Free Auto Repair Advice by Professional Mechanics
Repair Topics
/ Catalytic Converter-1
/ Catalytic Converter-2
MORE: Catalytic converter
questions and answers
Catalytic Converter Questions and Answers - This category
contains featured questions as examples. They relate to most vehicles.
Question: 1999 Plymouth Voyager mileage: 63,094. I just
had my car fixed because my catalytic converter was clogged. The diagnostic machine
said everything was fine. Could this happen from just normal wear? In addition,
I now hear this rubbing noise on the front driver side, also, a lot of rattling.
Someone said my shocks were shot. Could this be?
Answer: Catalytic converters plug usually because of a rich fuel mixture.
Have exhaust gases analyzed to determine the correct mixture. Your shocks need replacing
anytime there is excessive movement.
Question: 1990 SAAB mileage: 120,000. I had a blown head gasket and drove
with it for quite some time. It got kind of bad and I was forced to drive the car
out quite some distance to store it. Along the way, the engine was overheating and
I began to lose a lot of power. I have since replaced the head gasket, and checked
the compression on the cylinders. They were pretty even at about 130. The car still
has difficulty with a lack of power. I was wondering if that lack of power could
be caused by a clogged catalytic converter due to all of the fowled exhaust. I had
never replaced the catalytic converter on the car.
Answer: Yes, there is a good chance that the catalytic converter
is plugged.
Question: 1990 Porsche 928s4 5.0 mileage: 129,999. Hard start - when started
runs rough and no power or intermittent power. Was working fine before and after
having Midas check my catalytic converters. Verdict on cats was bad. Temperature
on engine side of catalytic, 300 degrees; temperature on muffler side, 210 degrees.
Does this mean the engine could be having troubles due to catalytic malfunction?
Answer: Could be! To test for a plugged converter, drill a small
hole in the exhaust pipe right before the catalytic converter. Install a temporary
hose fitting and attach a long rubber hose and a 0 to 10 pound pressure gauge. With
the gauge inside the car, drive up a hill or accelerate and read the pressure. Normal
is 2 to 3 pounds, restricted 4 pounds or higher. The drawback to this method is
the small hole will need to be welded shut after the test; a minor job if you have
a welder.
Question: 1999 Ford F-150 mileage: 90,000. My truck has started to miss on
acceleration. I replaced the usual suspects, plugs, wires, rotor and dist. cap,
fuel and air filter, PCV valve. This didn’t have any effect, so I took it to the
Chevy dealership for a diagnostic. Their conclusion was that I had carbon buildup
and for 165.00 they would decarb my engine. I knew that what they would do was run
some chemicals through it, so I said no thanks, bought a carbon removal product,
added it to my gas and nothing. It still hesitates upon acceleration. Maybe my catalytic
converter is partially plugged. How would I check it?
Answer: Try replacing the Mass Air Flow Sensor. A weak signal from
the sensor may be causing your problem. To test for a plugged converter, drill a
small hole in the exhaust pipe right before the catalytic converter. Install a temporary
hose fitting and attach a long rubber hose and a 0 to 10 pound pressure gauge. With
the gauge inside the car, drive up a hill or accelerate and read the pressure. Normal
is 2 to 3 pounds, restricted 4 pounds or higher.
Question: 2004 Hyundai Accent mileage: 55,000. My sister had a cat. converter
(front) replaced on her car. She thought she was getting a new one, but it turned
out to be used, anyway we have replaced 2 sets of plug wires in the last 4 months,
they keep melting, it seems as though it is caused from the heat off the converter.
Is it possible it is the wrong converter or installed wrong? The heat resistor protectors
(whatever you call them) are jammed and it makes it very hard to change plugs. HELP
please.Answer: You may have had the incorrect catalytic converter
installed but it sounds like the heat shields are not properly placed. If the engine
is running “rich”, it will cause the catalytic converter to be hotter than normal.
Have the engine fuel system checked.
Question: 1998 Ford Mustang mileage: 139,000. I recently noticed that
my catalytic converter was glowing bright orange and it started smoking very badly.
What do I need to do to fix the problem?
Answer: Your fuel injection is malfunctioning causing an over-rich condition.
Scan your computer for fault codes, which should pinpoint the problem.
MORE: Catalytic converter
questions and answers
Repair Topics /
Catalytic Converter-1
/ Catalytic Converter-2
Look up your catalytic converter question in our
Car
Repair forum section.
Got Car Repair Questions?
We will answer it for FREE!
Related Subjects
GET ONLINE
CAR REPAIR MANUALS. Get instant access to your vehicles drive belt routing,
wiring diagrams, trouble code information, updates and factory bulletins.
|