Ford Windstar Catalytic Converter Scrap Price – How Much Can You Trade?

All modern cars have catalytic converters, and so does your Ford Windstar. These auto parts are designed to help reduce the toxic emissions from the internal combustion engine. You may decide to replace your stock catalytic converters with aftermarket ones to maximize performance and minimize fuel consumption. Sometimes the catalytic converter or simply cat may break down requiring a replacement. 

Either way, what do you do with your old cat? Do you leave it at the auto shop where you had taken your car for repair? Of course, no! Your Ford Windstar catalytic converter has a scrap price, and you can make some quick money from it. 

But, how much can you trade?

What Is Inside A Catalytic Converter?

Catalytic converters contain rare metals with high economic value. They include rhodium, platinum, and palladium. For this reason, the demand for scrap cats in the metal recycling industry keeps growing. Scrap dealers can make a lot of money when they successfully recover these metals.

The market value for these valuable metals is always on the rise. The value of platinum, rhodium, and palladium was worth about $33, $548, and $75 per one gram, respectively, as of February 2022. The recoverable platinum and palladium amounts can be anywhere from 3 to 7 grams, depending on the size of the engine. Similarly, a scrap dealer can recover up to 2 grams of rhodium from your Windstar catalytic converter. Now you can see why these auto parts have one of the highest scrap prices. 

It’s for this reason that cats theft is increasing. A thief can make hundreds of dollars by stealing your cat. Unfortunately, it can take a couple of minutes to cut a converter out of your Windstar.

How Much For Your Old Ford Windstar Cat?

There are several factors determining the actual scrap price. They include the current market price of the precious metals inside the cat, its condition, model year, and engine size. Your cat’s honeycomb should be in tack and nothing missing for you to enjoy the best price.

Ford Windstar was in production from 1995 to 2003. The price of a catalytic converter of the model year 1998 will definitely be different from that of 2001. But, the scrap price of your Ford cat will range from $90 to $350. 

You may now be wondering why this price is quite low considering how precious the inside content is. But remember there are also many factors to put into consideration. For example, the scrap dealer needs to recover the precious metals inside the honeycomb. That takes a lot of time and effort. 

Also, think about the processing time and the profit of the scrap dealer, among other factors. All these things will make your cat scrap price drop to the range we’ve mentioned above. 

Where And How To Sell Your Ford Windstar Cat?

It’s easy to sell a catalytic converter. First, you need to find a suitable buyer. You can sell your Windstar cat at your local auto shop or scrap yard. 

However, it’s a bad idea to sell it at an auto shop. That’s because auto shops will be more concerned about the cat's condition. In that case, you’re likely to get a low price for it. The best place to sell your catalytic converter is at a scrapyard. 

Unlike auto shops, scrap yards care more about the value of the content inside. Therefore, they will purchase the component based on the current market value. You need to know that different scrap yards can buy cats at different prices. 

You first need to identify the serial number of your catalytic converter. Usually, this number is available on the surface of the cat together with other information such as the manufacturer's logo. Next, follow these steps:

• Take a clear picture of your converter from the overhead and the serial number
• Send the picture to the scrapyard or other buyer
• Wait for your quote (usually in one business day)
• Ship the item to the company if you’re happy with the quote

Note: You may want to compare prices from different buyers and choose the one that offers the highest quote. 

Ford Windstar: Catalytic Converter Location

The cat location on your Ford Windstar will depend on its engine size and the model year. But, it’s easy to locate it as the cat itself is a component of the vehicle’s exhaust system. The cat is located exactly somewhere between the intake manifolds and the tailpipe. 

Usually, you’ll find a catalytic converter with an oxygen sensor before it and a heat shield around it. The cat will also be situated before the muffler, and you, therefore, shouldn’t get confused. Its installation may be through welding or bolts. That depends on the vehicle's production year. 

Number Of Cats in Your Ford Windstar

Most cars come with one exhaust system, hence, one catalytic converter. Vehicles with dual exhaust systems will have two converters. Your Ford Windstar may be having one or two cats depending on the model year. For instance, the 1998 Ford Windstar features a dual exhaust. Thus it includes two catalytic converters, one for each exhaust. A vehicle will most likely have a dual exhaust if its engine size is V6 or bigger. Thereby, the car will include two cats. 

Ford Windstar Cat Replacement Cost

Cat replacement is one of the most expensive auto repairs that you can do. You can expect to spend over $1,800 on parts alone and up to $300 on labor. In general, your Ford Windstar catalytic converter replacement price can be anywhere from $2,000 to $2,500. This price may vary from one auto shop or mechanic to another.

How Many Miles Can Ford Windstar Cat Last?

A catalytic converter is an expensive auto part and it should last the entire life of your vehicle. Averagely, your Ford Windstar Cat is designed to serve you for about 150,000 miles. In other words, your converter can last 10 or more years (assuming that the average mileage of your vehicle is 15,000 miles per year).

However, like any other auto part, it can become ineffective or break down requiring a replacement before the end of its lifespan. Some of the things that can make it malfunction are physical damages, clogging, and contamination with engine coolant or oil. 

There are ways to make your converter last as long as possible. Check some expert tips for you below. 

How to Increase Mileage of Your Ford Windstar Cat

Tip #1: Avoid Exhaust Paste (Exhaust Cement) - People commonly use exhaust paste to provide joints with a gas-tight seal when fitting replacement catalytic converters. But, this cement doesn’t always do the magic. That’s because when it hardens, it breaks off in chunks, damaging the monolith or even clogging it.

Tip #2: Use the Right Fuel – This sounds obvious, but unfortunately, many people make this mistake. Before using a fuel additive, ensure you first read the instructions. That should help you know that it’s suitable for use with your Windstar catalytic converter. You can even contact the additive manufacturer to clear any doubts. 

Tip #3: Avoid Tow Starting Your Car – You should never try to tow or bump-start your vehicle. That causes the engine to inject unburned fuel into the cat. That makes the monolith overheat and melt. 

Tip #4: Don’t Overload Your Windstar – You should also avoid towing anything too heavy for your car to put up with. For instance, an overloaded caravan is likely to push a vehicle along when traveling downhill. That injects unburned fuel into the catalytic converter, causing the monolith to overheat and meltdown.

Tip #5: Practice Car over Speed Bumps – Avoid any chances of physical damage on your cat. Drive slowly and carefully on bumpy roads and over-speed bumps to reduce the likelihood of the catalytic converter being grounded.  

Tip #6: Take Your Windstar for Regular Servicing – Ensure you have your car serviced regularly. Make sure that the engine, in particular, is running optimally. An improperly tuned engine can reduce the efficiency of the monolith or cause it to stop working entirely. 

Conclusion

A catalytic converter is a critical component of a car. All modern cars have it, and your Ford Windstar isn’t different. The average lifespan of a typical cat is up to 10 years or about 150,000 miles. You may need to replace your catalytic converter for one reason or another. When that happens, you can sell your old cat as scrap.

Ford Windstar catalytic converter scrap price falls between $90 and $350 in the open market. Take your time to find a reputable buyer for your catalytic converter. Compare quotes from different buyers to make the best decision.