Is my cat going bad?
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,933
Likes: 4
From: Central Texas
Is my cat going bad? just curious - I have headers and ORY i'll be putting on soon but im still wondering if this is the problem
Ive had the car a year (93 TA) but only drive it maybe once a week. When cold, it sometimes takes a few extra spins of the starter to get it to crank...could be a fuel filter also Im guessing. The biggest problem is heat - when hot, there is a heatwave pouring out from the cat. So much, that my passengers complain when getting in/out of the car. You cant stand next to the passenger side without your feet feeling like theyre severely sunburnt. After a few minutes the console is very hot and the shifter and e-brake are too hot to touch.
Like I said, its coming off anyway, just wondering for future reference
Ive had the car a year (93 TA) but only drive it maybe once a week. When cold, it sometimes takes a few extra spins of the starter to get it to crank...could be a fuel filter also Im guessing. The biggest problem is heat - when hot, there is a heatwave pouring out from the cat. So much, that my passengers complain when getting in/out of the car. You cant stand next to the passenger side without your feet feeling like theyre severely sunburnt. After a few minutes the console is very hot and the shifter and e-brake are too hot to touch.
Like I said, its coming off anyway, just wondering for future reference
try to take the temp from both sides of the cat. If the side going to the engine is a lot hotter than the side leading towards the exhaust, then the cat might be clogged. But there shouldnt be any reason for the cat to cause starting problems.
Staging Lane
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
Borrow or buy an IR temp gauge (they are like $40) and measure the temp of the cats. If one is running hotter than the other (more than 20% hotter), and you are sure you dont have a fuel imbalance or stuck injector on one side, its probably your Cat being partially clogged. I would not wait, because Ive seen them melt wiring and cause car fires. BTW, the IR temp gauge (looks like a gun) is really useful for other things, so don't think its wasted money. (you can check your brakes for stuck calipers, check your hubs for bad bearings, check or AC components, all by measuring temperatures etc)
It's 100% normal for cats to get this hot. They get hot because exhaust goes through them, not because of their function.
Look at the heat shield (post pics if you can) and I'll bet you'll find the problem.
Look at the heat shield (post pics if you can) and I'll bet you'll find the problem.
Make sure its there, that it isn't loose, and that it isn't physically contacting the exhaust pipe.
I suppose a broken substrate in the cat would cause pressure problems on starting, but wouldn't think that would make it hotter. If anything, less gas flowing through should make it cooler.
I suppose a broken substrate in the cat would cause pressure problems on starting, but wouldn't think that would make it hotter. If anything, less gas flowing through should make it cooler.
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