The internal combustion engine is a wonderful device with one notable downside in the toxic gases it emits. Fortunately, another excellent invention has all but solved this gaseous problem for us: the catalytic converter. By cleaning up our engine fumes, cats keep the air of our cities breathable. If your car’s cat ever stops working, it’s best to have it repaired at once at your nearest Nissan dealer; here are the warning signs to look out for.
Does Your Nissan Need a New Catalytic Converter?
Your Engine’s Losing Power
When a cat clogs up, the engine has trouble expelling gases through the exhaust. This backup of emissions prevents fresh oxygen from entering the engine’s combustion chambers.
As a result, the fuel-air mixture becomes rich, which stops the engine from generating as much power as before. Most noticeably, your car will struggle to accelerate when climbing one of the island’s many hills.
Your Engine Starts Misfiring
When the fuel-air mixture inside the cylinders becomes rich, the excess fuel can foul the spark plugs, causing them to misfire. This misfiring makes the engine choke and shake. It might also cause your car to stall.
Your Check Engine Light Is On
All the engine trouble caused by a clogged cat will soon be detected by the various sensors in your car. This will cause the check engine light to light up on your instrument panel.
Your Gas Mileage Is Dropping
As a faulty cat starves an engine of oxygen, the fuel economy will also fall. Declining gas mileage, misfiring, the check engine light, and declining engine power can all have various causes, so look out for the following specific indications of a bad cat, as well.
Your Exhaust System Is Rattling
When a converter becomes too old, the honeycomb mesh inside can start to break into pieces. You may hear these loose pieces rattling below when the car stops, starts, or drives at high speeds on the highway.
You Can Smell Rotten Eggs
One of the toxic emissions that get cleaned by a cat is hydrogen sulfide. This very unpleasant gas smells strongly of rotten eggs. So if you notice such a sulfury smell in your exhaust, your cat may have stopped doing its job properly.
You Feel Excessive Heat Under your Car
When the engine’s emissions cannot escape through a clogged cat, they start to back up and tremendous pressure builds just upwind of the cat. This pressure of compacted emissions generates a huge amount of heat, which you may notice when you exit your vehicle.
Your Nissan Dealer Finds a Problem
When you take your car in for routine servicing, the trained eye of your technician may pick up on the symptoms of a faltering cat. One reason to never miss a scheduled maintenance visit is to catch potential problems like this early on and fix them as quickly as possible.
Visit Tony Nissan today to have your converter inspected and repaired. We’re a family-operated dealership that’s been serving the drivers of Honolulu for 35 years.
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