Suzuki SX4 catalytic converter replacement, made easy

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Our expert insights into catalytic converter replacement

What does a catalytic converter do?

A catalytic converter is an essential part of your exhaust system. Its job is to change harmful substances in a car’s exhaust gasses, such as carbon monoxide nitric oxide, and hydrocarbons, into less harmful gases.

What are the symptoms of a failing catalytic converter?

Below are the top three symptoms that could indicate you need to replace your catalytic converter:

  • The smoke from your exhaust is heavier or darker than normal.

  • You smell something similar to rotten eggs or sulphur coming from your car’s exhaust.

  • You notice a reduction in engine performance.

What happens during a catalytic converter replacement?

Our certified mechanics will:

  • Raise your car completely off the ground, making sure that the exhaust has had time to cool down before they begin the replacement.

  • Locate the catalytic converter. It usually looks like a box in the middle of the exhaust system underneath the car.

  • Remove the catalytic converter, inspect it and fit a replacement if necessary

  • Test the new catalytic converter, taking care to double check that the replacement catalytic converter is up to the correct specifications for the vehicle’s emissions standards.

Daniel, from LondonDaniel, from London

Hey Fixter, can I drive with a broken or missing catalytic converter?

Your car will be drivable, however bad catalytic converters are terrible for the environment and can cause further damage to your car. If you get caught with a broken catalytic converter you may be fined by the police.

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How Fixter works

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Upfront, fair pricing, with free collection & return and no hidden costs. Our in-house experts will then choose the ideal garage to work on your car.

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A fully-insured Fixter driver will pick up your car, whenever and wherever works for you. (If you’d prefer to drive your car to the garage yourself, that’s not a problem!).

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Our in-house experts will keep you updated, and your card is only charged once all work has been satisfactorily completed and approved by our team. Your driver will then drop the car back when it’s convenient for you.

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Takes a lot of stress away

I would definitely recommend this company: knowing someone was keeping an eye on everything to make sure I wasn't being overcharged for parts and labour takes a lot of stress out of having the work done. I felt really well looked after. Thank you Fixter.

Kathleen Hodge, West Yorkshire

Excellent service

Excellent service. On time to pick up my car & drop it back. Full service cost £179, main dealer quoted me £700-lots different!

Muhammad, Birmingham

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Just had my MOT done through Fixter for the first time. It took about 5 minutes of my time in total to book, hand over the key, and get it back when the car was returned. So I was able to carry on looking after my 2 year old. Total game-changer!

Oliver Woodford, London

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Can't get more convenient than someone turning up, taking the car from the house for its MOT and returning it a few hours later. No having to drive to a garage (often miles from anywhere or in the middle of an industrial estate) or hanging around waiting.

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This is the 3rd time I have used Fixter and I recommend to everyone. It makes getting an MOT super easy for me. Everyone I speak to on the phone is incredibly helpful and polite, and they seem to be the most cost effective. I literally cannot fault them.

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Want to learn more about Suzuki SX4 catalytic converter replacement?

What does a catalytic converter do?

A catalytic converter is a key component of your exhaust system. It changes harmful substances in a car’s exhaust gasses, such as carbon monoxide nitric oxide, and hydrocarbons, into less harmful gases, such as water vapour. Every car registered in the UK must have a catalytic converter fitted by law. It became standard for petrol vehicles in 1992, and 2001 for diesel cars.

A typical catalytic converter is made of ceramic blocks with a porous structure. By coating the pores with a selection of valuable metals: platinum, rhodium and palladium, they act as a filter to break down the toxic exhaust gases produced by burning petrol.

The metal coatings work far better as filters when they’re heated, so their position next to the engine offers the ideal environment for just that. The converter can then perform the chemical reaction required to break down the poisonous gasses into less harmful products with much greater ease.

Suzuki

The Suzuki Motor Corporation is a Japanese multinational automotive and motorcycle manufacturer, established in 1909, over 100 years ago.

Possibly better known as a leading motorcycle manufacturer, the cars from this marque are becoming a well-known household name in UK motoring. The Suzuki Swift and Suzuki Vitara have made a real impact on UK drivers, being responsible for over half of the 408k Suzuki models on the roads today.

Good value small city cars and SUV driving

Suzuki’s success has been dependent on their provision of small, well-priced cars that offer excellent value and good fuel economy. They offer a selection of city cars and small hatchbacks, with added hybrid fuel options for green drivers and those who want further economy from their motoring.

It’s possibly the Vitara, Ignis and the SX4 S-Cross SUV and crossover models that are making the most impact for this brand, despite not achieving quite the same impressive sales figures as the Swift.

