How Would You Know if Your Catalytic Converter Needed to Be Replaced in a 2008 Jeep Patriot

Air quality is a major concern for automakers and drivers akin, which is why a catalytic converter plays such an essential function in modern vehicles. This metal canister installed inside the frazzle system helps reduce air pollution past converting harmful elements into safer emissions that are released through your car's exhaust. Catalytic converter replacement is usually expensive because the metals information technology requires for this conversion process — palladium, rhodium and platinum — are quite pricey. Catalytic converter repair is a great way to save money and still keep your machine running well, but information technology requires you to catch the trouble early.

The boilerplate catalytic converter is designed to final about 100,000 miles, so if your car is nearing vi figures on the odometer, chances are you demand to give some thought to your catalytic converter. A clogged or damaged catalytic converter tin can pb to engine failure, so you want to always brand sure yours is upwardly to the chore and learn what to look for to know if yours might exist going bad.

How Catalytic Converters Work

Catalytic converters were start created to control emissions in fume stacks, merely when air pollution regulations began being implemented in the 1970s, catalytic converters became essential components in automobiles. The combustion that has to take place inside the car'due south engine in order for it to offset comes with some potentially harmful side furnishings. Why? It creates a dangerous trio of burnt gases that are released in exhaust fumes: carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons.

The catalytic converter's chore is to convert those gases into less harmful elements before they're released into the atmosphere. Today'due south catalytic converters are so reliable and efficient that they catechumen an estimated 90 percent of carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons into less harmful compounds.

When catalytic converters begin to fail, there are sure tell-tale warning signs. Here are five signs that your catalytic converter might demand to be checked out:

• Rattling sounds under the vehicle. This happens when a catalytic converter has been damaged. It tin exist the effect of age or could come up from the blazon of fuel mixtures used in the vehicle. The rattle is the consequence of the mesh within the converter deteriorating, and it is more noticeable when the engine is start turned over.
• Check engine calorie-free comes on. There are many different reasons that the check engine lite comes on, but when the air-fuel ratio sensor and oxygen sensor notice at that place'south a problem, it volition activate the light. (Your mechanic can scan the vehicle for trouble codes to verify where the problem is.)
• Diminished engine performance. This is oft ane of the early signs of a catalytic converter going bad, so paying attention to how your car is performing is a great style to catch the problem early on. Some of the starting time things you might notice are reduced ability, slower acceleration and poor fuel economy.
• Smell of sulfur from the exhaust. Gasoline contains sulfur, and during the combustion procedure, that becomes hydrogen sulfide, which the catalytic converter and so converts into sulfur dioxide — which is completely odorless. Yet, when a catalytic converter is failing, information technology leaves unburnt fuel in the exhaust that has a odour very similar to rotten eggs.
• Car doesn't pass emissions test. The state of Ohio requires cars registered in qualified counties to pass an emissions test every two years, only if it has a faulty catalytic converter, that volition show up during the diagnostic test.

Does Your Catalytic Converter Need Cleaned, Repaired or Replaced?

In some instances, the problem might exist every bit simple as a clogged catalytic converter, in which case the solution could be to have your mechanic clean it. Removing and cleaning the catalytic converter with a pressure washer can get rid of contaminants that have accumulated and can dissolve deposits that may have built up within it. This can be done either by a trained service professional or, if y'all've worked extensively on cars, you might exist able to do it yourself.

Another way to clean out the catalytic converter is through the utilise of a liquid catalytic converter cleaner that tin can help get rid of particles might accept built up inside it.

Sometimes, other types of exhaust system repairs are needed, equally there may be an consequence other than the catalytic converter that'south causing a false diagnostics reading. This could include a leak in the exhaust organisation, which can throw off the oxygen sensor readings, or worn exhaust gaskets that affect the function of the catalytic converter — but are much less expensive to supplant.

Always keep in mind that if the catalytic converter is damaged, cleaning information technology won't be enough, so y'all'll need to make sure that you know the true cause of the problem before you take action.

How to Avoid Catalytic Converter Problems

Equally with all automobile bug, preventing them earlier they ascend is always the all-time plan.

If your engine is misfiring, or if your coolant is burning, it could lead to problems in the catalytic converter. Fixing those problems before they cause permanent harm to the catalytic converter will save lots of money and headaches down the road. Hither are iii ways to practice that:

1. Keeping up with regularly scheduled maintenance visits will help notice any problems that could pb to a damaged catalytic converter; that's also why yous should non ignore the check engine light when information technology comes on. Always take it in for diagnostics as quickly as possible to double-check the source of the problem.

two. You tin can also improve the performance of your catalytic converter by changing the spark plugs when your vehicle reaches 50,000 miles, since worn or damaged plugs can atomic number 82 to excessive carbon build-up.

iii. Driving your car at highway speed for at to the lowest degree xx minutes once a week will as well help the engine accomplish proper operating temperature and burn off deposits that might have collected in the exhaust system and catalytic converter.

Catalytic converters must be replaced if damaged, but if you're having signs of a faulty converter, don't panic. A quick visit to your mechanic for a expect at your exhaust arrangement will tell you what you need to do to continue your automobile running properly.

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