Does Your Chevy Need a New Catalytic Converter?

A healthy catalytic converter is important for your car. It allows your engine to operate efficiently while preventing toxic chemicals from being released into the atmosphere from combustion. Over time, the converter can become damaged or fail, and you’ll need to visit your Chevy dealer. These are some of the signs that your converter is failing.

Signs You Need a New Catalytic Converter From Your Chevy Dealer

Check Engine Light Illuminates

An illuminated check engine light is always a sign of trouble. The light connects to your car’s computer, and it’s activated if one of your engine sensors detects a problem with a component. If your converter develops a problem, a sensor will inform our computer of the problem, and the light will illuminate. Your computer logs this problem with an error code to speed up diagnosis.

If your converter is blocked or failing, this will create problems. A blocked converter forces combustion gases back into the engine instead of into the exhaust system. These gases increase the pressure in the engine and can cause it to shut down. A failed converter will trigger the light by allowing toxic gases to escape the exhaust. We’ll connect your car to our diagnosis system to identify the problem and then we’ll repair it.

Rotten Egg Smell

Hydrogen sulfide is a corrosive and toxic chemical that’s created during combustion. It has a strong stench of rotten eggs. When your converter is working correctly, hydrogen sulfide is converted into harmless sulfur dioxide. If you smell rotten eggs when you’re driving, the only possible causes are a failing car battery or a damaged converter.

A damaged converter will cause the exhaust to emit black exhaust smoke. This smoke is filled with harmful chemicals and will cause your car to fail an emissions test. There are several reasons for a damaged converter, including a high fuel-air mixture in the engine, failed oxygen sensors, or simply due to age. We’ll examine your converter and install a new one to fix the problem.

Rattling From the Converter

Converting harmful gases requires a large surface area. The converter isn’t a large component, but it has a honeycomb interior that maximizes its space. A honeycomb is strong, but it can become damaged due to age. The constant high pressure and temperature in the converter can take their toll on this structure, and it can develop cracks.

The pressure and heat will cause cracks to expand, and pieces of the honeycomb can break off. These pieces will rattle around inside the converter as your car moves. This situation will get worse as the missing sections weaken the remainder of the structure. We can’t repair a damaged honeycomb, but we can replace the converter to fix this problem.

If your converter seems to be failing, call us at Crain Chevrolet.

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