Signs a Catalytic Converter Replacement Is Necessary

Many essential parts of your vehicle keep you moving down the highways in good condition. A catalytic converter serves many purposes in the vehicle's emission and exhaust system. Its most well-known duty is to preserve the purity of the gases that exit the tailpipe. This part of the vehicle is one-of-a-kind engineering, able to use heat and multiple series of chemical reactions. The catalytic converter changes hazardous compounds encountered in exhaust gases into less dangerous ones.

Typically, platinum or other comparable metals can create the catalysts that make this process possible, as harmful gas molecules release into the atmosphere. Platinum or metal close to platinum typically uses to make the catalysts that make this process possible. It also employs heavy metals like platinum to render gasses to be safer compounds.

A catalytic converter is crucial to your vehicle; it’s similar to the functioning liver of your body. The responsibility of a catalytic converter is to clean or lessen the release of pollutants from the vehicle's exhaust system.

Standard catalytic converters usually last around ten years. Although, like any part of your car, the catalytic converter may need some repairs or replacement. To know the most appropriate time to replace your catalytic converter is when it’s not functioning and not doing what it’s supposed to do. In this article, you will learn when to replace your catalytic converter; here are some signs to look out for when it's time to replace it. 

Able to hear Rattling Sounds Under your Vehicle 

When your car starts making rattling noises, there is always damage present. Depending on where the noise is coming from, your catalytic converter can be to blame.

Although, as mentioned earlier, catalytic converters usually can work in excellent condition for around ten years. As time proceeds, the catalytic converts have to go through damage due to their fuel mixture, and your car's interior honeycombs may also deteriorate. Those are the reason why your vehicle creates noises when you drive. If your car has been over a decade, and suddenly you hear rattling sounds, it’s possible due to its old age.

The Exhaust has a Sulfur Smell 

If your car's exhaust smells sulfur, the phenomenon is simple; the gasoline you use for your vehicle contains sulfur,  which can transform into hydrogen sulfide if the gas combusts. Your catalytic converter should convert hydrogen sulfide into sulfur dioxide, which is scentless.  Because of this, if you smell something wrong, your vehicle's converter may not function properly.

Dark Smoke coming from your Exhaust

Due to the function of your vehicle’s catalytic converter, its response is to clean the gas released from the car. However, nothing communicates "bad air" like the exhaust pipe's dark smoke. You almost certainly have a malfunctioning converter if the sulfurous scent from earlier in the section is present.

The engine of your vehicle is not functioning normally

Your car needs a catalytic converter that is maintained and working correctly. It aids in regenerating energy from poisonous gases and other contaminants in the exhaust gas.

Your car's performance and efficiency are both enhanced as a result. There are several potential causes for poor engine performance, with the converter being one of them. 

You are having problems starting your vehicle

When owning a gasoline-powered car, for it to work correctly, It must undergo complete fuel combustion. Because combustion is a process, you will suffer incomplete combustion if one stage during the process doesn't go as planned.

The catalytic converter handles one such phase in the process. Your vehicle will detect inadequate combustion and alert you by turning on the "Check Engine" light, which prevents you from being able to start your car.

Your Vehicle Slows down or does not accelerate

 

Similar to the preceding section, the cause of this is incomplete combustion, which results in subpar engine performance. Engine performance is the end product of a process, although it is not always a sign that the converter is damaged; the issue could originate from another place. For cars that experienced high or shallow fuel usage, excessive heat below the vehicle increased emissions, and engine misfires are other indicators of incomplete combustion.

If someone stole my catalytic converter, what would happen?

Because of the tiny metals inside a catalytic converter that conduct the gas transformations, they are highly costly. These metals fetch a high price on the market could be one of the reasons that they can be stolen and sold for a high price. 

On the other hand, you need a catalytic converter. There are rules in some locations that require you to own a converter on your automobile. Operating a car without one releases dangerous chemicals into the environment and the air. If someone is planning to steal your catalytic converter on your vehicle, you should take special care to solve it immediately and proceed cautiously.

Key Takeaway

If your vehicle’s catalytic converter does not function well or is damaged completely, you can have the power to decide whether you want to repair or replace your car’s converter. If it is missing, of course, you need to replace that part as soon as possible. 

Although the good news is that finding a replacement catalytic converter isn’t problematic. The converters are available for buying and shopping at any reputable car parts retailer. I hope you will find this blog post on catalytic converters informative and learn more about them.