As drivers, we rarely think of how many noxious, dangerous gases our cars produce. Fortunately, most of the time, we needn't worry about them as our catalytic converters reliably turn these toxic emissions into relatively harmless gases like nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and water vapor. But if your cat starts to break down, you'll soon notice the difference. The following five signs of cat trouble should prompt you to visit your nearest Ford dealer for a cat inspection without delay.
A Stink of Rotting Eggs
One of the nastiest gases your engine produces is hydrogen sulfide, which smells distinctly like rotting eggs when unfiltered. If your cat stops working properly, you'll soon catch a whiff of this unpleasant smell in your cabin.
Hydrogen sulfide is poisonous to breathe, so if you smell it, open all the windows and drive straight to your nearest dealership to have your cat fixed. Ignoring this problem could be very bad for your health.
Thickening Exhaust Fumes
While cleaning your exhaust, the cat also lessens the volume of fumes escaping from your exhaust. If your cat stops doing this, you'll probably notice visibly thicker exhaust fumes rising behind your car.
Rattling Noises Below You
The precious metals that serve as a catalyst inside your cat are coated over a delicate honeycomb mesh. When a cat begins to break down from age, this mesh will often start to fall apart.
An external jolt from a pothole or some other object can also sometimes cause the meshwork to break apart. This will result in a rattling sound below you as the loose parts of the mesh move around.
Dropping Engine Power
When cats run into trouble, they often clog up. This restricts the essential flow of fumes and air through your vehicle.
The backed-up airflow will prevent sufficient oxygen from entering the engine, which causes the engine to lose power. You'll find your vehicle accelerating more slowly, idling roughly, and sometimes even stalling.
Dashboard Warning Light
When the cat causes engine problems like this, the various sensitive sensors in your Ford will soon detect it. You'll see the 'Check Engine' light come to life on your dashboard. If you ever see this light, have a technician diagnose the problem right away.
How Your Cat Is Examined at a Ford Dealer
There are various ways for a technician to check if a cat is at fault. They can run the engine and listen for rattling or use special tools to measure the build-up of heat before and after the cat.
They can also detach a section of exhaust piping upwind of the cat and again run your car. If the engine's performance returns to normal, they'll know your cat is to blame.
Have your cat examined and repaired today at Lundgren Motors Ford. With 96 years of experience serving the region's local Ford drivers, you can rest assured that we know Ford vehicles like the back of our hands.
