2002 Dodge caravan what temp. Dose the catalytic converter run at is 425 to hot?

I hope you paid less the a hundred bucks for this car because you're only going to get a couple hundred form the salvage yard when you drop it off there..... Don't bother to research temperatures, your catalytic converter is just clogged and needs to be replaced..... The rusted out cold/freeze plugs should have been a warning sign not to involve yourself with this car.

Normal operating temperature for the engine is 195°F. That's what you should be concerned about. The catalytic converter will overheat if the engine is misfiring, leaking coolant internally, or burning oil. When that happens the "brick" inside the converter melts and the converter becomes clogged. You can have a shop do an exhaust system back pressure test to determine if the exhaust system is restricted. This is done by removing one of the upstream oxygen sensors and inserting a pressure gauge in the oxygen sensor hole. If the exhaust system is restricted and isn't visibly damaged or crushed the catalytic converter or muffler are usually the cause. Personally, I wouldn't put too much money in a 20 year old Dodge. Drive it until it quits. Hope that helps! Jim