If your high-performance automobile is parked in a public place for more than an hour, this gives a thief plenty of time to steal the catalytic converter. Catalytic converters are in demand for their metal. Unfortunately, Excelerate Performance advises that this is a common form of automobile theft. Rather than take your whole vehicle, the thief will saw the converter out of the exhaust system.
Check Engine Warning
You will know something is wrong right away when you fire up your high-performance vehicle because the check engine light will stay on after the engine has started. Unfortunately, the engine control unit is getting inundated with error codes because there are a ton of malfunctions happening throughout the engine and exhaust system.
Loud/Roaring Engine
Another thing you will notice is that your engine is louder than normal and roaring more than normal. Even though you drive a high-performance automobile that is tricked out to sound vicious, this noise is going to sound as if something is wrong. The catalytic converter is not a muffler but it helps to prevent the noise of the exhaust being forced out of the engine and into it.
Poor Acceleration
The roaring noises will get louder when you accelerate your high-performance vehicle, but the acceleration itself will be jerky and difficult. This is because the catalytic converter is gone and the exhaust force is acting as a motion accelerant. When you press down on the accelerator, it’s almost as if the exhaust rockets your vehicle forward.
Slow-Speed Problems
There will also be issues trying to drive your high-performance automobile at slower speeds when you need to. Consequently, the engine struggles to produce low-end torque when the catalytic converter has been stolen. As such, the engine is going to sputter until you reach higher speeds. The engine can still produce high-end torque without an issue.
Excess Exhaust Odors
Finally, it’s better to have your high-performance automobile towed to our shop than to drive it if the catalytic converter was ripped off. The engine no longer has the catalytic converter to push the exhaust into. Consequently, the exhaust is pushed into the open air and can find a way to enter the passenger cabin. This can make you sick when you are driving your automobile because you are inhaling poisonous gases such as carbon monoxide.
Excelerate Performance in Branford, CT, recommends you call the police and your auto insurance company to report the catalytic converter theft and then have your high-performance automobile towed to our shop so we can put in a new catalytic converter.