Suzuki provides great technology for budget brand cars

For cars at their price-point, Suzuki crams in a lot of tech. The Vitara, for example, comes with Suzuki’s Boosterjet turbocharged engine and Allgrip 4-wheel drive system for performance, and a host of additional technology for drivability.

It also incorporates driver assistance features such as a lane departure warning that includes visual signals and a vibrating steering wheel, cruise control and fully integrated smartphone connectivity—features you’d tend to expect to find on much higher priced vehicles.

The Suzuki SHVS hybrid system

In the current climate where ecology and green motoring has become prevalent, the ‘Smart Hybrid Vehicle by Suzuki’ advanced driving system reduces CO2 emissions and lowers your running costs. What Suzuki has done here, is create a lighter and smaller system than the standard hybrid arrangement. Combine that with their cars’ lightweight chassis and nimble performance, and the efficiency becomes even more impressive.

How often should a catalytic converter need replacing?

A catalytic converter will usually need to be replaced after 70,000-100,000 miles, or if you begin to experience any of the above symptoms. Regular maintenance and checks (including an MOT) will determine whether you need to replace your converter or if it’s good to go for a few more miles.

How you drive, and the typical usage of your car, will affect its lifespan too. Your converter could wear out quicker if your car is predominantly used for short journeys in stop/start traffic. Your converter works better at a required temperature, so if it’s not getting the chance to heat up properly, it isn’t going to be as efficient. This could shorten its effective life.

The law, vehicle regulations and your MOT

Your vehicle’s emissions will be measured during your MOT test. If your car is found to break the legal limits, then that’s an immediate fail.

In 2020, almost 1.3 million vehicles failed their MOT test last year due to dangerously high emissions. If you’re trying to keep your motoring costs down, then MOT retests are easily avoidable with regular checks and good car maintenance.

What happens during a catalytic converter replacement?

Our certified mechanics will:

  • Raise your car completely off the ground, making sure that the exhaust has had time to cool down before they begin the replacement.

  • Locate the catalytic converter. It usually looks like a box in the middle of the exhaust system underneath the car.

  • Remove the catalytic converter, inspect it and fit a replacement if necessary

  • Test the new catalytic converter, taking care to double check that the replacement catalytic converter is up to the correct specifications for the vehicle’s emissions standards.

What causes a catalytic converter to break?

Most catalytic converters will last the lifetime of a vehicle. But in some cases, a converter will go bad and need to be replaced. Almost all problems with a catalytic converter are due to an engine issue. It is usually caused by excess fuel entering the exhaust system due to an incorrect air/fuel mixture, failing spark plugs, incorrect engine timing, a faulty oxygen sensor, or other issues where fuel leaves the engine’s combustion chamber unburned.

When this happens, the catalytic converter gets too hot and begins to melt, causing significant performance problems. Without proper maintenance, carbon deposits can also clog the catalytic converter, or worst case, block it completely.

When should a catalytic converter be replaced?

The expected lifespan of a catalytic converter is usually between 70,000 and 100,000 miles. Regular maintenance and checks (including an MOT) will determine whether you need to replace your converter or if it’s good to go for a few more miles.

How you drive, and the typical usage of your car, will affect its lifespan too. Your converter could wear out quicker if your car is predominantly used for short journeys in stop/start traffic. Your converter works better at a required temperature, so if it’s not getting the chance to heat up properly, it isn’t going to be as efficient. This could shorten its effective life.

What are the symptoms of a bad catalytic converter?

Usually, there a few signs you can look for:

  • Significantly reduced engine performance.

  • Dark smoke is coming from the exhaust.

  • Poor fuel efficiency.

  • If you experience issues while accelerating.

  • If you can smell sulfur (rotten eggs) coming from your car.

  • When the ‘check engine’ warning light illuminates.

How often should you replace your catalytic converter?

A catalytic converter will usually need to be replaced after 70,000-100,000 miles, or if you begin to experience any of the above symptoms. Regular maintenance and checks (including an MOT) will determine whether you need to replace your converter or if it’s good to go for a few more miles.

How you drive, and the typical usage of your car, will affect its lifespan too. Your converter could wear out quicker if your car is predominantly used for short journeys in stop/start traffic. Your converter works better at a required temperature, so if it’s not getting the chance to heat up properly, it isn’t going to be as efficient. This could shorten its effective life.

What happens during a catalytic converter replacement?

Our certified mechanics will:

  • Raise your car completely off the ground, making sure that the exhaust has had time to cool down before they begin the replacement.

  • Locate the catalytic converter. It usually looks like a box in the middle of the exhaust system underneath the car.

