Near loss of consiousness at wheel

[NoMercy]

Hi all.

My car had a new catalytic converter fitted today and on the way home from the garage, my vision began to go all out of focus. I managed to pull over but I was only seconds from fainting at the wheel when I exited the car. I could smell fumes just before pulling over.

After a couple of minutes, I got back in car and wound all the windows down and drove it home. Again I got a strong whiff of fumes just as I pulled up.

Is it/am I safe to drive?

Thanks x

[LoftyLottie]

No Mercy, personally I would phone the garage and not drive until you had discussed it with them. Take care x

[ChuckFickens]

You probably are by now...

The car doesn't sound like it it. try starting the engine and blocking the end of the exhaust for a few seconds, the revs should very quickly die, if they don't you have a leak in the exhaust system (you'll also be able to hear if it's leaking along it's length somewhere)

(use the rubber sole of an old shoe or something to block the exhaust, it will be hot)

[Sqad]

I don't know anything about catalytic converters, but i doubt that it would be the problem.

I would check your exhaust to make sure that carbon monoxide isn't leaking into the car.

Until it is checked, i would drive with the windows open.

[ChuckFickens]

Sqad, the catalytic converter is part of the exhaust.

[Sqad]

chuck...aaaaah!...thanks.

[NoMercy]

There's a kind of burning smell when I apply the breaks...

[DTCwordfan]

It sounds like too much CO2 and possibly CO....(and that is dangerous) diesel or petrol, likely to be more CO with diesel.

[NoMercy]

It's petrol.

[DTCwordfan]

Is your exhaust making a lot of noise.....?

My own feeling is that they haven't attached the manifold to the engine exhaust outlet that well and you have gases streaming back from the engine compartment into the car. Was it warm in there when you were "driving"? I would not drive the car until checked out by them, as you don't want all the rest of the gases like NOx in you.

[Kiki-frog]

Eek, that sounds very scary. Please get it checked asap. x

[DTCwordfan]

what's the car too NoM re position of the cat convertor....

[DTCwordfan]

a leak on the convertor itself, I would expect the gases to blow quickly away from the air draught under the car as you drive along.

[NoMercy]

2ltr Focus Zetec.

[DTCwordfan]

It's their fitting of the cat convertor then as the Focus ZX3's catalytic converter is located only a short distance from the cylinder head. This position gives the advantage of quick catalyst heat-up times on cold starts, a necessity for low emissions levels. It's streaming into the passenger compartment from the engine area by all the gaps etc between the two.......

[DTCwordfan]

PP - that's a little unfair as a remark....suggest you apologise.

[NoMercy]

What was the remark?

[atalanta]

I don't suppose you managed to catch a reflection of yourself in one of your mirrors while you were feeling so bad ? If your face was very much redder than usual, this can be a sign of carbon monoxide poisoning.
And maybe a broken engine block.
Happened to a friend of mine.

[NoMercy]

Never thought to look. Will do if it happens again.

Thanks everyone for your replies.

[DTCwordfan]

see e-mail in a few moes, NoM