We wish we could say that catalytic converter theft was not a problem, but it is. This does not mean that you need to worry, however. Twin City Automotive can repair the damage to your exhaust system and replace the catalytic converter if yours gets stolen. Let’s talk about this problem in greater detail below.
Why Do Catalytic Converters Get Stolen?
The reason why people steal catalytic converters is that they contain precious metals that are extremely valuable. For example, the catalytic converter underneath your automobile has platinum in it. It also has palladium and rhodium in it.
The thieves melt the converter down to extract the metal and get money for it. Unfortunately, people who drive large trucks are often the victims of catalytic converter theft because their catalytic converters are larger.
How Do the Thieves Steal the Converters?
The thieves steal the catalytic converters by crawling underneath the automobile and using a saw to remove them. If you have a metal saw, it does not take much time to grab the catalytic converter. In fact, someone can even take a catalytic converter from your automobile if it is parked in a public parking lot.
What Will Happen if My Converter Is Stolen?
You will have engine problems if your catalytic converter is stolen. The first thing you will notice is the noise that your engine makes when you start your automobile. The engine will be much louder and it will rumble. If you press down on the accelerator, the engine’s noise will increase even more.
The next thing you are going to notice is that the check engine light is illuminated on the dashboard. Unfortunately, the light will not turn off because the exhaust system is malfunctioning. In order to get the light to turn off, the catalytic converter needs to be replaced.
If you try to drive your automobile, you will notice that the acceleration is extremely jerky. In addition, the vehicle will suffer from poor performance when you are driving at slow speeds. Both of these problems are caused by the fact that you do not have the catalytic converter in the exhaust system.
Finally, you may be able to smell your vehicle’s exhaust while you are driving your automobile. It is easy for the exhaust to enter the passenger cabin because it is released into the open air.
If you cancel your exhaust, Twin City Automotive in Winston-Salem, NC, recommends that you stop driving your vehicle and have it towed to our shop.
