All vehicles use catalytic converters to nullify the harmful emissions produced by the engine. Over time, the catalytic converter can begin to fail, which will present itself in various symptoms. One of these is the rattling of a converter. If you’re looking to fix this rattling, then keep reading!
Cleaning a catalytic converter using a relevant cleaner can reduce rattling. If this does not work, a mechanic’s stethoscope can be used to temporarily repair loose pieces of the converter’s monolith substrate filling. If the rattling is caused by the heat shield, hose clamps can be used for a quick fix. Gutting the converter can also delay replacing it.
In this article, we’ll explain the importance of catalytic converters and what symptoms you can expect from a converter that is faulty or failing. Ultimately, a failing catalytic converter will need to be replaced to prevent damaging the vehicle’s engine. However, we’ll break down ways you can repair a rattling or failing catalytic converter to delay the inevitable!
Contents
The Importance of Catalytic Converters
Catalytic converters are an important part of your car’s exhaust system. This component is used to create certain chemical reactions that nullify harmful emissions and gasses. Your catalytic converter, essentially, reduces the toxicity of these gasses, which can pollute the environment.
Furthermore, your vehicle’s catalytic converter keeps your car performing the way it should. Unfortunately, these converters do not last forever. When your car’s converter begins failing, you’ll start to see various signs and symptoms. This depends on the type of damage to the converter, however.
In general, catalytic converters are known to last longer than ten years. However, eventually this component – like most car parts – will need to be replaced. Of course, that doesn’t mean there isn’t a way to prevent the inevitable and extend the lifespan of your converter.
At the end of the day, however, a catalytic converter that becomes clogged, contaminated, overheated, or damaged will need to be replaced. If this isn’t done, you’ll notice your engine become more sluggish over time. In time, a faulty catalytic converter can even lead to your engine shutting down.
To prevent this, it’s crucial that drivers are aware of the various signs of a failing or faulty catalytic converter. Being aware of this can prevent your car from being damaged by this faulty component. Keep reading as we break down the five signs your catalytic converter is failing!
Signs Your Catalytic Converter is Failing
If you’ve noticed your catalytic converter rattling, it’s more often than not a sign that your catalytic converter is failing or starting to. The first step towards repairing a catalytic converter that is rattling is to identify whether or not it is actually the catalytic converter that is failing.
To do this, you can use our handy list of signs that it is, in fact, your catalytic converter failing. Once you’ve determined this, you’ll be able to fix it. We’ll even tell you how to do that! Before we do that, however, here are the five signs your catalytic converter is failing.
Your Catalytic Converter is Rattling
If you’ve noticed your vehicle’s catalytic converter is rattling, it could be a sign that your catalytic converter is failing and is in need of repair. If it is, in fact, your catalytic converter that is resulting in the rattling sound, the rattling will be loudest when you start your car. Moreover, the rattling will get louder until the catalytic converter is repaired.
Your vehicle’s catalytic converter – which is located in the exhaust system – is comprised of many small components. When some of these components are broken – which could just be caused by general wear and tear – you’re likely to hear a rattling sound coming from your converter. If this is the case, the rattling will likely be coupled with other symptoms on this list.
Your Check Engine Light is On
One of the signs that your vehicle’s catalytic converter is failing is when your check engine light comes on. If you’ve noticed your check engine light shining recently – especially when coupled with other signs discussed on this list – a faulty catalytic converter could be the reason why.
However, to appropriately identify the reason behind your check engine light that is on, you’ll need to have it be properly diagnosed by a mechanic. They will be able to tell you the exact reason the light came on and how to fix it!
Your Engine Isn’t Running as well
Over time, people get a feel for their vehicles and the way they drive. Thus, when there’s a sudden change in your engine’s performance, you’re likely to notice it pretty quickly. Have you noticed that your car is using more fuel lately? Or that there’s significantly less acceleration and power?
Well, it could be a warning sign of a bad or failing catalytic converter in your vehicle. Your car’s catalytic converter is located in the vehicle’s exhaust system. For this reason, a converter that is cracked or clogged can have a negative impact on the overall engine performance in your vehicle.
Whenever you drive your vehicle, it’s important to keep aspects like gas mileage and engine performance in mind. Sudden changes in either of these can be a warning sign of a failing component in your vehicle that needs to be repaired.
You’ve Noticed Increased Exhaust Emissions
As we discussed in the above point, your vehicle’s catalytic converter is located in the exhaust system. Of course, this impacts the performance of your engine. Decreased performance and gas mileage are signs that something is not right in the exhaust system. However, often there’s another very clear sign: increased exhaust emissions.
When a component in your car’s exhaust system is not functioning properly – such as a catalytic converter – it can increase carbon emissions from your exhaust. If you’ve looked out of your rearview mirror recently to see more emissions than usual coming from your vehicle, it could be a sign of a failing or faulty catalytic converter.
This is a sign that you should have your emissions tested. You should do a vehicle emissions test annually, if possible, as it will let you know whether or not your converter is working. There could, of course, be other reasons for the emissions. Regardless of the reason, increased emissions are a sign that something is not right!
You’re Struggling to Start Your Vehicle
When a catalytic converter becomes clogged, your exhaust system will not be able to convert toxic emissions to emissions that are less toxic the way it should. When this happens for a prolonged period of time, the toxic emissions retained in the engine can cause an increase in exhaust pressure.
In turn, this can lead to your vehicle’s engine stalling or even being difficult to start up. If you’ve been dealing with this, there’s a good chance a failing catalytic converter is to blame for your troubles. If you haven’t experienced this but have noticed other signs your catalytic converter is failing – you should get the converter repaired before you can’t start your car!
