If you just hopped into your car, truck, or utility vehicle and fired it up in a public parking lot, a loud, roaring sound is a sign that someone stole the catalytic converter. Exhaust is created in the combustion chamber. It is routed out of the chamber into the exhaust manifold. The exhaust manifold then forcefully pushes the exhaust into the catalytic converter. The reason why your engine is so loud is that the catalytic converter is not there to take the exhaust and muffle the sound that the push makes.
Jerking Acceleration
If you attempt to drive your automobile, the engine is going to roar even louder every time you press down on the accelerator. In addition, your car, truck, or utility vehicle will jerk because of the exhaust push. When you have a catalytic converter underneath the automobile, it absorbs the noise and force when the exhaust is pushed out of the exhaust manifold. You no longer have the luxury of this absorption. Consequently, it will be difficult to get your vehicle to accelerate smoothly.
Reduced Low-End Torque
It is also going to be difficult to drive the automobile at slow speeds because the engine will struggle to produce low-end torque. This is the amount of torque needed to operate smoothly when you are going slow. For some reason, when the catalytic converter is missing, the engine struggles with this torque production. It does not struggle as you pick up speed and drive faster. This being said, we really recommend that you avoid driving your automobile if, indeed, someone took the catalytic converter.
Strong Smell of Exhaust
The reason why is that the exhaust that is normally pushed into the catalytic converter is now pushed into the open air. It is released from the exhaust system prematurely and wafts upward and into the inside of your automobile. Consequently, you will smell strong exhaust odors inside your car. Inhaling the exhaust will not only make you sick but can also be deadly. Keep in mind, there is carbon monoxide in your vehicle’s exhaust that has not been treated by the catalytic converter.
Check Engine Warning
Finally, everything discussed above is going to cause the engine control unit to turn on the check engine warning light. This light will remain on until the catalytic converter is replaced. The fact that the converter is not there causes the exhaust system sensors to report numerous errors.
Hightech Automotive in Forest City, NC, is here to help, so call us today so we can inspect your exhaust system to see if the catalytic converter has been stolen.