How to diagnose a bad catalytic converter

The hole is closed with a rivet. If the car is really running bad and feels like it is choked up. A bad catalytic converter can be difficult to diagnose. But the investigation can be well worth it. Before you send your car to the shop or decide to replace a potentially good converter , the following series of tests will help you troubleshoot the unit using some special but inexpensive tools.

Overheating is another common problem with catalytic converters. Often, a failed oxygen sensor is the culprit. Oxygen sensors regulate your air-fuel mixture. When they go bad , they send incorrect information to your vehicle’s computer which can make it interpret your vehicle data as your exhaust running lean. Diagnose a Broken Catalytic Converter.

Common symptoms of failed catalytic converter. The symptoms of a bad catalytic converter can be hard to pin point, as they are similar to many other common engine problems. The catalytic converter is a very important part of the emissions control system on your vehicle.

It’s usually good for the life of a vehicle, but occasionally it does fail. A catalytic converter is a vital part of the vehicle’s exhaust system that works to convert harm­ful gases into safe compounds that can be emitted into the. The by-products of combustion, when left unfiltered will be detrimental to the environment. One of the first symptoms commonly associated with a bad or failing catalytic converter is a reduction in engine performance.

Tsukasa Azuma He owns a car repair shop at downtown Osaka, and he put all that experience to good use in his sharing posts. I has the original cat, and years ago it barely passed on HC, and NOX had gone up significantly from previous times. Below are common symptoms of a bad catalytic converter : 1. Check Engine Light” is On.

If there is, your catalytic converter is starting to go bad. Your nose might be the key to detecting catalytic converter failure. Take note of your exhaust odor. A strong, pungent smell is a sign that the catalytic converter is not working properly and is essentially being flooded with fuel.

A bad fuel pump or clogged fuel filter can also cause these symptoms. If you’ve replaced the fuel filter and checked the fuel pressure, you may want to read this article on how to diagnose a catalytic converter. Also consider a bum converter if your car is overheating and the cooling system checks out. If you have a bad catalytic converter then you need to get it replaced right away.

Not only will this be affecting the air that people breathe, it will also affect the environment as well. A failed catalytic converter affects engine performance and fuel economy. With a plugged converter , pressing on the accelerator does not increase the speed. The engine backfires, and the car jerks while driving down the road.

These tests work as you can see in the video. Converters typically fail one of two ways: they get too hot, melt and plug up, or the catalyst becomes contaminated and useless. At idle, the pressure should be less than psi. Converter problems make it more expensive to operate the vehicle. During a snap-throttle test, the pressure generally shouldn’t exceed psi.

So, here are some common symptoms of a faulty catalytic converter. An inefficient or failing catalytic converter can leave more unburnt fuel in the exhaust, which will smell like sulfur or rotten eggs.

In some cases, a catalytic converter will become plugged up and cause an exhaust restriction. There’s a rotten egg odor from the tailpipe. It converts harm­ful compounds in exhaust into harmless compounds.

In a typical passenger car, the catalytic converter , which resembles a muffler in shape, is between the engine and the muffler.

It will usually start without trouble and otherwise seem fine but stall immediately when the gas pedal is pressed. Look at the exhaust from your vehicle. What causes catalytic converter to go bad Catalytic converter problems What you need to know about catalytic converter problems. It is the one responsible for the treatment of the emissions produced by the engine, making sure that they do not cause serious damage to the other parts.

A clogged catalytic convertor causes the symptoms of a loss of power when accelerating or going up a hill. In addition, a clogged converter can’t control the harmful emissions the vehicle’s exhaust releases into the air. To fix yours without taking it to the shop, check out these quick and simple. When a catalytic converter is faulty, you will begin to notice certain symptoms. That’s because the chemical catalyst is made up of precious metals, usually platinum and palladium.

Eastern Catalytic converters are certified in countries around the world. We are continually adding new catalytic converter products and making ongoing improvements in our design, production and product delivery systems. Stay dirty ETCG Due to factors beyond the control of EricTheCarGuy, it cannot guarantee against unauthorized modifications of this information, or improper use of this information. Its honeycombed internals, made of palladium, rhodium and platinum coated ceramic structures, can convert air pollutants such as carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides into. If the catalytic converter isn’t operating as it shoul engine power may decrease, fuel use may increase, and there’s no reduction of the poisonous gases exiting the engine.

At this point, the only solution is a costly replacement of the catalytic converter. Symptoms of a Bad or Failing Muffler. When any of these components are damage.

The converter is part of your vehicle’s exhaust system that works with the engine to expel hazardous gasses, so when it fails, it’s bad news for your car and the air.