Symptoms of a bad catalytic converter
Exhaust system

Symptoms of a bad catalytic converter

The exhaust system of a car is a complex system, but as you can imagine, it is critical. It diverts harmful emissions away from the driver and passengers while modifying the smoke to make it safer to release into the environment. At the heart of the exhaust system is a catalytic converter, which is responsible for converting the exhaust gases.

Using a gas exchange chamber, the catalytic converter converts carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2ABOUT). Even though catalytic converters are designed to last a lifetime, they can fail due to maintenance-free repair issues. You may be dealing with a non-functioning catalytic converter that you need to fix immediately. A bad catalytic converter leads to more air pollution, lower vehicle mileage, and damage to the rest of the exhaust system.

In this article, Performance Muffler offers some common signs of a faulty catalytic converter and therefore a faulty exhaust system. Of course, our expert team is always available to give you a free quote to repair and improve your vehicle, including our catalytic converter services.

Symptoms of a bad catalytic converter

Engine misfire   

When your car momentarily stumbles or loses speed, it is considered a misfire in the engine. And if your engine ever misfires, it's often a sign of a bad catalytic converter. Catalytic converters can overheat and fail to complete the combustion process, resulting in a misfire. If this happens, you need to urgently check the catalytic converter and exhaust system.

As you might expect, engine misfiring is not how a car is supposed to run. Thus, misfires are a tough test for an engine. This can lead to problems in the future if they continue to occur.

Bad smell from the exhaust

Ideally, you should never smell much, if anything at all, from your car. However, a common bad smell that sometimes comes from your car is the smell of rotten eggs from the exhaust. This is a sign that the internal components of the exhaust system are faulty, especially the catalytic converter. The fuel contains sulfate, which smells like rotten eggs, and the converter's role is to convert the sulfate into an odorless gas.

Check if the engine light is on

While the check engine light can certainly mean several things, it can often be an internal problem. This may be a sign that the catalytic converter is not working properly. However, it's always best to get your car checked out as soon as possible when the check engine light comes on.

Car starting problems

Clogged exhaust system leads to problems with starting the car. And a clogged exhaust system includes a clogged catalytic converter that won't be able to properly convert toxic gases into safer ones. This causes the engine to stall, stall, or start more slowly. If you have problems with this, check your exhaust system.

Less fuel efficiency

Your exhaust system contributes to better fuel economy as it improves performance. When your catalytic converter is clogged or damaged, it will cause your engine to burn more fuel than normal. So your car won't perform as well and will need more fuel to run.

Contact us for a free quote on exhaust system repair or replacement

Performance Muffler is here to help with any service your vehicle may need, especially catalytic converter repairs and replacements. Contact us today for a free quote to improve your vehicle and bring it back to optimal performance.

Other Catalytic Converter Information You Need to Know

There can be many elements to a complete understanding of your vehicle, including your exhaust system and catalytic converter. That's why we often discuss these topics on our blog. We encourage you to explore to learn about high flow and power catalytic converter, catalytic converter cost, Cat-Back exhaust systems and more. Performance Muffler has been the best and most trusted car dealership in Phoenix since 2007.

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