Catalytic converter 2

[hornmark]

I notice in my Volvo auto manual that manual cars with catalytic converters should not be tow started.
Are converters so sensitive ?

 

[ecampos]

They are not that sensitive, but manual transmission cars do not have a torque converter. Unless Volvo did something strange which is pretty common for them. You cannot push/tow start a vehicle with a torque converter, because the pump is not running to pump fluid into the converter and obviously the converter is not turning.


Edson Campos
edsoncampos@earthlink.net

 

[butelja]

The risk in tow starting a car with a catalytic convertor is that if the car does not start fairly quickly, then unburned fuel can accumulate in the convertor. When the car is started, this can light off and damage the convertor due to excessively high temperature. It is possible (but not real likely) that the convertor internals can melt and cause pluggage of the exhaust system.