What happens to a car when the catalytic converter goes bad?
Among the bad symptoms of a compromised catalytic converter are: Sluggish engine performance, Reduced acceleration, Dark exhaust smoke, The smell of sulfur or rotten eggs from the exhaust, Excessive heat under the vehicle, Some of those symptoms can also be caused by other parts of the emissions system, so it’s …
What is the average life of a catalytic converter?
The catalytic converter, which converts harmful emissions into harmless gas, often lasts 10 years or longer and should be replaced only when needed. It can become clogged, physically damaged, or contaminated by oil or engine coolant. It can also overheat.
Can a bad catalytic converter hurt the engine?
The catalytic converter has to convert three harmful compounds in the car exhaust into compounds that will not destroy your car or the environment. Without getting rid of these gasses, your bad catalytic converter can ruin your engine.
How can you tell if your catalytic converter is bad?
A large temperature difference can result from a clogged converter that traps exhaust gasses and makes it less efficient. Engine vacuum: If there is no check engine light on or your vehicle was built before 1996 (pre-OBDII), then an engine vacuum test may be necessary if there are other warning signs.
What is the diagnostic code for a catalytic converter?
An illuminated check engine light or malfunction indicator lamp (CEL or MIL) with a catalytic converter diagnostic trouble code (DTC) is the most common catalytic converter problem indicator.
When to do a vacuum test on a catalytic converter?
Engine vacuum: If there is no check engine light on or your vehicle was built before 1996 (pre-OBDII), then an engine vacuum test may be necessary if there are other warning signs. When the engine is idling, hook up a vacuum gauge to the intake manifold and record the reading.
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.