Nissan Versa Catalytic Converter Scrap Price – How Can You Sell It?

Nissan is known for making good vehicles that are fun to drive. But unfortunately, these vehicles are usually not fun to repair. A lot of the latest Nissan models have a big bunch of problems and common issues causing big investments or just some headache connected with warranty repair. But, in this article, we'll mainly talk about one problem - catalytic converter.

Today, we are going to discuss the opportunity to sell an old catalytic converter from your Nissan Versa. We'll look at types, location, prices, ways to sell, etc. Also, we'll consider which mileage is OK for a cat converter issue and when you should get ready for some investment. We'll also look at how you can prolong the life of your catalytic converter in a Versa.

Here's what we are going to talk about:

1. Nissan Versa catalytic converter type and location.
2. How much will buyers pay for the Versa cat converter?
3. What's the longevity of the OEM Versa converter?
4. Why are converters clogged and damaged in your Versa?
5. How can you sell a Nissan Versa cat at a better price?

Let's get started!

Nissan Versa cat converter types and some features

Nissan has offered three generations of the Versa in America since 2006. The newest generation started selling in 2019 and it is the most popular among buyers. This is a budget-friendly vehicle that looks pretty good and offers simple but practical equipment. The vehicle is powered now by the 1.6-liter engine (basically, the same as before) and a manual gearbox or the CVT.

The 1.6-liter gasoline engine is not big at all, so it doesn't need a huge catalytic converter. But anyway, the Versa exhaust system contains one pre-cat and one main cat. The pre-cat is placed closer to the exhaust manifold, right near the engine. While the main cat is located closer to the muffler.

Here are some things you should know:

• not all OEM Nissan catalytic converters have serial numbers for easy identification;
• some of them will not even have the Nissan logo to show they are original Nissan parts;
• the converters are small, so you should look at the "small foreign cat" category when searching for the price;
• these cats are pretty durable because the amount of gasses that come through them is not that big;
• also, the main cat is placed far away from the engine and it doesn't overheat much;
• if the cats are broken or clogged, you will have to replace them which is usually done together with the piece of the exhaust pipe.

OK, so your task now is to ensure that the Nissan Versa catalytic converter you want to sell is original. Unfortunately, aftermarket cat converters are not valued much and are cheap. A scrapyard will give you $10 to $20 for a converter.

Once you know you have an original converter, you may start searching for a way to sell it. But if it's an aftermarket part, just go to one of the local scrapyards and forget about getting more money. Recycling companies usually don't buy aftermarket cats because it's a big risk and they usually cost less than their shipping.

How long do Versa converters live?

A catalytic converter can survive for about 100,000 miles, on average. After that, they start disturbing your engine, taking its power down, sending a check engine light on your dash, etc. Driving your car with a broken or clogged converter is relatively safe but you will not get any pleasure.

So, Nissan Versa cats will live about an average life of a catalytic converter, maybe even more, thanks to their optimal location and small engine. After 100,000 miles it's worth checking the converter and looking at its condition. If everything is OK, there is no need to spend money on replacement.

If it's obvious that the converter is clogged, the best way to deal with the problem is to buy another OEM converter from a Nissan dealer. But unfortunately, it will not be a cheap purchase.

How much can you get for a Nissan Versa cat converter?

The price of the catalytic converter taken from your Nissan Versa may be different according to a couple of factors.

The short answer: the scrap price of a Nissan Versa catalytic converter should be about $100 for the main cat and about $40 to $60 for the pre-cat.

Now, let's see what can change this price. First of all, you should understand that these prices are only possible if you perfectly know that the converter is original. No aftermarket cat is going to cost over $20.

Here are some of the main factors that may change the price of the cat:

• the year and model of your Nissan Versa - different types of cats were used;
• the condition of the cat and the serial number or at least the Nissan logo on its body;
• the current prices of rhodium, platinum, and palladium;
• the current average prices of used cats on the market;
• the place or the person who is going to buy your catalytic converters.

Well, it's pretty important that you should find a better buyer. If you just sell the catalytic converter to a scrapyard near you, you may get twice less money than if you find a proper recycling company. Let's look at the possible buyers of your cat converter.

Here's who can buy your Nissan Versa used cat

Scrapyards. We wouldn't rely on them, although it's the most popular place where people in America sell their old catalytic converters. They usually offer really bad prices because they actually don't recycle the cats, they resell them.

Exhaust shops. A mechanic who makes some work for you can actually buy out the converters and offer you a certain discount. But the problem is that this discount is not going to be big.

Private buyers. Some people buy cats for private recycling. They have their own workshops with some equipment that is half-legal or illegal and they sell precious metals on the black market. You can get a better price, but for us, it's not an option because it's not completely legal.

Resellers and middlemen. Basically, it's the same as selling your catalytic converter to a scrapyard. You just get less money than you could get if you just followed our advice.

Recycling companies. This is what we recommend. First of all, these companies are legal, pay taxes, and offer the best prices. Also, they have convenient websites where you can quote.

How to get the best price for a Nissan Versa catalytic converter?

It's not hard. You will need to take the catalytic converter off the car without damaging it. Then, you will have to take some pictures. Be careful - make sure that the pictures show the actual condition of the cat and you can see the serial number on them.

After that, you should find as many websites of recycling companies that buy out cat converters as you can. We would go with 3 to 5 websites. Make sure these websites allow you to quote.

In the next step, you should quote. Just follow the recommendations on each website and don't forget to attach the pictures you've taken before.

After that, you will just have to wait for a day or two. The companies will answer and show their price offers. Your task is to choose the company offering you the best price for the Nissan Versa catalytic converter.

How to use a catalytic converter longer?

There are a couple of reasons why a catalytic converter can be clogged or destroyed in your Nissan Versa. Here are the most important ones:

1. Head gasket problems. When the gasket allows coolant and oil to get into the combustion chamber, these materials may get to the cat and clog it.
2. High temperatures. Engine overheating and the resulting flame in the converter can be the reasons for the fast death of the converter.
3. Ignition failures. If ignition fails to ignite gasoline, it can get to the exhaust system and burn there. This will increase the temperature in your catalytic converter.
4. Poor fuel. Bad gasoline doesn't burn entirely in the combustion chamber. Instead, it comes to the exhaust system and explodes there affecting the catalytic converter.

You can find more problems that can kill the catalytic converter such as physical damage, sharp temperature changes, etc. So, a Versa converter will not live long, anyway. And you will need to replace it or to deal with this problem any other way.

Final words

A Nissan Versa catalytic converter is not the most expensive scrap part you can find among all vehicles. It will cost about $100, on average. But why should you just lose this money or let anyone else earn them? Now you know that you can sell the catalytic converter from a Nissan Versa to a recycling company. This is a relatively easy process that will need just an hour or two of your time.