed anymore light on this?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Wim van Acker on -
MB should be kidding you with "I was told the rattling piece could go into the engine and cause bigger problems." The catalytic converter is part of the final part of your exhaust system, so how can that go into your engine???
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Permalink Reply by Trudy Horridge on
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I am not sure how the loose piece could go into the engine either. I wonder if there will be a problem if I wait to get it fixed. Do you know? Thank you for responding.
Wim van Acker said:MB should be kidding you with "I was told the rattling piece could go into the engine and cause bigger problems." The catalytic converter is part of the final part of your exhaust system, so how can that go into your engine???
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Permalink Reply by Wim van Acker on
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I am a chemical engineer and not a MB technical specialist, but to me it seems you don't need to replace it on short notice. The catalytic converter is already partly damaged due to the frequent small kinetic impact (the rattling noise). Any damage to the catalytic converter makes your exhaust gas come out less purified. Other than that I don't see any further risk of damage.
Please make sure your exhaus pipes are intact. If there is external damage, parts may come loose and you may lose them while driving. If there is no external damage and just internal damage, it seems to me you can continue driving your car for a while. How to find out whether there is external damage? Try to move it by hand (wearing gloves, while the exhaust system is cold, making sure the engine is switched off, transmission in Park, parking brake on, wheels blocked by restraints in both directions, etc.).
Please note that I am not an authorized Mercedes mechanic, not a car mechanic at all.
Trudy Horridge said:I am not sure how the loose piece could go into the engine either. I wonder if there will be a problem if I wait to get it fixed. Do you know? Thank you for responding.
Wim van Acker said:MB should be kidding you with "I was told the rattling piece could go into the engine and cause bigger problems." The catalytic converter is part of the final part of your exhaust system, so how can that go into your engine???
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Permalink Reply by Tam Vu on
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My E320, 2001 has the same rattling noise recently. I am not sure what other problems could cause if you do not fix it. But my passes the SMOG check with this problem. The problem that you may experience is that when you need to accelerate, you may experience power loss.
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Permalink Reply by panikos skaliotis on
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it is quite propable since this is a common problem to most eu cars. it is a good assumption that an exhaust rattling noise is attributed to internal cracked core of the catalytic converter.sometimes can be felt as light vibration if touch by hand when very cold.(be carefull because catalytic converters get very very hot).the only trouble it can create is loose material entering the exhaust muffler and the embarrasing noise it creates.i doudt if the lamda sensor will be affected since it is installed upstream to the converter.
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