What are the effects of a missing catalytic converter on a car?
2 Answers
It has no impact on the car itself, but a significant impact on the environment. If the catalytic converter is missing, the car will emit a large amount of harmful gases, which may even enter the vehicle cabin, affecting the health of the occupants. It may also cause the vehicle to fail annual inspections, resulting in fines or impoundment. Symptoms of a damaged catalytic converter: 1. Red burning phenomenon in the exhaust pipe: If the vehicle is started for too long, the exhaust pipe emits a noticeable red burning phenomenon towards the catalytic converter, and a hissing or gurgling sound can be heard when accelerating. 2. Inability to provide accurate data: If it fails to provide accurate data to the vehicle's onboard computer, the air-fuel mixture may become too lean or too rich. A lean mixture can cause difficulty in ignition, poor driving performance, and engine misfires, while a rich mixture can increase fuel consumption, incomplete combustion, and severe carbon buildup in the cylinders and spark plugs. 3. Pungent odor: A pungent odor may be noticed during idling or acceleration. If an exhaust analyzer detects severely excessive hydrocarbon emissions, immediate cleaning and repair are required. When the catalytic converter is functioning normally, the temperature at the front is lower than at the rear. If the front temperature is higher than the rear, it indicates poor performance of the catalytic converter.
Removing the catalytic converter is a big trouble. It's responsible for reducing harmful exhaust emissions, and without it, tailpipe pollution surges dramatically. Not only does it smell like burning, but it also worsens air quality. It will definitely fail the annual inspection—I've seen many car owners fined or even banned from driving because of this. The engine might trigger a warning light due to inaccurate oxygen sensor readings, leading to unstable power or increased fuel consumption. The noise also becomes louder, sounding like a roaring race car while driving, which is quite annoying. In the long run, parts wear out faster—for example, the exhaust system is prone to rust and leaks. Environmental regulations are strict, so don't risk removing it. Get it reinstalled at a reliable repair shop—it's safe, legal, and responsible for the environment. That's the real deal.
