The exhaust system of a vehicle is a complex system, but, as you can imagine, it’s crucial. It funnels harmful emissions away from the driver and passengers while simultaneously altering fumes to be safer to release into the environment. At the core of an exhaust system is the catalytic converter, which is responsible for converting the fumes.
Using a chamber to alter the gasses, the catalytic converter converts carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O). While made to last a lifetime, catalytic converters can break down because of unattended repair issues. You may be dealing with a dysfunctional catalytic converter, which you’ll want to fix right away. A bad catalytic converter results in worse air pollution, poor vehicle mileage, and damage to the rest of the exhaust system.
In this article, Performance Muffler offers some common symptoms of a bad catalytic converter and thus a dysfunctional exhaust system. Of course, our expert team is always eager 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, that’s considered an engine misfire. And if your engine ever misfires, that often is a sign of a bad catalytic converter. Catalytic converters can overheat and not complete the combustion process, resulting in a misfire. If this happens, you’ll want to promptly get your catalytic converter and exhaust system inspected.
As you can expect, an engine misfire is not how a vehicle is supposed to operate. So, engine misfires are taxing on an engine. These can lead to issues down the road if they continue to occur.
Poor Odor from the Exhaust
Ideally, you should never smell much, if anything, coming from your car. However, a common bad odor that your car will sometimes give off is a rotten egg odor from the exhaust. This is a sign the internal components of the exhaust are awry, specifically the catalytic converter. Fuel contains sulfate, which smells somewhat like rotten eggs, and it’s the converter’s role to convert sulfate to an odorless gas.
Check Engine Light Is On
While the check engine light can certainly mean a number of things, often it can be an internal issue. This can be a sign that the catalytic converter is not working properly. Nevertheless, it is always best practice to get your vehicle looked at as soon as possible when your check engine light comes on.
Trouble Starting the Vehicle
A clogged exhaust system leads to problems starting your vehicle. And a clogged exhaust system includes a clogged catalytic converter which would then not properly convert toxic gases to safer ones. This leads to the engine stalling, sputtering, or starting more slowly. If you have trouble with this, get your exhaust system inspected.
Less Fuel Efficiency
Your exhaust system contributes to better gas mileage since it contributes to better performance. When your catalytic converter is clogged or damaged, it will cause the engine to burn more fuel than normal. So, your vehicle won’t perform as well, requiring more fuel to operate.
Contact Us for a Free Quote to Repair or Replace Your Exhaust
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 get it back to optimal performance.
Other Catalytic Converter Info to Know
There can be many elements to fully understanding your vehicle, including your exhaust system and catalytic converter. That’s why we frequently discuss these topics in our blog. We encourage you to explore to learn about high flow catalytic converter and horsepower, catalytic converter costs, cat-back exhaust systems, and much more. Performance Muffler has been the Phoenix area’s top, trusted custom car shop since 2007.