Hello all,
Time to move on from my 2001. 230k+ miles, trans shot. Although I like the truck, just can't justify putting more money into it at this age and mileage.
Posted on CL as parts truck but no takers, so I guess I'll call the boneyard guy. Wisconsin trucks are pretty used up at 23 years. Question is, they all want to know if I have the original cats still in it. I'm assuming not, they don't last that long, or do they. How can I know for sure just from visual without removing them?

Thanks for any input,
Wish your mom a Happy Mother's Day

 

If you still need an answer….

Converters will last as long as the engine has been running properly and well maintained. What eventually causes them to break down is excessively rich conditions and/or oil or coolant contamination that’s been getting into the combustion chamber.

Given the age of the truck, it should be relatively easy to tell if they’ve been replaced. Look for the shell/casing to be less corroded than the pipes or for welds that have been done manually (obviously separate puddles) vs machine (smooth, consistent finish).

 

Considering how old your vehicle is and the rough conditions in Wisconsin, like salt and harsh winters that can cause rust, the original catalytic converters would usually look pretty beat up by now. If they seem newer or less rusty than the rest of the exhaust system, there's a good chance they've been swapped out for new ones.