How do I know if my catalytic converter needs to be changed?

Question:
How do I know if my catalytic converter needs to be changed? And what are the problems with a bad catalytic converter?

Answers:

Can anyone recommend an engineer who could determine how long a car suspension part had been cracked?

Two basic performance problems can occur with converters. One - it (they) get plugged due to something like overheating. The more plugged the converter is, the sooner you will notice the engine losing power. Yes, it could act just like it is a fuel starvation problem. This can be identified by a back pressure check of the exhaust system or removing the converter.

Help please.......?

Two - it can stop converting due to damage to the honeycomb within the converter, such as a violent hit to the shell, or if the honeycomb gets coated with some material like motor oil. This can be confirmed by an emission check.

I smell anti-freeze in the cab of my truck. Steam also comes out of the vents. What could it be?

Either way, I would recommend maintaining a working catalytic converter. Fresh air and compliance is a good thing. It is a myth that converters (if properly working) reduce engine power.

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my car is making a scraping noise like a clak clak clak when i turn it on, what is it?

your car will start to lose power ,and your
exhaust will start to smell like rotten eggs,or sulfur

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I guess code 32 has nothin to do with optispark, thanx for the info on that maybe i should explain better?

Depends on car age usually. Can fail SMOG test, or start to plug which will cause you to loose power, especially under load like acceleration as as mentioned before the smell can be a giveaway

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Where is a good auto repair shop in Fort Collins, Colorado?

the easiest way is with an infared temp gun. COST 39.99 the inlet temp should be 100 degrees cooler then the outlet temp. the reason being is as exhaust coming thru the inlet side of the converter contains unburned fuel or hydrocarbons in it. the converter acts as an over to burn off the excess unburned fuel in the exhaust and as a result the temp leaving the converter will be about 100 degrees hotter. if your inlet and outlet temps are the same then the converter is not burning off the raw fuel not burned because of incomplete combustion which is normal in internal combustiable engines

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why have my brake lights gone out?

You can hear the exhaust tip sounding like something is plugged up when you rev the motor. Also the cat just doesn't burn up, you have a fuel problem with motor, it is runnig rich, maybe cuz of the computer.

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Check engine light...... bad "vacuum switch valve"?

If it fails smog due to high hydrocarbons(un-burned fuel), high CO, and high Nox. On OBD2 cars, if the O2 sensors before and after the cat are send the same signal to the ECU the CAT is bad. Not alot of people know this but if your car is out of warranty less then 5 years old and under 80k miles you can take it to the dealership and they will replaces any emissons equipment on the car for free. But if you are wrong about the part being bad you have to pay them for looking at it.

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