3 Signs It’s Time to Replace Your Catalytic Converter

The catalytic converter in your Kia forms part of the exhaust system. It’s designed to filter and remove many of the harmful chemicals found in burnt fuel. The chemicals, including carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide, are highly toxic and a major cause of pollution. The converter can eventually wear out or get damaged. As your Kia dealer, we can fit a replacement converter for you. These are some of the signs you’ll need a new converter very soon.

Rotten Egg Smell

A nasty rotten egg smell coming from your engine means that hydrogen sulfide, a dangerous chemical that smells like rotten eggs, is leaking. If your battery isn’t corroded, your converter is most likely failing. The converter uses a three-step process to convert dangerous chemicals, like hydrogen sulfide, into harmless chemicals.

Burnt fuel contains many dangerous chemicals, including hydrogen sulfide. As part of its conversion process, the converter changes the sulfide into harmless sulfur dioxide. The sulfur dioxide is then forced out of the exhaust. If the converter is worn out or clogged, this conversion won’t take place. Unburnt fuel will still contain hydrogen sulfide, which will increase pollution. Our technicians can test your converter and replace it if necessary.

Check Engine Light

The check engine light covers numerous possible problems in your engine. Sensors are attached to all of the vital components in your Kia to monitor them for signs of trouble. Each sensor can detect even a minute change in the workings of the component it’s attached to. If a problem develops, the sensor will signal your car’s computer, and the check engine light will come on.

This light doesn’t necessarily mean you have a problem with the converter, but the reason for the light needs to be found and fixed. If your converter is failing, the number of dangerous gases in your engine will build up. These gases will accept the fuel-air ratio your engine needs for combustion. The skewed fuel-air ratio caused by these gases will be detected by the oxygen sensor, and the check engine light will come on.

Engine Problems

The converter has a honeycomb structure, which provides a large surface area for converting dangerous chemicals. Carbon, a byproduct of some of these conversions, can build up in the honeycomb structure and block it. If the converter is blocked, exhaust flow will become restricted. Some of the gases that can’t escape will linger in the combustion chamber.

As we saw above, the fuel-air ratio will be affected by these gases. If the ratio is less than 1:14 of fuel to air, your engine can suffer misfiring, spark plug damage, and other engine damage. Our technicians can replace the converter, and we can check and repair any problems we find.

Modern engines are designed to work with a converter, and a damaged converter can cause serious damage to your engine. If your converter is wearing out, call our service department at Kelly Grimsley Kia, and we’ll replace it for you.

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