A catalytic converter has been attached to every car in the US since the 1970s. They’re designed to remove dangerous chemicals from the fuel residue before it leaves the exhaust. In time, your converter can get damaged or clogged by fuel residue. If this happens, your Chrysler dealer can fix the problem. These are some of the signs that you need a converter repair or replacement.
Bad Smell From the Exhaust
Once combustion is completed in the cylinders, the fuel residue and gases are released into the exhaust system. Once they arrive in the converter, the converter increases the temperature and pressure inside itself. The heat and pressure react with the precious material in the converter to change the nature of the gases. Carbon monoxide, for example, is changed into less harmful carbon dioxide.
If you smell a rotten egg smell from the exhaust, this means your converter isn’t working. The smell is caused by hydrogen sulfide, which should be changed into odorless sulfur dioxide. The lack of conversion could mean your converter is damaged, or your engine is producing too much sulfur. Our technicians will check the converter and your engine and fix the problem.
Poor Engine Performance
Your converter can get blocked due to carbon buildup. If this happens, the exhaust gases can’t leave via the exhaust pipe. These gases will be drawn back into your engine. Once they’re in the engine, these gases create a back pressure that reduces your Chrysler’s performance. Your engine struggles to deal with the excess pressure.
Your Chrysler will suffer misfiring due to the fuel-rich environment caused by the trapped gases. Your engine may stall as it’s rapidly flooded with extra fuel vapor. The pressures in your engine can cause your car to shake as you drive, and acceleration will become difficult. Our technicians will check your converter and unblock it.
Rattling Noises
The converter requires a large surface area for conversion. The easiest way to create a large surface area in a small space is to create a honeycomb system in the converter. This structure is strong, but delicate as each piece depends on the strength of the other. If any part of the honeycomb is damaged, this will have a serious effect on the rest of the converter.
If part of the honeycomb cracks or breaks off, you could start to hear rattling noises. The broken parts of the converter will move around as your car moves. These broken parts will damage other sections of the converter. We will need to replace the converter to fix the problem.
If you think you have a converter problem, call us at Northern Prairie Auto Sales.
Image by Wolfgang Claussen from Pixabay
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