Whenever you can, Texan Auto Repair & Collision recommends that you park in a secure location. Parking in a public place opens you up to the possibility of having the catalytic converter stolen from underneath your automobile. This is a common form of auto theft because the metal out of which the converter is made is considered precious. Below are signs that your catalytic converter has been stolen.
Check Engine Warning
If the catalytic converter is gone, the check engine light will illuminate on the dashboard and remain illuminated when you hop into the driver seat and fire up the engine. Naturally, because the converter has been removed from the exhaust system, the exhaust system sensors will send error codes to the main computer chip in the vehicle.
Roaring Engine
Another thing that you are going to notice is that your engine will roar quite loudly, especially if you press down on the accelerator. Although it is not considered a muffler, the catalytic converter muffles the sound of the exhaust being forced out of the exhaust manifold. Now, the engine will roar loudly because the manifold is pushing the exhaust into the open air.
Jerky Acceleration
This is also going to cause your acceleration to jerk and your vehicle to lurch due to the force of the exhaust push. To be completely honest, we recommend that you avoid driving your vehicle if you suspect that the catalytic converter has been stolen. Rather, cut the engine and call the police. Call your insurance company next.
Slow-Speed Lagging
If you do opt to drive your automobile aside from the jerky acceleration, you will also notice that the automobile has trouble performing at slower speeds. The catalytic converter helps the engine produce the torque needed to drive slowly. Because the converter was taken from underneath the vehicle, the engine will have difficulty with the low-end torque production.
Strong Exhaust Odors
These engine performance issues are not the reason why we suggest you avoid driving your automobile. Rather, if you think about it, the exhaust is now being released into the air where it is free to waft into the inside of your vehicle. When this happens, you will inhale your vehicle’s exhaust while you are driving. Naturally, this can make you very sick.
Call Texan Auto Repair & Collision in Sugar Land, TX, today if you believe that the catalytic converter was stolen from your vehicle. We will check the exhaust system for damage and replace the converter.
