The quick, easy, painless way to get cash for cars and junk cars. No Acceleration. that your catalytic converter is terminal. During the combustion process inside your engine, the sulfur in your gasoline becomes smelly hydrogen sulfide gas after the fuel-air mixture is burned in the cylinders. The catalytic converter changes this into sulfur dioxide, which is odorless. You will need to replace the failing converter and fix the source of this problem before it does damage to your entire exhaust system or emits an illegal amount of emissions into the atmosphere. Your catalytic converter is a key component of your car's emission control system, and so it must be operational to keep your car running right, and also to keep it legal! 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. As the exhaust gases from your engine flow through the catalytic converter, the remaining unburned gases from the combustion process chemically react with the precious metals inside, at a temperature of around 800°F. Oklahoma City You will know immediately, the first time you start your car! However, your car may remain operational. Luckily, the chance of having a problematic catalytic converter is a rare occurrence, but like all things mechanical, there’s always a chance of failure. Depending on the year, make, and model of your car, replacing the catalytic converter could run anywhere from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand dollars. Start by having a mechanic eliminate other possible causes of your symptoms by checking for things like: Once you have eliminated all non-catalytic converter issues, try the Italian tune-up first, and then the catalytic converter cleaner. The compounds coating the innards of the cat remove most of the bad stuff and leave the expelled gasses much cleaner and safer. You may not know what a catalytic converter is, or what it does, but if your catalytic converter goes bad, you will have to deal with it. The cat creates a reaction between the CO and the surrounding air to create CO2 and H2O. Will the brakes or tires need replacement soon? This essential emissions system component can sap miles per gallon and drive up your fuel consumption as it gradually loses efficiency and impacts your engine’s power production. A Bad Catalytic Converter Can Be Driven Indefinitely Driving with a bad catalytic converter is not too dangerous. The cat reduces these gasses and cleans them into cleaner safer gasses: The catalytic works in conjunction with the O2 sensors to clean the gasses. This can improve the efficiency of your catalytic converter and restore its performance - and it costs you nothing! This creates a fuel problem in the engine. Contact the service department of your vehicle brand's local new-car dealer to verify that you are eligible under the terms of the warranty. The converter might become completely fused almost immediately or over time and then would require immediate replacement. If your car is less than eight years old, and has less than 80,000 miles on it, your catalytic converter should still be covered by the manufacturer's Federal emissions warranty. Furthermore, what happens to a car when the catalytic converter goes bad? However, this is not always the case. Too lean of a mixture, and you will not have the right properties to clean the gas. This will directly affect the engine's performance, to the point where you may not even be able to get your car started. Also, you will see the similar signs when there is a very rich fuel mixture in the oil tank. Chicago This will help the mechanic track down the exact cause of the problem. If coolant, oil, or unburned fuel gets into the catalytic converter; if it gets damaged from the outside; or even if it just wears out, your catalytic converter can go bad. Houston, Indianapolis You should be able to manage the first two, but the last two should be left to a mechanic: If you do a lot of stop-and-go driving at low-to-moderate speeds, or don't ever accelerate hard enough to get your car and your catalytic converter thoroughly warmed up, the "Italian tune-up" may work for you. 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 - … Carbon Monoxide - Most used air leaving an engine is Carbon Monoxide, which is a deadly odorless gas. Albuquerque Get an instant offer in 1-2 minutes and have your car sold in 1-2 days just like the 1,000's of satisfied customers each month. Austin The Cheapest, Most Reliable Mercedes-AMG Cars Ever, Period! Does your car have any other chronic issues that could result in a big repair soon? There are three types of "harmful" emissions gasses that are regulated by the EPA. If the Check Engine light stays off, the cleaner has likely worked, and you should immediately have your car tested. Your engine might stall and balk from … The catalytic converter works by breaking down unburned gases left over by the combustion process. Under normal conditions, when your catalytic converter is working properly, the