Where is the catalytic converter located on a Toyota Camry

Your Toyota Camry leaves the factory with a catalytic converter. It can run into problems over the normal life of the vehicle, and is often accompanied by OBDII code P0420. Below we’ll cover the location, price, and symptoms of a bad torque converter in your Camry.

Table of Contents Show

What is a Catalytic Converter Anyway?
Where is the Camry’s Catalytic Converter Located?
Toyota Camry: Bad Catalytic Converter Symptoms
What does a catalytic converter look like on a Toyota Camry?
Where is the catalytic converter on a Toyota?
How many catalytic converters does a Camry have?
Where is a catalytic converter located?

What is a Catalytic Converter Anyway?

The catalytic converter, which is often mispronounced and spelled “cadillac converter”, is the most important part of your Camrys emissions system. It takes the emissions gases that are a bi product of the normal combustion process and reduces them down to levels that meet federal emissions regulations.

The catalytic converter uses a catalyst to burn off residual fuel vapor and turn it them into:

Water
Carbon dioxide
Heat, lots of heat

Catalytic converter’s have been common in all domestic automobiles for nearly 40 years. They have gotten better at what they do from an exhaust flow perspective, and an exhaust cleansing perspective.

Where is the Camry’s Catalytic Converter Located?

The exact location of the catalytic converter is going to depend on the model year and engine size of your Toyota Camry. But, they are not that difficult to locate. The catalytic converter itself is a part of the exhaust system. Tracing it, you’ll find it somewhere between the tail pipe and intake manifolds.

They almost always have a heat shield around them and an oxygen sensor somewhere before them. It is necessary for the catalytic converter to be before the muffler. The muffler is really the only thing that you can confuse for the catalytic converter on your Toyota Camry.

The catalytic converter may be bolted or welded on depending on the year and make of the vehicle.

A typical catalytic converter is going to be more that $100 dollars

The catalytic converter for your Camrys cost will vary by model year and engine size. But, as a rule catalytic converters are not cheap. They are one of the most stolen items on a vehicle there is. They are almost always more than $100, and can cost several hundred dollars for a large on that sits behind a V8.

Since it often requires welding to replace the catalytic converter, it’ll often mean a trip to the exhaust shop. Later model vehicles can cost over $1000, when it’s all said and done.

Catalytic converters also have a have a scrap value of up to $250, with the average being closer to $90. Here’s the source on that, if you’d like to check the going rates in the scrap market.

Toyota Camry: Bad Catalytic Converter Symptoms

It is not uncommon for the catalytic converter to fail, as the years and mileage take their toll. They will fail faster if there is an issue with misfiring or a bad air/fuel mixture.

When your Camry has a major engine problem, the check engine light will begin flashing. In most cases, this flashing condition occurs to help try and save the catalytic converter.

Most of the symptoms of a bad catalytic converter have to do with the lack of exhaust flow through the Cat. Once it gets so clogged, your Camry will be barely drivable.

Here are the most common signs of a bad catalytic converter in a Toyota Camry:

MPG Suffers– As the exhaust flow begins to slow, your gas mileage will as well.
Service Engine Soon Light– Any vehicle made in the last 20 years is going to have an onboard OBDII computer. It’ll give you the “trouble code” that you’d need to diagnose and repair your Camry’s emissions system.
Failure to Start– Once the catalytic converter is so clogged, there won’t be enough air flow for your Camry to start.
Darker Exhaust Smoke
Rotten Egg Smell
No Throttle Response at Speed– If your Camry feels like it just won’t go any faster than a certain speed without feeling like it is out of power, that’s a very typical sign that a catalytic converter is failing.

Here’s a pretty good video from Scotty Kilmer on this subject:

Conclusion

If you are having problems with your Camry’s catalytic converter, it is often accompanied by P0420. It can be an expensive repair. If you feel like there is anything that you can add to the discussion, please leave a comment below. Good luck fixing your issue!

What does a catalytic converter look like on a Toyota Camry?

The catalytic converter looks similar to a muffler. It is typically a stainless steel housing with a ceramic honeycomb inside that is full of platinum, palladium and rhodium. These elements help clean up harmful exhaust gases that otherwise would be expelled from the tail pipe.

Where is the catalytic converter on a Toyota?

In a Prius (and other cars), the catalytic converter is located underneath the car near the exhaust pipe. They are fairly easy to take off a car, which also makes them a target for criminals.

How many catalytic converters does a Camry have?

Camrys made after the year 2000 will likely have two catalytic converters whether they have a four- or six-cylinder engine. Typically, the front converter is much less expensive to replace. Earlier-model Camrys from the 1990s and before may have only one converter, depending on the model.

Where is a catalytic converter located?

A catalytic converter is found underneath your car attached to the exhaust pipe with bolts. It's a vital element of your car's exhaust system because they reduce emissions of harmful compounds found in car exhaust.