Heat shield for catalytic converter... needed?

[radioouman]

I recently had to replace the catalytic converter in my car (2002 Saturn L100) and the replacement has a heat shield over the top and around the bottom that rattles. It is tack welded on the sides but not the top or bottom. The old cat didn't have a heat shield anywhere, and the heat shields on the car are in perfect condition. Is there any reason not to cut these heat shields off? (I tried bending them away from the cat with a long screw driver and that lasted for a few days, but I think that the heating/cooling cycles that a cat goes through will never keep these sheilds from rattling against the cat.)

 

[Vette73]

Try and tighten it up again or ask someone to weld it correct.

But most are to keep things from gettign to hot and starting a fire like grass, road trash, etc... So many drive fine without them, but I have seen some smolder and almost catch fire as well.

 

[Imported]

My last car, the heat shield rattled to no end so I took it off.. Never had a problem with it missing.

 

[radioouman]

Try and tighten it up again or ask someone to weld it correct.

But most are to keep things from gettign to hot and starting a fire like grass, road trash, etc... So many drive fine without them, but I have seen some smolder and almost catch fire as well.

The heat shield is not going to keep the catalytic converter from catching fire. It is not a heat sink to dissipate heat. It is to prevent grass from touching it and catching fire.

I just wonder why the OEM cat didn't have a heat shield while the replacement does?

 

[JulesMaximus]

Those things do get very hot. If the car came with a heat shield, I would make sure it is there.

 

[Raduque]

Those things do get very hot. If the car came with a heat shield, I would make sure it is there.

It doesn't really get any hotter than the rest of the exhaust. If a heat shield rattling bothers you, take it off (or have it welded on better). Just be careful not to park where it could start a fire (piled of leaves, tall grass, etc), and be sure no wires would be directly touching it if the cat was removed.

 

[proevofanatik]

i also have the same problem with my cat heatshield on my citroen picasso. but at 1st i thought it was the heat shield for the steering ram. i took off the steering one and cant really be bothered putting it back on. is it ok to keep it off? also on my cat heat shield could i pack a piece of metal in between the cat and shield to keep it tight and stop it squeaking and rattling as a quick fix for now?