So Fix it

Practically every car sold in the United States since the mid 1970s has been equipped with a catalytic converter. These exhaust system components reduce the amount of harmful gases that are released into the atmosphere as byproducts of an internal combustion engine. Some say that a cars performance will improve after the cat (as they are sometimes called) is removed, but the basis for this claim is not backed up by any authority. Heres why you need a catalytic converter on your car.

The facts

Catalytic converters are required equipment for all gas and diesel powered cars on the road today. You cant buy a car that does not have one. Removing the catalytic converter from your car is in violation of the federally mandated Clean Air Act, and may also be in violation of state law as well. If you remove the cat, you will fail the emissions test when your car is next inspected. If you drive a car that has on board diagnostics, removing the converter will cause your "Check Engine" light to come on.

Function

The catalytic converter removes hydrocarbons (unburned fuel), carbon monoxide (CO) and oxides of nitrogen (NOX) from the exhaust before it reaches the muffler. There are two main types of catalytic converters: Two-way and three-way. Two way converters, which were the first to be put into general use, remove only the hydrocarbons and CO.

How they work

Catalytic converters essentially just burn the remaining hydrocarbons, CO and NOX to create harmless CO2, water and nitrogen. As temperatures approach 1,400 Fahrenheit the catalyst found inside the converter (usually platinum, rhodium and/or palladium) helps the oxidization of the exhaust gases without undergoing any chemical change to itself.

Significance

The Clean Air Act of 1970 was passed to prevent the dangerous emissions of fossil fuel combustion from becoming a serious threat to the quality of life in this country. Hydrocarbon emissions can contribute to many illnesses, including the irritation of the throat, lung and the eyes. Oxides of nitrogen are a component of smog and they produce ozone, which is a smelly irritant of the eyes and respiratory system. Carbon monoxide is extremely toxic and can cause death if inhaled in large concentrations.

History

After a catalytic muffler that was developed in the late fifties suffered failures due to lead additives in the gasoline, the first catalytic converters were created in 1975 by John Mooney and Carl Keith. These were two-way converters, and it wasnt until 1981 that the three-way catalytic converter was introduced.

A driveshaft transfers the force created by the engine to the drive wheels. Driveshafts can become out of balance, which may cause a number of problems both in terms of mechanical soundness and driving comfort.

Symptoms

An unbalanced driveshaft will wobble while spinning. This wobble may create a vibration felt in the steering wheel while driving or may shake the entire vehicle. The driveshaft may wobble only at certain speeds and not be felt otherwise. An unbalanced driveshaft will also cause increased wear to related components that may require frequent replacement.

Causes

Driveshafts can become unbalanced for a variety of reasons. A vehicle wreck may bend the driveshaft. The driveshaft may also become unbalanced due to loss of balance weights, corrosion or other damage. Bent or significantly damaged driveshafts may be incapable of being balanced and will require replacement.

Repair

Balancing driveshafts requires specialized equipment. A large device similar to a lathe spins the driveshaft and measures balance. Technicians weld small weights onto the driveshaft where needed to properly balance the driveshaft. Car owners should use only an experienced repair technician to tune driveshafts, as the process is complicated.

The Chevrolet Cavalier might have been a pretty decent little car in itself, but a certain malady followed the name wherever it went. Not only was the Cavalier not quite the import-killer that GM had hoped; older buyers had never forgotten that it was essentially a rebadged relative to the worst rebadged travesty in history: the Cadillac Cimarron. The Cobalt that replaced the Cavalier, free of such burdensome history, rose quickly from its 2004 debut to become one of Americas favorite compact cars.

Dash Lights

The 2008 Cobalt, like most modern cars, used a few different dash bulbs. The basic bulbs were single, white LED units from Equus, part number 9903. Part number 9904 was three 9903 bulbs splined into the same harness. The 5-inch Autometer tachometer uses a white, twist-in bulb, part number 3219. The gauges also use a few Autometer-brand, colored LED bulbs: the green LED is part number 3283, the blue is number 3286 and the red LED number 3294.

A bad terminal connection can cause the battery to not work. It is definitely worth the effort to check the terminals because it is easier and less expensive to replace the connectors and clean the terminal posts than to buy a new battery.

Failed Electricity

A defective terminal connection prevents the battery from providing electricity to your car, which may result in electrical systems working poorly or not at all. The lights may become dim and the starter may not be able to start the engine.

Corrosion

A bad battery terminal can cause a build-up of a powder-like substance around the post of the battery terminal. This corrosion can cause a batterys poor connection. You can disconnect the battery cables, negative then positive, and scrub the terminal posts and connectors with a mixture of baking soda and water to remove the corrosion.

Poor Charging

If malfunctioning terminals are preventing a good connection to the battery, the alternator will not be able to properly recharge the battery. This could cause the battery to appear dead.