What are potential issues with a catalytic converter?
What Are Potential Issues With a Catalytic Converter? Catalytic converters often last for 10 years or more, but they can become contaminated, clogged, overheated or physically damaged — leading to sluggish engine performance and, eventually, engine shutdown.
What does a bad catalytic converter smell like?
A properly working catalytic converter will convert hydrogen sulfide into odorless sulfur dioxide. When failing, you may notice a sulfuric, rotten egg-like smell coming from the exhaust. Unburnt fuel left in the exhaust by the bad catalytic converter produces the odor, and may even cause dark exhaust smoke. 4.
Can a lazy oxygen sensor cause a catalytic converter problem?
You may need to fix other engine problems in order to solve your catalytic converter problem. A lazy oxygen sensor might falsely indicate a catalytic converter problem, yet not set a DTC for itself. A technician can determine if the sensor is responding as it should.
How does a catalytic converter work on an engine?
Your exhaust sounds better. The catalytic converter works like a muffler on the average vehicle. Its job is to reduce the impact of the gases emerging from the engine due to the combustion and burning of fuel. This action muffles the sound of your exhaust in combination with the muffler on your vehicle.
What does a bad catalytic converter do?
8 Signs of a bad catalytic converter It will be hard to start your vehicle. Your vehicles fuel efficiency will drop drastically. The check engine light will illuminate. The vehicle will fail the emission test. It will be hard to accelerate. You you will smell a rotten-egg-like smell. A cloud of black smoke will come out of your vehicle’s tail top.
What happens when a catalytic converter fails?
Symptoms of a Bad or Failing Catalytic Converter Reduced Engine Performance. One of the first symptoms commonly associated with a bad or failing catalytic converter is a reduction in engine performance. Rattling Noise. Rattling noises from under the vehicle are another symptom of a bad or failing catalytic converter. Sulfur Smell from Exhaust. Check Engine Light Comes On. Failed Emissions Test.
Why is a catalytic converter fails?
Heat can be damaging to almost any engine component, so it’s no surprise that it’s one of the most common causes of catalytic converter failure. Engine exhaust is already quite hot, so when you add in a contaminant like unburned fuel, which can find its way into the exhaust system when your motor is running too rich, you compound the effect, as that fuel typically ends up burning inside the converter itself.
What is the function of a catalytic converter?
- Burn Unbruned Exhaust Gases. The main function of a catalytic converter is to burn unburned exhaust gases that exit a vehicle’s engine.
- Impede Normal Exhaust Flow.
- Reduce Hydrocarbon Exhaust Emissions.
- Mandate Unleaded Gasoline Use.
- Reduce Carbon Monoxide Emissions.