The catalytic converter in your Ford is designed to reduce pollution. It does this by converting the dangerous byproducts of combustion into less harmful ones. A converter operates at high temperatures and under high pressure, which can damage it over time. A converter can also wear out due to age. Your Ford dealer can repair or replace the converter for you. These are some signs your converter has a problem.
Bad Oxygen Sensor
Your converter may be working correctly, but you could have a bad oxygen sensor. Two oxygen sensors connect to the converter, one at the front and the other at the rear. These sensors monitor the amount of air entering and exiting the converter. This information is sent to your car’s computer, which determines the amount of air required by your engine for combustion.
If one of the sensors fails, it will under or over-report the amount of oxygen in the converter. This information won’t match that provided by the working sensor. Your computer will log an error and illuminate the check engine light. Our technicians will test the sensors and replace the faulty ones.
Sulfer Smell From the Exhaust
A strong smell of sulfur from the exhaust means your engine is expelling a large quantity of unburnt fuel. This situation is usually caused by a clogged air filter. The air filter is responsible for screening air before it enters the engine. It filters out dirt and debris, but this will eventually cause it to clog up. If the filter is clogged, it will restrict the amount of air in your engine.
If your engine doesn’t get enough air, it will become fuel-rich. A fuel-rich engine prevents most of the fuel in the combustion chamber from igniting. The unburnt fuel is dumped into the converter. The hot fuel overwhelms the converter’s ability to convert it and may damage the converter as it passes through. The unburnt fuel will usually exit the tailpipe as a black cloud. Replacing the filter will fix this problem.
Rattling Noises
A converter has an internal honeycomb shape, as this provides a large surface area for conversion. The honeycomb is strong, but it can wear down through use. It can also be damaged by other engine problems, for example, the unburnt fuel mentioned above. Damage can lead to cracks in the honeycomb.
A weakened honeycomb can start to break apart, and the broken pieces will produce a rattling noise as you drive. We can’t repair the honeycomb, but we can replace the converter to fix this problem.
If you’re experiencing any problems with your converter, call us right away at Holt Motors Ford of Cokato.
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