Operation CHARM: Car repair manuals for everyone.

Technician Safety Information


CATALYTIC CONVERTER OVERHEATING

Use extreme caution when working under a car that has a hot exhaust. Touching the catalytic converter or the exhaust pipe near the converter can cause severe burns, and could possibly ignite clothing, shop rags, or hair. Tests involving shorting the ignition to individual cylinders (a cylinder balance test for example) should be kept as brief as possible, with ample time given between steps to allow the catalytic converter to cool down before working on or around the exhaust system.