High pitched whistle and very sluggish

CALILIFE2314

MEMBER
2014 KIA SOUL
2.0L
4 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
132,000 MILES

I when I press on the gas it makes a high pitch whistle noise and if I let go of the accelerator it stops. Also, once I get up to 40 MPH it has a hard time shifting to fifth gear and once in fifth gear RPMs drop very low and it acts like it won’t go.

1 Reply

KEN L

MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
43,468 POSTS

This is typical when the catalytic converter plugs up, to be sure here is a guide to help you confirm the issue with instructions below to show you how to change it out yourself:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-test-a-catalytic-converter

and

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/catalytic-converter-replacement

Here is how to change the catalytic converter out on your car in the diagrams below. Check out the diagrams (below). Let us know what happens and please upload pictures or videos of the problem.

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