It’s hard to miss that your catalytic converter has been stolen once you fire up your car, truck, or utility vehicle. Journey Auto Repair advises that the first thing you should do is cut the engine and call the authorities. You need to report the theft. The next thing you should do is report the theft to your auto insurance company. Hopefully, they will pay us to put a new catalytic converter in your automobile.
Extremely Loud Engine
The reason why we said that it’s hard to miss that the catalytic converter has been stolen is that a missing catalytic converter makes your engine extremely loud. In fact, the engine will roar and get even louder when you accelerate. This can make it sound as if you are driving a race car.
Sputtering Acceleration
Another thing a missing catalytic converter will do is affect your vehicle’s acceleration. Unfortunately, the acceleration will sputter because the catalytic converter is not there to take in the exhaust being forced out of the engine. In severe cases, this can make your acceleration jerk heavily.
Sputtering at Slow Speeds
The stolen catalytic converter will also affect how your vehicle operates when you are driving at slow speeds. Unfortunately, the engine needs the catalytic converter to help it produce a thing called low-end torque. This is the power that the engine produces when you are driving slowly.
Check Engine Warning
You will also receive a check engine warning on the dashboard the minute you start your engine after the catalytic converter has been stolen. The check engine light will remain on until you replace the stolen catalytic converter. Once it has been replaced, the system sensors will reset.
Excessive Exhaust Odors
The catalytic converter is the exhaust system part that takes in the exhaust from the engine to treat it for hydrocarbons. These are the dangerous emissions in your exhaust. Unfortunately, the exhaust will come into your vehicle, especially if the windows are open, if the catalytic converter is missing.
Feeling Sick While Driving
This is of consequence because it will make you sick while you drive your automobile. If your catalytic converter has been taken from underneath your vehicle, we cannot stress enough the importance of having your car, truck, or C/SUV towed to our shop so you aren’t inhaling carbon monoxide.
Journey Auto Repair in New Hope, MN, can help, so call us today. We can install a new catalytic converter underneath your vehicle if your original one has been stolen.