Diesel trucks are a target for catalytic converter theft because the converters are bigger. Catalytic converters are made from precious metals like platinum and rhodium. The bigger the converter the more precious metal. United Diesel Repair can help if your truck’s catalytic converter has been stolen. We are going to list the signs of a missing catalytic converter below.
Loud/Roaring Engine
One sign that is hard to miss is the sound of your diesel truck’s engine after the converter has been taken. The engine will be louder and roar constantly, especially when you accelerate. This noise is being caused by the exhaust manifold as it pushes the exhaust into the space where the catalytic converter once was. The push of the exhaust into the converter is muffled by the converter.
Check Engine Light
Another sign that is hard to miss is your truck’s check engine light. When the catalytic converter gets taken from underneath the vehicle, the exhaust system will malfunction. System sensors will pick up on the malfunction and notify the engine control unit of trouble. The unit is unable to resolve the malfunctions, so it will turn on the check engine light anytime the diesel truck is running.
Acceleration Trouble
We mentioned above that the diesel truck’s engine will roar loudly when you accelerate. Along with the roar, the truck will jerk forward rather than accelerate smoothly. This makes driving the truck difficult. The converter not only muffles the noise of the exhaust release but also the force. Consequently, you’re in for a jerky ride if you try to drive your diesel truck after the catalytic converter is stolen.
Slow-Speed Trouble
Another performance issue that is related to a stolen catalytic converter is trouble operating the diesel truck at slow speeds. For some reason, the engine struggles to produce low-end torque when the converter is missing. This means the truck is going to sputter a lot until you pick up speed. These problems assume that you are going to drive your diesel truck after the theft. Don’t do it.
Strong Exhaust Odors
We recommend that you have your diesel truck towed to our shop rather than drive it because the missing catalytic converter can cause the passenger cabin to fill with the vehicle’s exhaust. This can make you sick and even be deadly. It’s better to avoid driving the vehicle after the theft.
United Diesel Repair in Flowery Branch, GA, is here to help, so call us today if someone stole the catalytic converter from your diesel truck.
