It might seem hard to believe that somebody would steal your car, truck, or C/SUV’s catalytic converter, but this theft does happen because the metal out of which they are made is considered precious. Auto Service Kingston in Kingston can replace the catalytic converter if it has been taken from underneath the vehicle. Call us after you call the authorities and your car’s insurance company.
Check Engine Warning
You will know right away that something is wrong after the catalytic converter has been taken. When you turn on your automobile, you will notice that the check engine light turns on and remains on. It won’t turn off until you replace the converter. This is because the exhaust system sensors will report error codes to the engine control unit due to the missing exhaust system part.
Loud and Roaring Engine
Another thing that you are going to notice is that your engine is much louder than it normally is. It will also roar quite a bit. In a normal situation, the exhaust manifold takes the engine’s exhaust and forces it into the converter where it is treated. This force is hard and noisy. Since the converter is gone, you will hear the full force of the exhaust push, especially when you press down on the accelerator.
Jerking Acceleration
Speaking of the accelerator, the acceleration will also jerk if you attempt to drive your automobile after the catalytic converter has been stolen. This is also the force of the exhaust push. We recommend that you avoid driving your automobile until the catalytic converter has been replaced. You will not only have engine performance issues but also noticeable exhaust odors. We will talk more about this below.
Slow-Speed Lagging
Another engine performance issue is lagging at slow speeds. The missing catalytic converter affects the engine’s ability to produce low-end torque while you are driving. This is the torque or power production needed to drive at slower speeds. If you pick up speed, you will notice that the engine smooths out when you reach higher speeds. The converter does not affect the high-end torque production.
Strong Exhaust Odors
Finally, we mentioned above that you will be able to smell your exhaust while you are driving your automobile. This makes driving the vehicle dangerous because you are actually inhaling the exhaust. The exhaust does not remain in the exhaust system. The exhaust manifold pushes it into the open air where the catalytic converter used to be.
Auto Service Kingston in Kingston, ON, is happy to help, so call us today to set up a service appointment.