5 Symptoms of a Bad Catalytic Converter
Catalytic converters (not “Cadillac catalytic converters”) play a vital role in reducing air pollution. They cut the amount of nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons, and carbon monoxide your car emits. Without a catalytic converter, your vehicle would emit high amounts of all three chemicals.
The smog in crowded cities is already thick enough without adding these complications. What’s more, the uncontrolled release of the three gases can have serious environmental effects. Carbon monoxide can poison us. Nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons, when released, combine with moisture to form acid rain. Our catalytic converters are a vital part of keeping our homes free of pollution and our safety on the roads.
How a catalyst works
It’s simple how it works: it’s a big metal box that the manufacturer puts under your car. It has two pipes coming out of it, an inlet and an outlet.
The input is connected to the engine. The smoke produced by the engine is directed to the intake and flows over the catalytic converter in the main tank. A chemical reaction takes place, binding harmful compounds and purifying the air.
The output is used after the steam flows over the catalyst. Because the exhaust gases are no longer dangerous, they are directed into the exhaust through the outlet. Over time, the catalytic converter becomes less efficient or fails, requiring replacement of the entire system.
Symptoms of a Broken or Clogged Catalytic Converter
The catalytic converter is a vital component of your vehicle’s exhaust system. You should be on the lookout for signs that indicate a broken or clogged catalytic converter. Below are the 5 most common signs of a bad catalytic converter:
1) Sluggish engine performance
Your car won’t stall, but it won’t run at peak efficiency either. If you continue to ignore the problem, your car will eventually break down.
This makes it difficult for your engine to operate at peak efficiency. You’ll still be able to accelerate, but you’ll be sluggish. The first step is to see if you can clear the partial blockage with a good catalytic converter cleaner. You should always start with the quickest and cheapest solution.
2) Rattling noises under the vehicle
If you hear a rattling noise under your car, it could be that some of the honeycomb material in your catalytic converter has broken off. This can cause it to come into contact with the inside of the catalytic converter while driving or simply with the flow of exhaust gases.
The noise is often loudest when you first start your car and can get worse as more parts break down. Replace your catalytic converter as soon as possible before these chunks get into your muffler and cause a complete blockage.
3) Black smoke from the exhaust
It’s a sure sign that something is wrong and may also alert road authorities to your car’s condition. If you have black smoke coming from the exhaust, it’s safer not to drive your car until it’s repaired by a mechanic.
4) A distinctive sulfur smell
You know the smell of rotten eggs? That’s the smell we’re talking about here. A properly functioning catalytic converter converts smelly sulfides into odorless sulfur dioxide. If the catalyst is not working properly, this chemical conversion does not occur.
5) Heat Builds Up Under the Car
Gases coming out of the engine are very hot. After a long drive, you may notice excess heat right outside the door and even inside the car. The only way to know for sure if you have a catalytic converter problem is to take your car to a repair shop. A standard catalytic converter system should last at least 8 years or about 80,000 miles. If you take good care of your car, you can easily extend this life to 10 years or more.
Don’t skip minor or major maintenance.
1. Regularly check for codes when the check engine light comes on so you can identify the problem right away.
2. Stay away from clogged fuel or air filters as they can cause big problems.
