Q: Struggling to go uphill and muffler sounds get louder and strong smell of gas fumes.

asked by on December 24, 2016

Why does my truck struggle going uphill and is loud and I can smell gas fumes?

My car has 232000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.

Catalytic Converter Replacement $288.41 - $1959.69 Get a Quote

It sounds like you may have a clogged catalytic converter. The catalytic converter converts toxic exhaust gases into less harmful pollutants that are suitable to be expelled into the atmosphere. When this is clogged, this causes these gases to be backed up into the exhaust system not allowing the engine to breathe properly. When this happens, the engine is forced to work much harder to expel these gases. This often results in the engine bogging down, hesitating, shaking and causing very poor fuel economy. This should also cause a check engine light to come on as the O2 sensors should be reading the incorrect amounts of oxygen in the exhaust gases if this is your problem. I would recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose and replace your catalytic converter.

The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Get an instant quote for your car

Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing


Experienced Mechanic?

Earn up to $70/hr

What others are asking

How do I defog the rear window?
To defog the rear window, press the rear window defog button. An indicator light will turn on to confirm that the rear window defogger is in use, and the defogger will automatically turn off after roughly 15 minutes.
Smoke coming from exhaust
Hello, it sounds like you may have a gasket or seal leaking on your car. Smoke in the exhaust could indicate 2 things: you're burning oil or you're burning coolant. If you're burning oil that usually means your valve seals...
Car not idling smoothly
This is typically caused by a carburetor problem. Most of the time it is as simple as an adjustment of the mixture. This is something that must only be done by someone with carburetor experience. If you need to have...
High idling, check engine light on
The Check Engine Light being on indicates there is a problem and a code will have been set. Have the light checked for codes and then get a professional to thoroughly diagnose the Check Engine Light (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/check-engine-light-is-on-inspection) to see what...
New battery losing power
When the charging system indicator comes on the majority of the cases are caused by a faulty alternator (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/symptoms-of-a-bad-or-failing-alternator). I suggest having the starting and charging system tested by a technician. When the battery was installed a connection it may...
Burning Smell and Squeaking Wheel 2007 Honda Civic
Hello - the smell and "hot" symptoms you describe suggest your rear brake is dragging on that rear wheel. This could be an emergency brake cable which is not releasing (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/symptoms-of-a-bad-or-failing-parking-brake-release-cable), or a frozen brake cylinder or caliper. I recommend...
Hello. Is the mechanic price & labor price 2 seperate charges?
Hi there. I have forwarded your inquiry to our sales professionals as this section is designed for automotive repair and maintenance recommendations. They'll be contacting you shortly.
Purge valve location
The vapor vent valve is located on air inlet tube between the throttle body and the mass air sensor. It is mounted on side of the air tube.
Is a 2011 Chevy Impala equipped with magnasteer?
Magnasteer was not an option on the 2011 Impala so what you are looking at is an irrelevant catalog entry (an error in the parts catalog). However, several different rack and pinion units were installed on the 2011 Impala and...

Related articles

A Buyer's Guide to the 2012 Nissan Titan
With With the 2012 Titan, Nissan continues its march into domestic territory. This model lives up to its name, but it’s also quite impressive inside as well. Even if you are in the market and wouldn’t normally consider a truck,...
A Buyer's Guide to the 2012 Nissan Quest
If If your family has gotten to the size where a minivan makes sense, you have a huge market to explore. Start with the 2012 Nissan Quest, though, and you may find that your search becomes a relatively short one....
The Best Used Cars to Buy If You're an Archeologist
If If you are an archaeologist, you need a vehicle that will take you off the beaten path. After all, that’s where you spend a good deal of your time. And that means that you will need, ideally, an SUV...