  • Remove the catalytic converter, inspect it and fit a replacement if necessary

  • Test the new catalytic converter, taking care to double check that the replacement catalytic converter is up to the correct specifications for the vehicle’s emissions standards.

What is the average life of a catalytic converter?

This can vary from car to car and from driver to driver, however the estimated lifespan of a catalytic converter is between 70,000-100,000 miles, or if you begin to experience any of the symptoms previously mentioned.

Can you drive with a broken or missing catalytic converter?

Your car will most likely still be drivable, however bad catalytic converters are terrible for the environment, and driving without one is even worse. A blocked or damaged converter can cause further damage to your car, resulting in a more expensive repair in the long run.

There are strict regulations and laws around vehicle emissions, therefore if you get caught by the police with a broken or missing catalytic converter you may be fined.

What happens if you don't change a broken catalytic converter?

Failing to replace a catalytic converter can result in more damage to your car, poor fuel efficiency and a potential fine from the police. If the converter has begun to function poorly due to it being clogged up, it will cause the vehicle to run extremely poorly.

Common questions about booking at Fixter

Common questions about booking at Fixter

Who is going to drive my car?

All of our drivers are fully insured and your vehicle is always protected.

We put our drivers through rigorous vetting and training before they are able to drive your vehicle. All of our drivers must have at least 3 years of driving experience, hold a clean driver's licence, be over the age of 21, capable of driving both manual and automatic vehicles and pass a criminal background check.

Your vehicle will be assigned to a driver who is responsible for collecting it from your home, delivering it to the garage and returning your vehicle once all work is completed.

Sometimes we might coordinate with a garage for them to send their own driver to collect your vehicle. In this instance, you are protected as you would be if it was a Fixter driver. 

What garage will my car go to?

One of our in-house mechanics will factor in the make and model of your car, as well as the work that needs doing. They will then allocate your booking to the most appropriate Fixter garage in your area, and we’ll email you to confirm.

Here’s why only 1 in 20 garages pass our selection criteria:

  • We only choose garages registered as a Limited Company, with a minimum of 3 years of trading.

  • We assess each garage's various established affiliations (e.g. Bosch / Unipart / Garage).

  • We perform an online audit: Fixter only selects garages with at least a 4 star customer rating.

  • We make sure to visit each garage in person. Our in-house mechanics evaluate the quality of equipment, staff qualifications, capacity, and technical capabilities of selected servicing centres. Fixter only works with garages which strictly use manufacturer-equivalent parts.

  • After all requirements are fulfilled, we negotiate preferential terms with each selected (including parts, labour, oil, and MOT test rates), so we can pass it along to our customers.

What parts will be used?

All parts used in repairs and services carried out by Fixter are either manufacturer parts or equivalent. This guarantees that only the best quality parts are used in your vehicle. We offer a 12-month warranty, meaning that should anything should go wrong with the parts or labour we’ll take care of it, free of charge. 

How and when do I pay?

We take your card details when you book online, but nothing is charged to your card until all the work has been approved by our in-house experts, and satisfactorily completed.

No extra work will be carried out without your consent. If additional work is required, one of our in-house experts will call you to walk through any diagnostic reports, recommendations or additional quotes from the mechanic working on your car. We check every quote to make sure the work is required and has been fairly priced.

Note: If you need to update your payment details to pay for your booking, the team will send you a secure link to add the new card details.

How does the money back guarantee work?

If your car fails its MOT at one of our garages, but you believe that your car should have passed, you'll have the option to take your car to another garage to do a new MOT test. If your vehicle passes the MOT at another garage, we’ll refund you for the original MOT test that you carried out with us. Collection and delivery fees are non-refundable.

How does the Fixter 12-month warranty work?

All Fixter bookings are covered by a 12-month warranty on parts and labour.

If there’s a problem (with either parts or labour) up to 12 months after your booking date, we’ll sort it out for you, completely free of charge.

Just email support@fixter.co.uk or call our team on 0330 808 9527 and we’ll take care of it.

Note: this doesn't apply to an air con regas as leaks can occur at any time.

Can I cancel my booking?

We understand that things change.

If you need to cancel or change your booking, please let us know asap. Our agents spend time finding you a top-rated garage, which is then booked to take care of your vehicle. In many cases, parts are ordered in advance. As a result, we operate a 72-hour cancellation policy. If you have a confirmed booking with us and need to cancel within 72 hours of the appointment, a cancellation fee of £20 may be applied.

We want to avoid that so our agents will work with you to try and find a new appointment instead. To discuss changing or cancelling a booking, please email or phone on 0330 808 9527.

Our team works Monday to Friday from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm.

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