5 Signs Your GMC or Buick Needs a New Catalytic Converter

Protect your vehicle by knowing the five signs your GMC or Buick needs a new catalytic converter, or “cat.” At Crain Buick GMC, our service team has seen it all, including plenty of broken cats. Discover the most common indications of a bad cat below.

5 Signs Your GMC or Buick Needs a New Catalytic Converter From Your GMC Dealer

1. Check Engine Light

If your check engine light turns on, it could mean one of many things, including a broken cat. Sometimes, a check engine light comes on because there is a problem with one of your sensors, rather than the cat itself. Other times, the sensors detect an actual problem with the performance of your cat.

If you take your vehicle to your local GMC dealer, a service technician will look for trouble codes. The codes will tell the technician precisely what happened to your vehicle.

2. Failed Emissions Test

Another sign that your cat called it quits is a failed emissions test, although it could mean one or more other problems instead. Generally, a vehicle fails an emissions test for one of three reasons:

• Vacuum leaks
• Broken oxygen sensor
• Faulty air injection system

While a vacuum leak may cause a bad cat, a bad cat will not lead to a vacuum leak. That said, if a cat’s oxygen sensor proves faulty, that could lead to a failed emissions test.

3. Rattling Noise Upon Ignition

Most of the time, a rattling noise indicates a problem with your cat, especially if it occurs during startup and then becomes fainter as you drive. However, you should not ignore this symptom.

The cause of the rattle usually involves broken pieces of mesh inside your cat. Once you start your car, the broken mesh pieces start rattling around in there. An arrhythmic beat represents a dead giveaway that you have broken mesh inside your cat.

4. Exhaust Smells Like Rotten Eggs

When your cat works as it should, it converts stinky hydrogen sulfide into odorless sulfur dioxide. However, when your cat begins to break down, you may begin to smell something like rotten eggs or a stink bomb. If other drivers start indicating to you that your car’s exhaust smells bad, you may need to schedule a service appointment for your malfunctioning cat.

5. Reduced Power

One of the earliest symptoms of a bad cat involves reduced power output from your engine. This problem may manifest as a lower top speed or slower acceleration than normal. If you notice your engine seems sluggish in general, you might have an issue with your cat.

Does your trusty GMC Sierra exhibit one or more of the previous five signs? If so, it could mean that your cat finally gave out. Call Crain Buick GMC at 501-329-6825 to schedule a checkup with one of our service technicians.

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