If you can feel a ton of heat coming from underneath your car, truck, or utility vehicle, your catalytic converter might be going bad. When this exhaust system part malfunctions, it overheats. Unfortunately, because heat rises, you may also end up with an overheating engine that refuses to cool down until you replace the catalytic converter. Righter’s Auto Repair can help. Aside from the excess heat underneath your automobile, you may also notice the following signs that your catalytic converter is malfunctioning.
Acceleration Hesitation
The catalytic converter is a specialized auto part that takes the toxins found in your vehicle’s exhaust and switches them to safer emissions. As such, your automobile’s exhaust flows through the catalytic converter before it is released via the tailpipe. If the catalytic converter has become clogged, the exhaust will back up into the combustion chamber. When this happens, it’s difficult for fresh air and fuel to move into the chamber to maintain combustion. Consequently, your acceleration will lag.
Engine Performance Issues
You will also have an engine that struggles to maintain higher speeds. This is also being caused by the excess exhaust that cannot make its way out of the combustion chamber. Your engine will sputter and it might even stall depending on how much exhaust is in the combustion chamber. You will need to have your catalytic converter replaced in order to resolve the problem. Until such time as this happens, you will continue to have problems with your engine’s performance and your vehicle’s acceleration.
Black Engine Exhaust
If the exhaust is not being converted properly, you might end up with black exhaust flowing out of your tailpipe. This, too, is an indication that your catalytic converter is malfunctioning. You can plan to get a decade out of the converter. After 10 years, it’s inclined to malfunction and, voilà, you’ll see black exhaust smoke. As with the acceleration and engine issues discussed above, your vehicle may continue to release black exhaust until you get the catalytic converter replaced.
Rotten Egg Odors
Finally, when the catalytic converter overheats it burns sulfur. This smells like rotten eggs. There are three areas from which you will smell this disgusting odor: the engine bay, the exhaust, and from underneath your automobile. You will need to replace the catalytic converter to resolve this issue.
Righter’s Auto Repair in Grand Ledge, MI, and Lansing, MI, is here to help, so give us a call today to schedule an appointment for your automobile. We will inspect the catalytic converter and replace it if necessary.
