Cat converter tech question

[Jerry G.]

I just got a check engine light code and I looked it up and it's for catalytic converter. What happens if I ignore this for 6 months and drive anyway. will this hurt the motor. My emissions test doesn't come around till spring.

[William C.]

Re: Cat converter tech question

You don't exactly mention what year we are talking about, but in general, a "check engine" light illumination will put the engine management system in a "Backup" mode offering less efficiency (poorer mileage and performance). Depending on the emissions regs in the state you live in there may be other complications.

[Clem Z.]

Re: Cat converter tech question

I just got a check engine light code and I looked it up and it's for catalytic converter. What happens if I ignore this for 6 months and drive anyway. will this hurt the motor. My emissions test doesn't come around till spring.

it may not hurt the engine but it could ruin the cat converter and they ain't cheap. what type of car and what code was set ?

[Jack H.]

Re: Cat converter tech question

The ultimate cat converter failure can result in exhaust flow 'plugging up' and the car simply grinding to a halt...

I had a CFO at a company I worked for based in California who ignored MIL fault indications pertaining to his cat converter. He discovered the 'ultimate' problem in a severe blizzard one day with the car loaded with his family driving back to San Francisco from Lake Tahoe.

Yep, that was the LAST time he ignored a 'cosmetic' engine check light warning!

[Tom L.]

Re: Cat converter tech question

Had a similar trip with a friends car in upstate NY's mountains during a snow storm. After the car stopped running we lifted the hood and the exhaust manifold was cherry red. We were lucky the car didn't burn up!

Worst of all this was before cell phones, we had to wait for a friendly passer-by to help us out.

[Edward J.]

Re: Cat converter tech question

Jerry, the cat. efficiency code set buy your computer is something they starting monitoring on cars is 1996 and newer I beleive, maybe earlier in calif. it doesnt always mean the convertor has a flow problem,the eff. level has dropped below a threshold that the computer monitors looks at .there could be reasons that it threw a code for a convertor, one maybe a oxygen sensor response on the bank that set the code has slowed, a vaccum leak-( could be adding alittle extra fuel) checking for misfires, all this said, the scan tool is something that is needed to help with the dia. process.

Driving the car without a dia.on the probelm maybe damaging the convertor. if the problem lies elsewhere.

[John D.]

Re: Cat converter tech question

It may not be relevant here at all but if you wait six months the 7yr/70k emissions warranty may expire. If it's a converter efficiency code (P0401?)mileage and performance may suffer.