Did you know that the US automotive repair industry is worth over $93 billion in 2021?
Part of owning a car is realizing that things can and do go wrong. Your catalytic converter is one of your automobile’s most crucial yet vulnerable components.
Knowing when to replace your catalytic converter can save you stress and money in the long run. By learning a few key signs, you’ll be equipped to keep your car from certain failures. Our helpful guide can tell you what to look out for.
Read on for the top signs you need a new catalytic converter.
1. Check Engine Light
The check engine light is one of the leading indicators of a problem with your vehicle.
It can also indicate a faulty catalytic converter. Upon inspection, you will be given a catalytic converter fault code, which can be deciphered using the operating handbook.
The P0420 code is the most common code for a broken catalytic converter.
2. Acceleration Lag
If you experience delays when accelerating or find that your car does not accelerate effectively and loses power when driving uphill, you may have a problem with your catalytic converter.
Check all other parts such as spark plugs, filters, and valves. If everything is functioning normally, your converter is likely at fault.
You can learn more about catalytic converter processing to determine whether your car is worth repairing.
3. Fuel Consumption
One of the signs of a bad catalytic converter is unusually high or low fuel economy.
Improper fuel combustion decreases or increases the vehicle’s overall fuel economy, resulting in higher expenses. The most likely explanation is increased fuel consumption due to your vehicle’s reduced power.
Consider replacing a catalytic converter that is affecting your fuel consumption.
4. Sulfur Smell
When catalytic converters become clogged, this reduces the passage of exhaust gases, causing your car’s engine to run on a rich air-fuel combination.
The burning of this imbalanced mixture emits a rotten egg smell.
The odor smells like burnt sulfur and indicates that your catalytic converter is malfunctioning.
5. Starting Problems
If the catalytic converter becomes blocked, the engine receives an excessive amount of gasoline that it cannot burn.
This surplus gasoline ignites in the exhaust, causing the automobile to struggle to start.
The catalytic converter can also get so congested that the engine cannot get the emissions out of the engine. While the engine will usually start for 2-3 seconds, it will then fail and sputter out.
Does My Catalytic Converter Need Replacing?
So, those are the top 5 indicators your catalytic converter needs replacing.
You can save on diagnostics and investigative mechanic costs by learning to recognize these common signs. Knowing how and when to replace a catalytic converter is necessary for any savvy car owner.
Did you find this article informative? If so, be sure to check out the rest of our blog for everything you need to know about cars, lifestyle, business, and more.
