You probably know that there are several filters installed on your vehicle that are designed to remove impurities from various automotive systems. But did you know that your Ford Focus catalytic converter is a filter too? It is, indeed; the catalytic converter is a honeycomb filter located in an enlarged section of your exhaust pipe. However, your Focus catalytic converter has a highly specialized task to perform--it filters out pollutants from your exhaust, which is difficult considering your exhaust is in gaseous form.

Since the catalytic converter can’t simply pass the exhaust through a screen and “catch” impurities, it actually has to change the molecular composition of the exhaust gases. Your Ford Focus catalytic converter accomplishes this using small amounts of precious metals--platinum, palladium, and rhodium--embedded in the walls of the filter.

The exhaust coming from your cylinders contains nitrogen oxide, hydrocarbons, and carbon monoxide. When these harmful substances pass through your Focus catalytic converter, they react with the metals and the molecules are broken down, and then put back together to form different substances: carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and water vapor. This environmentally safe exhaust is then passed out through your tailpipe. For this reason, it can be difficult to tell when your Ford Focus catalytic converter is not working right, since you cannot see the difference in the exhaust gas. Some of the signs of a faulty catalytic converter include foul smelling exhaust smoke, a decrease in fuel efficiency, and rough engine running.Though catalytic converters can run on the expensive side because of the precious metals they contain, you will not pay as much for a replacement Focus catalytic converter when you purchase one from our extensive online catalogue.