Catalyst deterioration detecting system for an automobile

The invention provides a catalyst deterioration detecting system that is capable of detecting the degree of deterioration of each catalyst in a catalyst converter which includes two or more catalysts in series.The catalyst deterioration detecting system of an internal-combustion engine according to the invention is provided with a upstream catalyst located on an upstream side of an exhaust system of the internal-combustion engine and a downstream catalyst located on a downstream side of the exhaust system. The device comprises an oxygen density detector which is disposed downstream of the downstream catalyst and a deterioration detector for detecting a deterioration degree of the upstream catalyst based on the output of the oxygen density detector. According to an aspect of the invention, the deterioration detector detects deterioration degree of the downstream catalyst based on the previously detected deterioration degree of the upstream catalyst.