Collection: Catalytic Converters - Acura

About the Brand

Acura is the luxury brand owned by Honda and is based in Tokyo, Japan. It was first founded in 1985. But why doesn’t Honda just release the vehicles that Acura makes if they are owned by the same company? Honda wanted a brand that would be associated with luxury and high-performance, which is what Acura is. In fact, it was the first Japanese car manufacture to be known for this. The production of the Acura Legend as a higher-end but affordable luxury vehicle as their flagship prompted both Toyota and Nissan to create the same luxury name brands like Honda did.

Your Acura’s Catalytic Converters

Now that we know a little bit more about Acura, what do we need to know about Acura catalytic converters? For the most part, they are similar to those found on nearly every other car. By law, they have to perform the same function of turning the harmful gases produced by your car’s engine into less harmful or even harmless gases, sometimes even steam. It does this by using a catalyst, which is a chemical that causes a chemical reaction in other substances without being changed when it does this. Most Acura catalytic converters are like those on other vehicles and do this with platinum or palladium.

The Effectiveness of Acura Catalytic Converters

Most of the time, such as when you are driving, and the engine is warmed up, the catalytic converter is very effective at controlling the amount of pollution that the car pumps into the air. This helps to reduce the carbon footprint of your Acura and every other car on the road. However, when you first start your car and it isn’t yet completely warmed up, it isn’t quite as effective at controlling those harmful gases.

The newer cars that have newer catalytic converter technology, also help to reduce the amount of nitrous oxide in the atmosphere which can greatly reduce the impact on global warming trends. Your Acura catalytic converters, especially if it is newer, can be very effective in reducing pollution and helping with greenhouse gases.

Signs of a Bad Catalytic Converter

The Acura catalytic converter, or converters if you have more than one, should be guaranteed to last at least 5 years by the manufacturer. However, many last a lot longer than that. Still, if you plan on keeping your Acura for a while, or if you purchased one that is a few years old, you may eventually see the signs of a bad Acura catalytic converter and you’ll want to know what they are. Let’s take a look:

• Your check engine light comes on – this may be the first sign that something is wrong as your car will sense there is something wrong with the exhaust leaving the catalytic converter and alert you through the check engine light

• Failed emissions test – if your check engine light hasn’t come on yet but you need to go through an emissions test for car registration or inspection and it fails, you may have a problem with your catalytic converter; the emissions tech may be able to tell you the probable cause of the test failure

• Car won’t start – some cars, including some Acura’s, won’t start if there is a problem with the exhaust system, and this is not only to protect you from exhaust leaks into the car which can be dangerous, but also to prevent harmful gases into the environment

• No acceleration – if you press on the gas and you have no acceleration you may have an issue with your Acura catalytic converter and it may be for several reasons, one is that it may be stopped up which is causing your car to be sluggish

• Lack of fuel efficiency – this is the biggest sign that something is wrong with the exhaust system, more specifically the catalytic converter

When to Replace Your Catalytic Converter

If you notice any of the above symptoms, it is time to take your car into a shop where they can do a thorough check of your car’s exhaust system. They will most likely run an emissions test if you haven’t already had one done. They will also run diagnostics on the computer to check for any bad sensors and other electronics, or to see if the sensors are picking up information that will be helpful. If it is evident that your Acura catalytic converter is to blame for your car’s problems, they will recommend replacing it.

Why It’s Important to Replace It If It’s Bad

Not only can you experience some rather irritating problems with your car, or potentially be left stranded if your car doesn’t start, you can do some serious damage to your vehicle if your Acura catalytic converter isn’t fixed when it goes bad. You can wear out parts of your engine, including: bearings, rings, crankshaft, and valves. A blockage may also end up forcing exhaust fumes into the cabin of the vehicle which can lead to a lot of other problems if not taken care of properly.

Now you know a bit more about Acura catalytic converters and how important it is to be aware of the signs of a bad one. If you experience symptoms that may point to issues with your catalytic converter, be sure to have it checked out as soon as possible so you can avoid more serious damage to your vehicle. Acura catalytic converters help to protect the environment and the people who live in it by reducing pollution and it is important that it work correctly at all times, for the health and safety of all those around you.