What are the symptoms of a damaged catalytic converter?

[LillianaMarie]

The symptoms of a damaged catalytic converter are: 1. Unpleasant exhaust odor; 2. Engine overheating and premature excessive wear; 3. Lack of engine power with abnormal noises. The causes of catalytic converter damage are: 1. Blockage due to sintering of ethanol gasoline gum deposits, sulfur-phosphorus chemical complexes, lead-manganese metal deposits, or melting/blockage of ceramic substrates caused by engine exhaust flames; 2. Loss of surface precious metal activity, rendering it incapable of catalytic function; 3. Prolonged exposure to high temperatures leading to thermal deactivation. The catalytic converter is an external purification device installed in the vehicle's exhaust system, which converts harmful carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and nitrogen oxides from vehicle emissions into harmless carbon dioxide, water, and nitrogen through oxidation and reduction reactions.