Patent ID: 8888921

Claim:
A method, comprising the steps of: servicing a catalytic converter while the catalytic converter remains connected to an exhaust system by: forming at least one opening in a lower surface of a body of the catalytic converter for permitting access to a fluid-flow passage that extends through the body of the catalytic converter that contains a catalyst substrate; inserting a cleaning instrument into the at least one opening formed in the lower surface of the body of the catalytic converter; directing a cleaning solution from the cleaning instrument toward the catalyst substrate such that the cleaning solution removes contaminates from the catalyst substrate; and disposing at least one close-out member in the at least one opening formed in the lower surface of the body of the catalytic converter for: fluidly-sealing the at least one opening, wherein the at least one opening formed in the lower surface of the body of the catalytic converter is not a port that supportably-receives an oxygen sensor.