hydrogen sulfide is converted into odorless sulfur dioxide. Copyright © 2021. There will also be a trouble code indicated in the computer, which can be retrieved by a mechanic. Join us for an insider's view of what a catalytic converter is, what it does, what makes your catalytic converter go bad, how to know if it goes bad, how to fix or replace your catalytic converter, what a replacement costs, breaking in a new catalytic converter, the risk of having your catalytic converter stolen, and finally, whether it is worth fixing a bad catalytic converter. When your car’s converter starts to go bad, you will notice a number of signs. - this should give you the cleanest possible exhaust. These are all made up of un-burned carbon and hydrogen. The thieves will then sell the stolen catalytic converters to unethical scrap yards or auto recyclers. Hydrocarbons - VOCs - Any compound made from carbon and hydrogen that can be burned. To answer the question ‘what happens when the catalytic converter goes bad?’ lookout for some of the conditions listed below. If these don't work, and you are facing the need to lay out the cash for a replacement catalytic converter, you have a decision to make. In some cases, the core inside the catalytic converter can … Mesa, Miami You need proper tuning and a fuel injection system that is in working order for your … An inefficient or failing catalytic converter can leave more unburnt fuel in the exhaust, which will smell like sulfur or rotten eggs. The good news is that you are exempt from this requirement if your car is more than five years old, and its manufacturer's emissions warranty has expired. etc. Here are some of the causes of a bad catalytic converter: There are several symptoms that can tell you that you have a bad catalytic converter. Too rich and you could heat the cat up to the point of glowing red hot causing the internal structure to melt. You could engrave your car's VIN on the catalytic converter to aid in identification and possibly deter thieves. While most catalytic converters will last the life of the vehicle, there are exceptions. 1. Reduced Engine Performance. The engine computer in your car is constantly monitoring the condition of all the emissions-related equipment in your vehicle. This is usually done to improve the car performance at the cost of absolutely horrible emission. Anything that affects the exhaust will cause issues with the catalytic converter. It happens that oxygen sensors are not working properly and it sends wrong information of exhaust engine. By going out on a highway with very little traffic, accelerating hard repeatedly, and running at higher speeds for a prolonged period, you may be able to burn off deposits that have accumulated in your catalytic converter. You may notice: If the pieces of ceramic inside your catalytic converter break up into smaller pieces, you may be able to hear them rattling around inside it when the engine is starting, running, or when your car hits a bump or a pothole. The catalytic converter can overheat and show signs of failing when the engine misfires. Your vehicle’s fuel efficiency suddenly drops, Your vehicle's acceleration diminishes slightly, Your vehicle may refuse to start or choke itself out, The vehicle has Higher than normal emissions levels, Your vehicle produces a strong sulfur smell. The O2 sensor can alter your air/fuel mixture, and in the long run can cause premature damage to the cat. Here are some questions to ask yourself: If you have run the numbers, and you have come to the conclusion that it is not worth investing in a new catalytic converter for your car, we can help! Atlanta Phoenix, Portland COMPLETELY, so the readers can have a fuller understanding of the technology and its role and effects on the entire system of a gasoline engine. If the catalytic converter is completely plugged, you probably shouldn’t drive your car at all. Tulsa A lack of engine power. In the event that the mechanic does not break-in your new catalytic converter, here is how to do it, quickly and easily: That's it - do this and you're good to go! The cat monitors alert you to a problem by turning your "check engine light" on. If some small parts of your catalytic converter is plugged, you can still drive your car as usual. Again, check your local regulations to determine what is allowed under the law. It will cost significantly more than the universal-fit catalytic converter, but it will be easily and quickly installed. A plugged catalytic converter will only in extreme cases prevent you from driving your car. If your car is registered in a locality that permits it (check your local regulations), you may be able to replace your bad catalytic converter with a less expensive universal catalytic converter. This is especially true if your car is very old, has a lot of miles on it, is not particularly reliable, and you live in a state with tough smog laws. 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