Clifton Park Auto Repair

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What are the Symptoms of a Bad Catalytic Converter?

A catalytic converter is an essential part of your car's exhaust system. It converts harmful gases such as nitrogen oxide and unburned gases produced by the engine into harmless gases. It, therefore, offers defense against toxic gases from vehicles.

When they become clogged, overheated, contaminated, or physically damaged, the car engine performance deteriorates and eventually shuts down. Being conversant with the bad catalytic converter's signs might help you quickly spot them and take the car to a servicing garage. Here are some critical bad catalytic converter symptoms.

Increased Fuel Consumption

When there's a blockage in your car's catalytic converter, the lower airflow forces your car to burn excessive amounts of fuel than needed. When the exhaust flow isn't working correctly, you'll have to step on the gas pedal many times since it affects acceleration. As a result, the engine might inject extra fuel into the cylinders, and you'll have more fuel mixture than the required amount. You'll incur extra fuel costs when using a bad catalytic converter.

Increased Emissions

The converter is responsible for reducing gaseous emissions. Abnormally high emissions indicate a bad catalytic converter. If you notice increased emissions, you should have the issue fixed by an experienced mechanic before the exhaust system is damaged.

Rattling Sounds

Unfamiliar noises originating from your vehicle could be indicating an issue with the internal components. A bad catalytic converter may damage the honeycomb mesh, which then causes the vehicle to produce rattling sounds, especially when turning the vehicle. When your vehicle starts producing weird sounds, you should consider consulting with a mechanic to inspect and fix the issue.

Rotten Egg Smell

Like the rattling sounds, foul odors coming from your vehicle indicate problems in its internal parts. The catalytic converter eliminates the sulfate component present in the fuel, which causes the rotten egg smell. If the catalytic converter is not functioning correctly, it fails to remove the sulfate component, hence the nasty smell.

To wrap it up

Whenever you experience the above problems, you should consider getting a professional mechanic to check, fix, or replace the catalytic converter. Not to worry, though; if you need catalytic converter repair, give our auto repair shop a call today!

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