What are the symptoms of a faulty catalytic converter?
4 Answers
A faulty catalytic converter exhibits the following symptoms: 1. Engine overheating, lack of power, abnormal noises, and foul-smelling exhaust. 2. Disruption in the engine's air-fuel mixture ratio, leading to difficult ignition or incomplete combustion. If the catalytic converter is damaged, the secondary oxygen sensor cannot provide accurate data to the vehicle's ECU (Engine Control Unit), resulting in an excessively lean or rich air-fuel mixture. A lean mixture can cause ignition difficulties, weak driving performance, and engine backfiring, while a rich mixture increases fuel consumption, leads to incomplete combustion, and causes severe spark plug carbon buildup. 3. Increased exhaust backpressure and worsened emissions. Due to faults in the fuel supply and ignition systems, engine overheating and backfiring can cause the catalytic converter's substrate to sinter, peel off, and increase exhaust resistance, leading to poor emission performance and other adverse effects.
I've seen many people asking about the symptoms of a bad catalytic converter. Based on my driving experience, the most common sign is the sudden illumination of the engine warning light, like a little yellow light constantly flashing on the dashboard. When driving, you'll feel a noticeable drop in power, sluggish acceleration, and delayed response when pressing the gas pedal, making it difficult even to climb hills. Fuel consumption also increases significantly, costing you hundreds more on gas each month. Sometimes the car shakes at idle and may even stall occasionally, which feels quite dangerous. There will also be abnormalities in the exhaust system—you might smell sulfur or gasoline, or even see black smoke, indicating failed emissions. If not repaired promptly, the engine can overheat or damage other components, leading to higher repair costs. I recommend getting it checked by a professional as soon as you notice these signs to avoid bigger problems. The catalytic converter helps control pollution, so driving with a faulty one is also bad for the environment.
I've noticed that catalytic converter failures are quite common, with the main symptom being the engine warning light frequently coming on, alerting you to a problem with the car. The vehicle feels sluggish when driving, especially during acceleration, feeling weak and struggling uphill. Fuel consumption increases noticeably, burning significantly more gas in a month, making your wallet lighter. There's a strange smell from the exhaust, like rotten eggs, and black or blue smoke may come out of the tailpipe. At idle, the car may shake or even stall, affecting safe driving. A clogged catalytic converter can also make a rattling noise, like stones rolling around. I reckon it might be clogged or damaged, and not addressing it promptly could affect the entire exhaust system and easily cause the annual inspection to fail. So, it's best to head to a repair shop for diagnosis quickly to avoid minor issues turning into major ones. Regular maintenance can prevent these problems, so don't skimp on that little bit of money.
I think there's an issue with the catalytic converter. Common signs include the engine warning light coming on, alerting you to a problem. When driving, you may notice reduced power, slower acceleration, and a general lack of strength in the car. Fuel consumption also increases, with the car burning through gas faster. There's a strange smell coming from the exhaust pipe, like sulfur, and sometimes black smoke is visible, which is quite concerning. The car may shake when idling and, in severe cases, even stall, affecting driving safety. I recommend getting it checked as soon as you notice these symptoms to avoid further issues.
