22
Jan
Step 1 Check your warning lights. Catalytic converters are a very sturdy part of the vehicle and they will usually last for the duration of its life.
And it is the first symptom of the bad catalytic converter symptoms.
If my catalytic converter is bad. 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.
Check Engine Light Comes On. The catalytic converter can overheat and show signs of failing when the engine misfires. And it is the first symptom of the bad catalytic converter symptoms.
Also you will see the similar signs when there is a very rich fuel mixture in the oil tank. Extremely rich fuel mixture causes ignition by making raw fuel entering the converter. If your vehicles catalytic converter is bad the exhaust system will not be able the convert the toxic gases into less-toxic pollutants to be released out.
As a result these gases will be built up causing high pressure on the engine and therefore the engine will start stalling and making it hard to start. Under normal conditions when your catalytic converter is working properly the hydrogen sulfide is converted into odorless sulfur dioxide. A bad catalytic converter will be unable to convert the hydrogen sulfide so it will come out of your exhaust unprocessed smelling like rotten eggs - a very objectionable odor.
If the catalytic converter is getting extremely hot the problem may be due to an engine performance problem such as a misfire causing the converter to overheat. The converter could also be plugged which would also cause it to overheat. Hot floodboards are a safety concern so you should get the problem fixed right away.
Structural damage is a common cause behind a bad converter. You might be able to see a dent tear or other sign of damage on the outside of the converter. If road debris hit the converter and damaged hit the damage will probably allow some of the exhaust gas to go through the exhaust system without being properly filtered by the converter.
If the catalytic converters housing is discolored or warped there may be internal leakage or overheating. A rattling noise when starting the engine might indicate a broken catalyst. Failing the annual or semi-annual emissions test might also be linked to a failed catalytic converter.
These may be signs of a bad catalytic converter. The engine loses power. The engine stalls when idling.
A smell of rotten eggs wafts around the vehicle. You hear a rattling sound coming from underneath the vehicle. Without a catalytic converter on a car the exhaust fumes from an engine would be full of carbon monoxide.
Instead when exhaust emerges from the tailpipe of a car equipped with a catalytic converter the exhaust is primarily composed of carbon dioxide. Step 1 Check your warning lights. These can include carbon monoxide nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons all of which are bad for the environment.
The catalytic converter is a device that is part of your exhaust system. It uses catalysts such as platinum to create a chemical reaction that nullifies these harmful pollutants. Catalytic converters are a very sturdy part of the vehicle and they will usually last for the duration of its life.
For that reason most people are unsure of what to look for when a catalytic converter goes bad even though they have been a vehicle standard for nearly 40 years. While sturdy the catalytic converter can slowly fail over time as the catalyst elements wear out. High mileage is not the only culprit as failure could be due to an improperly operating engine.
A faulty catalytic converter is bad for the environment and in some cases it can cause engine performance problems. That means you should replace a faulty catalytic converter as soon as possible. How to Replace a Catalytic Converter.
You will need a jack and jack stands to replace your cars catalytic converter. If your vehicle has any of these warning signs then your old catalytic converter may need to be replaced. If you have a 1996-or-newer OBDII vehicle a check engine light may indicate a problem with your catalytic converter.
A diagnostic scan tool plugged into the OBDII port under the dash may show a P0420 or P0430 code. The catalytic converter is sensitive to changes in the contents and temperature of the exhaust gases so another possible cause for failure is if the cylinder head gasket is damaged allowing oil or coolant to get into the combustion chamber and be burned in the cylinders. A bad catalytic converter may cause the vehicles engine to stall.
It will usually start without trouble and otherwise seem fine but stall immediately when the gas pedal is pressed. Step 5 Look at the exhaust from your vehicle.