Catalytic converter thefts have been on the rise over the last year or two. This should show you just how valuable that this part is to your car as a whole.
With this in mind, you should make sure that you’re looking out for signs of a bad catalytic converter at all times. The last thing that you want to do is ride around in a vehicle with a clogged catalytic converter in it.
Today, we’re going to discuss some of the most common signs of a malfunctioning catalytic converter. It’ll help you figure out when you’re experiencing catalytic converter failure.
You should arrange to have catalytic converter replacement done if you spot any of the four signs listed below at any point.
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Your Car’s Check Engine Light Is On
Just because your car’s check engine light is on doesn’t mean you automatically have a bad catalytic converter. There are a whole host of issues that can cause a car’s check engine light to come on.
But if you rule out a bunch of the usual suspects, you might discover that a bad catalytic converter is to blame for your check engine light being on. In this case, you’ll need to do catalytic converter replacement to shut it back off.
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Your Car Smells Awful When It’s Turned On
If there is a weird smell coming from your car, this might be another sign that you have a bad catalytic converter on your hands. More specifically, you should be worried about catalytic converter failure if your car ever smells like rotten eggs.
This smell can be caused by the sulfates in your car’s fuel building up in a clogged catalytic converter. You’ll need to have your catalytic converter replaced to get rid of this smell for good.
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Your Car Has Dark Smoke Coming Out of Its Exhaust Pipe
When your car’s catalytic converter is clogged up, exhaust smoke will have a tough time working its way through your exhaust system and out of your exhaust pipe. This will often result in your car’s exhaust smoke turning black before long.
You should be worried if you ever see black exhaust smoke coming out of your car. It’s usually a surefire sign that you have a bad catalytic converter or another serious problem.
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Your Car Isn’t Getting Very Good Gas Mileage
If it feels like you’re spending more time filling your car up with gas these days, it might be because you have a bad catalytic converter. A bad catalytic converter is going to hurt your car’s gas mileage in a huge way.
You can save money on gas as you move forward by replacing your bad catalytic converter. You might also be able to turn your bad catalytic converter into cash by scrapping it.
This catalytic converter scrap guide will show you how much money you might be able to get for a catalytic converter.
A Bad Catalytic Converter Can Cause Serious Issues for Your Car
Most catalytic converters will last more than 10 years before going bad. So you shouldn’t have to worry too much about encountering a bad catalytic converter in a newer car.
But if you have an older car, you’ll need to keep an eye out for these signs of a bad catalytic converter. They might indicate that you need to replace your catalytic converter ASAP.
Look for more great tips on taking better care of your car by reading through our other blog articles.
