CLK55 AMG, CLK63 AMG (W208, W209) 2000 - 2010 (Two Generations)

symptoms that your catalytic converter is going bad

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Rate Thread
 
Old 07-16-2008, 08:15 PM
  #1  
Member
Thread Starter
 
ac_schnauzer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 155
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
symptoms that your catalytic converter is going bad

i have a suspicion that my catalytic converters are going bad. every now and then i can smell a sulfur smell and it quite often happens when i floor it.
i called up my service consultant and he said the smell is normal if you don't drive the car often.

anyone else experience similar?
Old 07-16-2008, 08:37 PM
  #2  
Super Member
 
newguy2008's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Hollywood North
Posts: 523
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
CLK 55 ///AMG Cabrio, ML63 ///AMG
Rattling when going over bumps is another sign.
Old 07-16-2008, 10:43 PM
  #3  
Senior Member
 
DBLNICKL's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: NYC
Posts: 284
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
CLK 55
i've experienced the stinky sulfur smell the other day...and have smelled it years past (since 05)...nothing ever came from it, i dont think...i drive my car daily btw...
Old 07-17-2008, 01:32 AM
  #4  
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
MarcusF's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: SCV SoCal
Posts: 3,784
Received 77 Likes on 61 Posts
2002 CLK430
With the car in neutral, and idling, rev the engine to the 1500-2000 range and let it drop back down to idle again quickly. Do you hear a rattle? If so, there's a pretty good chance the welds that hold ceramic center of the cat has broken.

A sulfur smell can occasionally be corrected by changing brands of gasoline. Of course, it could be that one or both of the primary O2 sensors are going bad, allowing the car to run lean at idle. That will cause the cat to sink until it eventually kills it.
Old 07-17-2008, 10:12 AM
  #5  
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Jons95c36amg's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Desert
Posts: 3,443
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
02 CLK 55 AMG,09 C63 loaded with P30
One of the reasons why cats stink is when you havent drove the car hard or close to it. You got to clean out them pipes once in a while. It happened to my 350z when it was new.
Old 07-18-2008, 07:38 AM
  #6  
Super Member
 
lkfoster's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Phoenix AZ & Cayucos CA
Posts: 749
Received 43 Likes on 32 Posts
'19 AMG E53 Cpe, '23 EQS 580 SUV, '88 560SL, '35 Ford 5w coupe, '53 MGTD and others
Originally Posted by MarcusF
With the car in neutral, and idling, rev the engine to the 1500-2000 range and let it drop back down to idle again quickly. Do you hear a rattle? If so, there's a pretty good chance the welds that hold ceramic center of the cat has broken.

A sulfur smell can occasionally be corrected by changing brands of gasoline. Of course, it could be that one or both of the primary O2 sensors are going bad, allowing the car to run lean at idle. That will cause the cat to sink until it eventually kills it.
Rattling from the catalytic converter doesn't always mean that the core is broken. Our old BMW e28 M5 rattled from new, even with a couple factory "fixes". It was still rattling 17 years and 165k miles later when it was replaced.

As for the sulfur smell, rich mixtures will cause it from my experience. One cause can be an air leak between the engine and the first oxygen sensors causing the Motronic to think the mixture is lean and going rich accordingly.
Old 11-21-2008, 05:00 PM
  #7  
Super Member
 
aolsen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Charlotte, NC
Posts: 537
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
2013 S550, CLS500, ‘03 SL500, “92 190E Sportline
This happened to me today

I had revved my engine a little while holding down the clutch, and almost immediately I noticed a strange smell in the cabin. I wasn't sure if it was my car or not, but after going inside the bank and getting back in the car, I noticed the smell again. Now that I read this, I think it is my oxygen sensor. I replaced the leaking cam sensors a few months ago, and I am sure that the o2 sensor was damaged from the leaking oil.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 


You have already rated this thread Rating: Thread Rating: 0 votes,  average.

Quick Reply: symptoms that your catalytic converter is going bad



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 10:38 PM.