Catalytic Converter Replacement in Wadsworth, OH
A P0420 code or a failed emissions test usually points at the converter — but not always, and not on its own. We find out what killed the first one before we sell you a second.
218 S Lyman St, Wadsworth, OH 44281 Mon–Fri 10–5:30 · Sat 10–2 Family owned since 2015
Why We Diagnose Before We Quote
A catalytic converter does not wear out on a healthy engine. It gets poisoned or melted by something upstream: a misfire dumping raw fuel into it, an oxygen sensor reading wrong and making the engine run rich, or oil and coolant getting past worn seals.
Fit a new converter without fixing that and you have bought a very expensive part a second time, usually within a year. That is why the first thing we do is read the live data and the freeze-frame from the code, not reach for a converter.
Sometimes the answer is that the converter is fine and a $60 oxygen sensor was lying about it. We would rather tell you that than take the bigger job.
P0420 and What It Really Means
P0420 is “catalyst system efficiency below threshold” — the computer comparing the oxygen sensor before the converter with the one after it. If the two look too similar, the converter is not doing its job.
But a lazy downstream sensor produces the identical code, and so does an exhaust leak ahead of the sensor letting fresh air in. All three set P0420. Only one of them costs $349.99 to fix.
Related codes we see with it: P0430 (the same fault on the other bank of a V6 or V8), P0171 running lean, and the P030x misfire codes. A misfire alongside P0420 almost always means the misfire came first.
Universal vs Direct-Fit
A universal converter is welded into your existing pipework and is the cheaper route — that is the $349.99 starting point. It is a proper repair, not a bodge, and it is what most of our customers take.
A direct-fit converter bolts to the factory flanges and looks stock. It costs more and it is the right call on a newer vehicle, on anything still under warranty elsewhere, or where the original assembly includes the flex joint and sensor bungs.
We stock both — see catalytic converters. We will tell you which your vehicle can legally take, because the rules differ and a converter that is wrong for the vehicle will not get it through a test.
Pricing
Starting rates for most cars. The exact number comes off your vehicle, not off this page.
| Service | Starting Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Catalytic Converter | $349.99 | Universal fit, welded in |
| Direct-Fit Converter | Call for quote | Bolt-in, vehicle specific |
| Diagnosis | Call for quote | Codes, live data, upstream check |
Prices are starting rates and may vary by vehicle. Call (330) 485-6823 for an exact quote, or see the full list on our service page.
Shop the parts we fit:
Hours & Directions
We are on S Lyman St just south of downtown Wadsworth, a few minutes from the Route 57 and Route 224 interchange.
218 S Lyman St
Wadsworth, OH 44281
(330) 485-6823
| Monday | 10:00 am – 5:30 pm |
| Tuesday | 10:00 am – 5:30 pm |
| Wednesday | 10:00 am – 5:30 pm |
| Thursday | 10:00 am – 5:30 pm |
| Friday | 10:00 am – 5:30 pm |
| Saturday | 10:00 am – 2:00 pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
The building is the brick shop signed Modern Day Motors — same location. Get driving directions.
Where Our Customers Drive In From
We are a Wadsworth shop, and most of our customers are inside twenty minutes.
Other work we do:
Outside these towns, or shipping a part to your own mechanic? We ship nationwide — browse the store or get in touch.
Questions We Get Asked
Can I just clean the converter instead?
Sometimes, and it is worth trying first on a marginal one — a fuel-system and converter cleaner run through a nearly-full tank can drop a borderline reading back under threshold. See converter cleaners. On a converter that is physically melted or plugged, no cleaner will touch it.
How do I know if it is plugged rather than just inefficient?
A plugged converter feels like the engine has lost its top end — it pulls fine from a stop and then runs out of breath, and it can get hot enough to glow. That is a different symptom from a P0420 light on a car that drives normally.
Will a new converter clear the light straight away?
Not instantly. The computer has to run its readiness monitors over a drive cycle or two before it will confirm the repair, which is also why a car repaired this morning is not always ready to test this afternoon.
Is my vehicle's converter covered by a federal warranty?
On some vehicles the emissions warranty runs longer than the general one. It is worth a call to a dealer with your VIN before you pay for the job — if it is covered, that is the cheaper answer and we will tell you to take it.
Call for a Quote
Free exhaust inspection, and a straight answer about what your vehicle actually needs.
