February 27, 2015
How to Troubleshoot Catalytic Converters
How to Troubleshoot Catalytic Converters By Deanna Sclar from Auto Repair For
Dummies,2nd Edition The catalytic converter is a very important part of the
emissions control system on your vehicle autel
maxidiag elite md703. It's usually good for the life of a vehicle,but
occasionally it does fail. The best thing you can do is be alert for signs of
trouble and head for a service facility if you suspect that the catalytic
converter is malfunctioning. Technicians will put your vehicle on an electronic
diagnostic machine to locate the source of the problem,possibly remove the
oxygen sensor from the exhaust manifold or exhaust pipe ahead of the catalytic
converter to see if that changes things,and replace the catalytic converter,if
necessary. It's against the law in many states to remove a catalytic converter
and run a vehicle without one Autel
MaxiSys Pro. Interior and exterior views of a catalytic converter Here are
five signs that something may be wrong with your catalytic converter: a) Your
vehicle's fuel efficiency suddenly drops. b) Your vehicle doesn't accelerate
when you step on the gas pedal. c) Your vehicle may refuse to start. d) Your
vehicle fails an emissions test. e) The MIL or Check Engine light comes on. The
most common cause of failure in a catalytic converter in an older car is that it
becomes so clogged that the exhaust gases can't get through it to the muffler
and out of the car. (If air can't get out the rear of the vehicle,it can't come
in the front end,so the engine dies because no air is coming in to form the
fuel/air mixture.) Every car sold in the United States since 1996 has had an OBD
(On-Board Diagnostic) II system that tests the catalytic converter (among many
other things). If the unit allows too much pollution to escape from the
tailpipe,it illuminates the MIL and produces a trouble code that can be read by
a technician with what's called a"scan tool." The catalytic converter is
sensitive to changes in the contents and temperature of the exhaust gases,so
another possible cause for failure is if the cylinder head gasket is
damaged,allowing oil or coolant to get into the combustion chamber and be burned
in the cylinders. Also,if your ignition system isn't operating properly,unburned
fuel in the exhaust gases can cause the catalytic converter to wear out or break
down. This is another good reason for going for tune-ups at specified intervals!
Because the catalytic converter can become extremely hot,it's important not to
park your vehicle over a bed of dry grass or dry leaves,which could catch fire
and destroy not only your vehicle but also the surrounding area!
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