Catalytic converter gone bad symptoms

The catalytic converter is one of the most important emissions components found in modern vehicles. Without it, the vehicle may produce excessive emissions harmful to both humans and the environment.

If you suspect that your catalytic converter may be having a problem, have the vehicle inspected by a professional technician to determine if the car will need a catalytic converter replacement. The most popular service booked by readers of this article is Exhaust and Emission System Inspection.

Our certified mobile mechanics perform over services, including diagnostics, brakes, oil changes, scheduled mileage maintenances, and will come to you with all necessary parts and tools.

Our certified mobile mechanics make house calls in over 2, U. Fast, free online quotes for your car repair. Exhaust and Emission System Inspection Cost. Service Location. Reduced Engine Performance One of the first symptoms commonly associated with a bad or failing catalytic converter is a reduction in engine performance. Rattling Noise Rattling noises from under the vehicle are another symptom of a bad or failing catalytic converter.

Sulfur Smell from Exhaust During engine combustion, sulfur-containing gasoline becomes hydrogen sulfide. Failed Emissions Test Some states in the U. Home Exhaust and Emission System Inspection. The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details. Excellent Auto Repair Ratings.

YourMechanic Auto Repair. Related Articles. Buy your replacement MagnaFlow catalytic converter. A Recycling for Refunds icon will appear in your cart to get the process started.

A free shipping label will be provided after checkout. Send us back your OEM catalytic converter. For full program details, requirements and eligibility - Learn More.

For additional program details, requirements and eligibility - learn more. Select Your Vehicle Type. Shop By Vehicle Year. Sub Model. Select Your Vehicle Specifications It is possible we may not have parts for certain vehicles. Where is your Vehicle Registered? New York. Federal EPA. Vehicle Details Select the option that best describes your vehicle. The stinky sulfide is meant to be converted into odorless sulfur dioxide by a catalytic converter.

It does not occur if the system is faulty or clogged. When a result, you will begin to smell like rotten eggs as some of the unburned gasses, including smelly hydrogen sulfide, escape your exhaust.

A rattling sound coming from your engine is because of components in the honeycomb-shaped chamber inside the catalyst breaking apart due to overheating or damage triggered by too much use of a rich fuel mixture.

The piston will be stressed if it is clogged. It is due to a system blockage that allows back pressure in the exhaust gas, resulting in reduced acceleration. When it is completely clogged, the engine cannot breathe because the exhaust gases have nowhere to go.

It tends to travel back up into the engine, causing it to overheat and the head gasket to blow. Excess heat will overheat the cooling system, reducing its ability to cool the engine.

Catalytic converters do go bad on cars, so what happens then? A converter may sometimes survive ten years or more. Over time, it deteriorates and no longer converts the exhaust gases as effectively as it should. You will begin to notice several issues with the performance of your car. Here is the list. If it has come apart internally, it will produce a rattling sound.

There is no distinct beat to the rattle noise. It is because the honeycomb has disintegrated inside the pipe. When you open it, you will be startled by melted chunk-like fragments. And, according to the p code, at least two or more cylinders are encountering misfiring. Random misfires happen for a variety of causes.

The p arbitrary misfire code is due to a faulty catalytic converter, which prevents the exhaust from breathing correctly, causing unburned gases to ignite within. When p develops, it must be repaired as soon as possible since it may cause further damage to your engine. P occurs when worn-out spark plugs, torn spark plug wires, or a defective ignition coil. Fuel combustion supplies the energy to power the engine; therefore, effective fuel combustion is critical to engine functioning.

A misfire happens when insufficient gasoline is burnt in a cylinder. And it could happen for many reasons. It could be a faulty ignition system, fuel system, or clogged exhaust system. Misfiring should not be taken for granted, especially if you often travel long distances. Ignoring the mistake might result in engine failure, catalytic converter damage, and risky driving conditions. A catalytic converter cat-con regulates the exhaust emissions of an internal combustion engine by catalyzing a chemical reaction.

It contributes to reducing the environmental effect of cars. A clogged cat-con, on the other hand, loses its capacity to filter out harmful gases. However, it is pretty expensive, so it is up to you if you want a new replacement or clean the existing one.

Step 1: You may get a cat-con cleaner in automotive supplies or browse online to find the best brand for your vehicle. Depending on the model of your car, you can follow the complete instructions provided.

Step 2: Remove the component. It just tells you that something is wrong. Inside of modern vehicles and we are talking vehicles built within the last few decades here , there will be constant checks by the vehicle on the catalytic converter. If the tests believe that the catalytic converter is broken, then that check engine light may switch on. You are going to need to make your way to the nearest garage.

Misfire, Hard Shifting, Overheating,. Your exhaust should be letting out smoke that is white or gray. If you start to notice that the smoke coming out of the exhaust is black, or close to black, then you know that you have a problem with the catalytic converter. Well, this is one of the issues caused by a bad catalytic converter.

Again, this is all down to the fact that the catalytic converter is not cleaning the exhaust gases as effectively as it should be.

If your vehicle has got to this point, then you know that you have a pretty serious problem. You are going to want to have an emissions test carried out as soon as possible. If your catalytic converter is clogged, this can cause a build-up of heat underneath the vehicle. Of course, if your vehicle has managed to get to this point, then that is a bad thing. It means that the area around the catalytic converter has become seriously clogged.

Of course, this extreme heat is going to be putting a ton of pressure on the various components in your vehicle. This could end up having a knock-on effect where, eventually, you end up having a massive repair bill. This is why it is so important to deal with problems like this very quickly. The repair of a catalytic converter should be fairly affordable.

Repairing the rest of the vehicle due to that heat damage? Probably not quite so much. In rare cases, a clogged catalytic converter can result in poor acceleration. You may struggle to push your vehicle beyond a certain speed.

This is because a clogged system will put a lot of pressure on the engine. We cannot stress enough that this is going to be a rare problem.