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Catalytic Converter Questions and Answers - This category
contains featured questions as examples. They relate to most vehicles.
Question: 2004 Nissan Sentra 1.8_mileage: 41,000. I just bought a low
mileage Nissan Sentra. The fuel economy is terrible, not what I would expect from
a V6. It sometimes hesitates to start. It warms up very fast but the interior gets
unusually warm as though the catalytic converter is working overtime. The excess
heat comes up through the floor. What is the likely cause and solution to this problem?
Answer: Scan computer for fault codes. You will probably find one indicating
that your engine is running too rich which causes the catalytic converter to overheat.
Check the fuel pressure regulator and check for faulty fuel injectors.
Question: 2002 Toyota Camry Mileage 80,000: When I drive at speeds
67+ mph, there is a really bad smell that comes from my car. My ex, who is
a mechanic, said it was the catalytic converter, but said it wasn't a problem, and
that it's expensive to replace etc. I like to drive fast, so I always smell
that odor (like rotten eggs and burnt rubber), so I was wondering what I could do
to fix this? If I have to replace the converter, how much should it cost?
Or if there is something else that could be contributing to this smell that my ex
overlooked? Any insight would be appreciated.
Answer: The “rotten egg smell” that you mentioned is
usually caused by fuel mixture in the engine that is too rich. The catalytic
converter may be faulty but before you replace it the “too rich” fuel mixture needs
to be corrected. As far as the cost...check around in your area at different
muffler shops and compare prices.
Question: 2002 Lexus 300c mileage: 110,000. Just wanted
to ask you if a catalytic converter overheats to the point where it is so hot it
is igniting the bottom undercoat of a car along with a slight oil leak, just to
make the point the converter is really red hot, anyway, isn't there a possibility
that the converter becomes damaged? Besides testing the emissions to see, if they
are within parameters is there any other form of diagnostics on catalytic converters.
My problem is that the car bottom caught on fire as a result to the converter overheating.
No doubt the oil leak has to be fixed, as well as any problem the car was having
to make the converter overheat, but what about the converter itself? A converter
for my car runs approximately nine hindered dollars. How can I really know if my
car needs to have one replaced or has been damaged and will need replacement soon?
Answer: It is difficult to say if your catalytic converter is okay from
here. The converters are made to run hot but if they are severely overheated, they
can be damaged. We suspect the cause of the converter overheating would be in the
emission control system, possibly an air control valve that is not functioning properly.
Another possibility would be a leaky fuel injector or a faulty fuel pressure regulator
that would cause the engine to run rich.
To test for a plugged converter, drill a small hole in the exhaust pipe right
before the catalytic converter. Install a temporary hose fitting and attach a long
rubber hose and a 0 to 10 pound pressure gauge. With the gauge inside the car, drive
up a hill or accelerate and read the pressure. Normal is 2 to 3 pounds, restricted
4 pounds or higher.
Question: 2002 Tahoe Z71 mileage: 58,260 km. I have had the Tahoe for
about 4 months now. Everything has been fine up until a trip to the lake towing
our trailer. About an hour into the drive, a smell came into the cab of the truck.
(A mix of propane and rotten eggs) It was actually quite strong and persisted for
the rest of the drive (1 hour). Since that day the smell comes and goes. Sometimes
when the truck is cold and sometimes after it has warmed up. I just had it to the
service guys to check it out. They said it may be the catalytic converter but everything
checked out OK. They said that they smelled a "faint" odor and it didn't last.
Answer: The smell is probably from the catalytic converter. When you were
towing the trailer, you required more power from your engine and consequently, more
fuel through the converter. We can only guess that the trailer disturbed the airflow
from the back of the truck, which allowed some exhaust to invade the cab of your
truck. The catalytic converter may have been overheated with the extra weight of
the trailer thereby causing it to work at less than 100 percent efficiency now.
Question: 1997 Chevy Corvette mileage: 67,000. I got a code 34 on my computer,
went in had another MAF put in, car ran fine for 3 days with no codes. Suddenly
code 34 is back...what could cause this.
Answer: If the converter is partially plugged, it backs up the exhaust,
which affects intake manifold vacuum. The airflow into the engine is then affected
resulting in your code 34.
Question: 1999 Chevy 1500 mileage: 128,000. I had some problems
with my muffler. It was 2 out, 2 cats, in to one muffler, one output.
I was told flow master was a very good muffler, and I would get better response.
So I got two, 2 chambers, and it felt like I lost some power, but had better throttle
response. Twenty thousand miles later I was told my cats were out, and I could
hollow them out until I got the money for new ones, so I did. Now I have even
better response but less power. Please help R.R.
Answer: Yes, your engine does require backpressure in the exhaust system
to run properly. The entire engine system and the exhaust are all engineered
and tuned together for maximum performance. Changing the mufflers to lower
the backpressure affects the optimum performance of the flow in and out of the intake
and exhaust valves. In doing so, you have altered the balance that was designed
for your car. We would recommend returning to the original equipment.
Question: 1998 Nissan Pathfinder mileage: 110,000.
My Nissan Pathfinder stalled a few weeks back. (It’s a 306E something engine,
overhead, fuel injected.) Then we noticed a few days later that the catalytic
converter was growing extremely hot. When removed it looked rotten inside.
We replaced it. The new converter is not becoming red hot! There is
a clunking sound in the engine. It barely runs. In the past, there was
a problem with a canister under the hood that effects the fuel mixture. What's
eating up my catalytic converter?
Answer: A catalytic converter will get over heated if the engine is running
too rich. Check the fuel pressure. Also, check the fuel injectors to
see if they are leaking and scan the computer for fault codes.
Question: 2004 Ford Escort mileage: 45,000. For some reason the pipe
from the exhaust, manifold to the catalytic converter is glowing red. Replaced
the catalytic converter, spark plugs, and changed oil. Verified that all cylinders
are firing. Compression check on all cylinders was OK (150, 138, 148, 150).
Exhaust is flowing well out the tail pipe. Carburetor is not dumping fuel
and car runs well. I'm stumped.... HelpAnswer:
Your problem sounds like too much fuel is being put into the engine from the fuel
injectors. Have the fuel injectors replaced.
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