German cars of the Audi brand are known all over the world for their strength and durability of spare parts. The developers made sure that the vehicle meets all requirements and standards. A distinctive feature is the exhaust system that effectively purifies toxic substances before they are released into the environment. Depending on the car model and year of manufacture, the system can have one or two catalytic converters. Their number depends on the engine type. Catalytic converters are valuable even after failure as they contain platinum group metals. The defective part can be sold to dealers that can be found at https://autocatalystmarket.com/us/en/products/audi.
Common malfunctions of the converter
According to the manufacturer’s technical regulations, the average service life of a catalytic converter in Audi cars is 60,000-120,000 miles. The most common malfunctions include:
- Seal failure of the engine lubrication circuit in the area of connection of the cylinder block with the head – it occurs due to the burnout of the head gasket, which leads to the ingress of oil into the combustion chamber.
- Breakage of connecting parts – over time, rubbing elements can wear out thus causing oil ingression into the cylinders.
- Ignition problems – temperature extremes have a detrimental effect on the catalytic converter.
- Incorrect mixing of fuel – it leads to local combustion inside the part, which leads to clogging of the honeycomb.
A catalytic converter requires special attention and proper operation. Premature wear of a part can be affected by the quality of the fuel used, various additives for the engine, and etc.
Symptoms of failure
It is hard to miss the failure of the catalytic converter as the vehicle starts to malfunction. The first symptoms of a breakdown may include:
- strong odor and rattling sound under the bottom;
- fuel consumption increases;
- unstable speed and lack of traction;
- problems with the fuel system.
In rare cases, a Check Engine indicator may appear on the dashboard. It indicates an engine error and may appear not only due to a faulty catalytic converter. Therefore, when these symptoms appear, a visual examination or diagnosis of the part should be carried out.
Removal of the catalytic converter
A catalytic converter is an expensive part, and replacing it can significantly affect the budget. Many vehicle owners remove this part, which is much cheaper, but there are certain actions that are required:
- Disconnect oxygen sensors.
- Remove all fasteners and remove the catalytic converter from the fragments of the exhaust gas tract.
- Cut out the part.
Consideration should be given to installing a stronger or flame arrester instead of the original part. After removing the catalytic converter, the onboard computer needs to be re-flashed in order to erase all errors and continuous alerts in this respect.
