1. Prepare the vehicle. Park the vehicle on a level surface and allow the engine to cool down completely. Engage the parking brake and chock the wheels to prevent the vehicle from moving.
2. Locate the catalytic converter. The catalytic converter is usually located under the car, near the exhaust manifold. It's a cylindrical-shaped object with two pipes coming out of it.
3. Remove the oxygen sensors. The oxygen sensors are located on the exhaust pipe before and after the catalytic converter. Use a wrench to loosen the oxygen sensor bolts and remove the sensors. Be careful not to damage the oxygen sensor threads.
4. Spray the catalytic converter with a cleaning solution. There are several commercial catalytic converter cleaning solutions available, or you can make your own by mixing equal parts of water and vinegar. Spray the solution liberally into the catalytic converter through the oxygen sensor ports.
5. Let the solution sit for several minutes. Allow the cleaning solution to sit in the catalytic converter for at least 15 minutes. This will give the solution time to break down the deposits inside the converter.
6. Rinse the catalytic converter with water. Use a garden hose to rinse the catalytic converter thoroughly with water. Make sure to rinse out all of the cleaning solution.
7. Reinstall the oxygen sensors. Reinstall the oxygen sensors by tightening the oxygen sensor bolts.
8. Start the vehicle and let it run for several minutes. This will help to clear any remaining cleaning solution from the catalytic converter.
Cleaning the catalytic converter while it's still on the car can be effective in removing light deposits. However, if the catalytic converter is heavily clogged, it may be necessary to remove it for cleaning or replacement.
