Signs Your Toyota Needs a New Catalytic Converter

A catalytic converter is attached to almost every vehicle in the US. Their purpose is to remove dangerous and toxic gases from the exhaust byproducts. Converting these gases helps to remove 99% of pollution from the exhaust smoke. A converter can become clogged or damaged, but Toyota of Kingsport in Kingsport, TN can fix it for you. These are signs that your converter could have a problem.

Black Exhaust Smoke

Normal exhaust smoke is almost invisible and has a relatively mild scent. If your engine starts to produce black smoke that smells like rotten eggs, your converter has been damaged. When combustion occurs in a cylinder, the cylinder should open to release the residue. These gases are directed into the converter where they’re changed into less harmful compounds.

If the converter isn’t working, the gases will pass straight through the converter and exit the exhaust. Since black smoke contains toxic chemicals, you can receive a citation for atmospheric pollution. Our technicians will need to examine the converter, and we can install a new one if the original is damaged. Once the converter is working correctly, the black smoke will disappear.

The Converter Is Blue

You can examine your converter by looking underneath your car. The converter is attached to the exhaust system, and it’s easily noticeable. Your converter has a brighter and shinier appearance than the rest of the exhaust system. If you examine your converter and the metal has a blue tinge, the converter could have burnt out.

A converter operates at a very high temperature. This is essential, as the conversion of the gases requires high temperature and high pressure. A problem in the engine, for example, a fuel-rich environment, will cause the converter’s temperature to rise above its safety level. This can cause the converter to overheat and burn out. We’ll examine your converter and replace it to fix this problem.

Broken Honeycomb

The inside of a converter has a honeycomb configuration. The honeycomb provides a large surface area for converting the engine gases. Over time, the heat and high pressure can cause cracks to form in the structure. These cracks will widen, and pieces of the honeycomb will break off. This damage affects the converter’s ability to do its job.

The broken pieces will move around inside the converter as you drive, and they will cause additional damage to the structure. As the honeycomb fails, the conversion process will start to suffer. Our technicians will need to examine your converter to confirm the problem. If the honeycomb is damaged, we’ll need to install a new converter.

If you suspect you have a converter problem, schedule an appointment at Toyota of Kingsport’s Toyota Service Center as soon as you can so our dedicated team of advisors can diagnose and resolve it for you.

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