Is it Bad to Drive a Car with a Rattling/Failing Catalytic Converter?
Above, we looked at the different symptoms of a failing catalytic converter, from rattling sounds to a car that struggled to start up. If you’re only experiencing select symptoms, such as a rattling converter, you may be wondering whether driving with a failing catalytic converter is harmful to your vehicle’s engine.
Ultimately, this depends on the severity of your symptoms. If you’re just noticing some rattling coming from your converter, it won’t be too damaging to drive the car for a few days until you get it fixed – as long as you do fix it once you’ve diagnosed it using our above list of signs the converter is failing.
However, if you’ve been experiencing more severe symptoms, such as excess exhaust emissions and a car that stalls or struggled to start, you should refrain from driving your car before getting it repaired. As we mentioned earlier, your converter is found in the exhaust system and can negatively impact the performance of your engine.
Furthermore, there’s an inner fiber within your converter. Should you drive fast or over-exert your engine with a failing catalytic converter, you run the risk of the fiber being burnt while the engine is burning too much oil. This can result in both smoke and a strong smell coming from your converter.
Continued use of a failing catalytic converter in a car engine will eventually result in the collapse of the converter. In turn, this will plug and clog your vehicle’s exhaust, essentially choking your engine’s performance and decreasing the lifespan of the motor. That’s why it’s important to recognize the symptoms of a faulty catalytic converter, as discussed earlier.
To avoid inadvertently damaging your car’s engine by driving around with a bad catalytic converter, you should get it repaired or replaced as soon as possible. Keep reading as we break down your different options for repairing a rattling or failing catalytic converter!
How to Fix Your Rattling Catalytic Converter
When you begin noticing your catalytic converter rattling, particularly when you start your car up, it’s often a sign that the converter is failing. Unfortunately, catalytic converters do not last forever and will need to eventually be replaced.
However, if you’re looking for a way to stop the rattling of your car’s converter before the eventual replacement, there are a few methods you can try. Let’s take a look at the different ways you can (temporarily) fix your rattling catalytic converter!
1. Clean Your Catalytic Converter
If you’ve been experiencing problems with your vehicle’s catalytic converter, such as those discussed in this article, then your first step should be to clean the converter. There’s always the possibility that cleaning your converter will reduce the symptoms. Furthermore, if cleaning it doesn’t have this effect, you’ll know that there’s a different underlying issue.
Oil fouling and carbon buildup can restrict the functionality of your catalytic converter. To clean your converter, you simply need to purchase a cleaner or deodorizer for your converter. This is added to your gas. Once you start driving, these products will help remove debris and carbon deposits from your engine.
If your catalytic converter is clogged with sulfur and phosphorous, which comes from your fuel and oil, you might need to take a more hands-on cleaning approach. To clean this buildup, you can soak your car’s converter in a solution of citric acid for six hours. Provided there aren’t any other issues, your catalytic converter will be working properly again.
2. Reduce the Rattling
When reducing the rattling of a catalytic converter, there are two widely used methods. The one you use depends on the source of the rattling.
Rattling Due to Cracked Converter Filling
Your vehicle’s catalytic converter is filled with a monolith substrate, which is responsible for absorbing toxic fumes and gasses. When your catalytic converter begins failing due to this, you’ll hear a rattling noise. This is because the filling starts to crack, and the pieces rattle. Luckily, there’s a way to delay the inevitable until you can get the converter replaced.
To do this, you’ll need a mechanic’s stethoscope, which can be purchased online and can be used to locate where the loose pieces are situated. Once you’ve located the areas of these loose pieces, you can drill small holes at each site. Drywall screws can then be inserted to hold the converter and its filling together.
Rattling Due to Converter’s Heat Shield
Another possible reason you hear a rattling noise come from your car’s converter is due to the heat shield. The fix for this is even simpler! All you need to do to stop the rattling of a catalytic converter’s heat shield is by using hose clamps, which can be purchased readily online.
Depending on the size of your converter, you might need to use numerous hose clamps. Start by screwing enough hose clamps together so that they can fit around the converter’s heat shield. Once you’ve done this, the hose clamps can be cranked down until the shield is held in place. This will stop the rattling noise.
3. Gut Your Catalytic Converter
As discussed above, the filling in your car’s converter can crack over time. This results in loose pieces, which you hear as a rattling sound coming from your exhaust system. If cleaning your converter or the fixes for the rattling did not work, there’s one more option to try before getting that replacement.
When your converter’s monolith substrate filling becomes too cracked or dirtied to repair or clean, gutting the converter is your last option. This will relieve the pressure that has built up in the car’s exhaust system and will allow you to drive your car until you can get that replacement sorted out.
To do this, you’ll need to unbolt your vehicle’s intermediate pipe, which is connected to the back of the converter. This will leave the interior of the catalytic converter exposed. Using a crowbar, you can insert it into the converter and move it around to clear loose pieces.
You can use a flashlight to check your progress as you gut the converter. If you’re struggling to remove stubborn pieces, you can use a hammer to hit the crowbar or even use a vacuum to help remove pieces of debris. Starting your car and letting it idle will also help remove stubborn chunks of the filling.
Once you’ve done this, simply reattach your intermediate pipe. You’ll now be able to use your car while you wait to get your catalytic converter replaced.
Conclusion
In this article, we looked at how you can fix the rattling of your vehicle’s catalytic converter. Of course, this rattling is often a sign that the converter is failing and will need to be replaced soon. However, using our methods, you’ll be able to stop the rattling and delay the need for that replacement!
You may also like: