If the smell of exhaust fumes is coming into your passenger cabin, Fast Lane Automotive recommends you pull over and stop driving your automobile. This is a sign that your catalytic converter has been stolen. You will also notice the symptoms of a stolen catalytic converter that we are going to list below. Driving your automobile while inhaling exhaust is dangerous to your health.
Check Engine Warning
One of the first things that will happen if someone has taken your catalytic converter is you will end up with the check engine warning on the dashboard. System sensors will notice that there is something seriously wrong with the exhaust system. They will send error codes to the engine control unit. The engine control unit cannot replace the catalytic converter itself, so it will turn on the check engine light.
Loud Engine That Roars
You will also notice that your engine is incredibly loud; much louder than normal. It will make roaring sounds, especially when you press down on the accelerator. You may wonder why the engine is so loud when the catalytic converter is missing because it is not the muffler. The catalytic converter does muffle the noise of the exhaust being forced out of the engine and into it. It is no longer there to muffle this noise, which is one reason why your engine will be much louder than it normally is.
Jerky Acceleration
The force of the exhaust exiting the engine is absorbed by the catalytic converter when it is underneath your automobile. Unfortunately, there is nothing there now to absorb the exhaust force. Consequently, when the engine releases exhaust when you accelerate, your automobile will jerk and lurch forward.
Slow-Speed Lagging
You will also have problems driving your car, truck, or utility vehicle at slow speeds when the catalytic converter is missing. The engine performance will improve as you pick up speed because the engine is able to produce high-end torque without the catalytic converter. The reason why the engine sputters and lags when you are driving slowly is that it struggles to produce low-end torque without the catalytic converter.
Excess Hydrocarbons
Finally, the reason why we do not recommend that you drive your automobile is that the exhaust that you’re smelling inside your passenger cabin is filled with hydrocarbons. Keep in mind that you no longer have a catalytic converter to treat these hydrocarbons. Consequently, you are inhaling carbon monoxide.
Fast Lane Automotive in Orlando, FL, is here to help, so call us today to set up an appointment for a new catalytic converter after you have notified the authorities and your insurance company of the theft.
