The catalytic converter in your Nissan is designed to remove dangerous and toxic chemicals from the combustion process. The converter is attached to your exhaust system. It uses heat, pressure, and chemical reactions in its conversion process. In time, your converter can get blocked or damaged. As your Nissan dealer, we’d like you to know the signs you need a repair or replacement.
Starting Problems
Most drivers think starting problems are caused only by malfunctions with the alternator, battery, or starter motor. A blocked converter, however, can also cause starting issues. If your engine starts and then dies in a few seconds, the most likely cause is a blocked converter. When your engine is running, it produces gases and waste products that need to be vented through the exhaust.
Your converter’s job is to remove carbon and change dangerous chemicals into harmless ones. A carbon buildup in your engine can block the converter. This blockage will cause the engine gases to flow back into your engine. The surplus gases and fuel vapor in your engine can choke the engine and cause it to fail.
Rattling Noises
Whenever you hear a rattling noise, this means that something is loose somewhere. If the sound seems to be coming from your exhaust system, your converter has probably been damaged. The converter needs a large area for conversion, and a honeycomb structure provides a large amount of surface in a small area.
The honeycomb is a strong, stable shape, but it’s weak if it’s disturbed. If part of the structure is damaged and breaks, this creates instability in the rest of the converter. The rattling sounds you hear could be from broken pieces of the converter moving around as you drive. We can’t fix the converter if the internal structure is broken, but we can easily replace it.
Lower Fuel Economy
Your Nissan is a very economical vehicle. If you notice that you have to make more trips to the gas station, your fuel economy is likely dropping. A blocked converter could be the cause of the problem. As we saw, combustion gases are forced into the converter. If the converter is blocked, these gases will be drawn back into your engine.
The extra fuel in the engine creates starting issues, but it also upsets the fuel-air ratio. Combustion requires a 14:1 ratio of air to fuel. The presence of this extra fuel will make combustion inefficient. Much of the fuel injected into the cylinders will be wasted. When we unblock your converter, your fuel economy should improve.
If you think you might have any problems with your converter, schedule a service appointment with DARCARS Nissan of Rockville. Want to learn more? Continue advancing your vehicle knowledge with more related blog posts today!
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