Does a catalytic converter reduce smog?
Hailed as a miracle by Detroit auto makers even today, catalytic converters have been reducing smog for 20 years. The converters break down compounds of nitrogen and oxygen from car exhaust that can combine with hydrocarbons, also from cars, and be cooked by sunlight into smog.
What happens if your catalytic converter fails the smog test?
Should your vehicle fail the smog test the CAT may be suspect. A vehicle’s catalytic converter usually becomes plugged after a material breakdown within it normally due high exhaust temperatures and rich fuel. After first inspecting the fuel and ignition systems, an intrusive CAT test and Back Pressure/Vacuum test may be performed.
Can you let a smog monitor go but not the cat?
The smog guy (California) says that he can let another monitor go but not the cat; it costs him too many points. Is this a converter in the early stages of failure (150,000 miles; some oil consumption)?
What happens if you run your catalytic converter too much?
The inner fiber of your catalytic converter may be burned through if the car engine is running or burning oil too much. It doesn’t matter if you still drive your car as far as you want, but you will observe a smell and some smoke. Most of problems related to catalytic converter do not affect the function of your vehicle.
What happens when your car fails a smog test?
When your car gets a smog test, one portion of the test involves connecting the smog test machine to the car’s computer and checking if there are any DTC’s, and also checking to see if the monitors are ready. If they are not, the vehicle fails the test, because there may be problems in the system that can’t be reported by the computer.
The smog guy (California) says that he can let another monitor go but not the cat; it costs him too many points. Is this a converter in the early stages of failure (150,000 miles; some oil consumption)?
When your car gets a smog test, one portion of the test involves connecting the smog test machine to the car’s computer and checking if there are any DTC’s, and also checking to see if the monitors are ready. If they are not, the vehicle fails the test, because there may be problems in the system that can’t be reported by the computer.
Can a bad catalytic converter lead to engine failure?
A bad or clogged catalytic converter can ultimately lead to engine failure, so it’s important to address the issue promptly. However, having catalytic converter problems doesn’t necessarily mean that the converter has to be replaced.
Can a car be impounded without a catalytic converter?
A failure may cause your vehicle to be impounded too. 7. You will lose your low-end torque without a catalytic converter. The catalytic converters in the past were very restrictive because the exhaust coming from the combustion process was extremely toxic.