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A catalytic converter converts unburned fuel and nitrogen oxide into less harmful substances and releases safer emissions through the exhaust. When a converter malfunctions, it will severely affect a vehicle’s performance. Below your Jeep dealer helps you identify the signs of a malfunctioning converter and make it easier to spot when a replacement is necessary to save on gas and keep your Jeep Cherokee, Wrangler, or Renegade running smoothly.
1. Your Car Guzzles Gas
When the converter, or cat for short, is not doing its job, you’ll notice a gradual change in how much gas your car consumes. A blockage in the cat could hamper exhaust flow and cause an increase in fuel consumption, causing you to stop at the gas station more often to fill up.
2. You Get a Whiff of Rotten Eggs
The sulfur in the gas turns into hydrogen sulfide during combustion. The cat converts the hydrogen sulfide into sulfur dioxide, which doesn’t have an odor. When the cat isn’t working correctly, it doesn’t convert all the gas, and the unburnt fuel in the exhaust will give off a sulfurous odor much like rotten eggs.
3. Your Car Feels Lazy
A converter is a metal canister positioned between the exhaust manifold and the muffler with honeycomb mesh inside. The converter can get blocked when carbon builds up inside the mesh or heat from unburned fuel melts the mesh. The blockage will restrict exhaust flow and cause your car to feel slow when you step on the accelerator.
4. You Hear Rattling Noises
Age, damage, or excessive heat inside the canister can cause the mesh to break down or melt. When this happens, your car will idle roughly, and you will hear rattling noises while driving or when your vehicle is idling.
5. Your Car Is Hard To Start and Stalls
It’s essential to replace the cat when you hear rattling noises because when the mesh deteriorates, it can get into the muffler. Once the material gets inside the muffler, it will be hard to start your car.
6. The Check Engine Light Is On
Your vehicle’s oxygen sensors monitor the gas levels in the exhaust. When the sensors detect that the exhaust gasses are not properly catalyzed because the converter is malfunctioning, it will trigger your car’s check engine light. When you see the check engine light is on, call us for repairs before more damage occurs.
On average, a converter lasts about 100,000 miles or ten years. You’ll struggle with terrible car issues when the cat malfunctions. If your Jeep shows signs that your cat’s gone bad, don’t stress. Call Adams Jeep of Maryland now and schedule an appointment. Our qualified and skilled Jeep technicians will expertly replace your car’s converter, and your vehicle issues will be gone in a flash.
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