Combustion produces the energy that moves your car, but it also produces dangerous chemicals in the process. Your catalytic converter is designed to convert these chemicals into harmless ones. Age or damage can cause problems for the converter, and even cause it to fail. As your Chevy dealer, we can repair or replace your converter for you. These are some of the signs your converter could be damaged.
3 Signs You Need a New Catalytic Converter From Your Chevy Dealer
Acceleration Lag
When you step on the gas pedal, you expect your Chevy to almost leap forward. If your car feels more like it’s lurching than leaping, you could have a converter problem. The reduced acceleration is due to back pressure created in the engine by a blocked converter. As the converter works, carbon will slowly build up and partially or completely block the converter.
If the exit from the converter is blocked, the converted gases will be forced back into your engine. These gases increase the pressure in the engine, which reduces your engine power. To overcome this pressure, you’ll need to increase your speed, and this increases fuel consumption. Our technicians will examine your converter and clear any blockage we find. Your acceleration lag will then disappear.
Strong Sulfur Smell
A foul rotten egg smell from your exhaust means that your converter has failed. The sulfur smell comes from hydrogen sulfide, a corrosive and toxic chemical created during combustion. When your converter works correctly, hydrogen sulfide is changed into odorless and harmless sulfur dioxide. Your exhaust smoke will turn black due to the presence of unburnt and unconverted fuel molecules.
The converter can fail for several reasons, including age, damage from a blocked air filter, or a failed sensor. If you continue driving when your converter is damaged, you could receive a citation for the excessive amount of pollution from your exhaust. Our technicians will need to examine your engine and the converter to find the cause of the problem.
Check Engine Light
An illuminated check engine light has often been used as a joke in TV shows, but it’s no laughing matter. This light only comes on when a problem is detected in your engine. The lights connect to a network of sensors in your car that monitor every important component. If any of these sensors notice a problem with their component, the light will illuminate.
A converter problem can trigger this light due to its failure to convert the engine gases. Your computer will generate an error code, and our technicians will check the error code to find the cause of the problem.
A damaged or blocked converter could damage your engine. Call us today at Randy Wise Chevrolet, and we’ll fix the problem.
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