I noticed a popping/ rattling noise in my car, which seemed to be the exhaust, I thought it was hitting something... but then I noticed my front 2 cats were glowing orange/red. I have a 88 5.0, and I have the stock h pipe set up on it, with the 4 cats. The rear ones looked normal, but the front 2 were glowing. im guessing they are bad but want to get some input... what do u guys think?
are my cats clogged/need to be replaced?
- Thread starter 85cleangtvert
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slow5poh
Senior Citizen
something is definately wrong. maybe your car is running too rich?
if your cats are plugged u would notice a big lack of power.
if your cats are plugged u would notice a big lack of power.
LXSTASY
Founding Member
If they are your cats you could try some cataytic converter cleaner from the auto parts store for around $7. I put a bottle in my DD and picked up ~1-2 mpg. Its cheaper than a new mid pipe.
Sounds like you have bad cats. What caused this. Are the two glowing on the same side? If so suspect an issue with a bad plug or stuck open injector. If on both sides, figure out of the car is running rich. A restriction can cause them to get real hot as well.
i was just talking to my brother and he pointed out that I dont have any air going them. what i mean is, i have GT40 heads and the stock smog stuff doesnt hook up to the back of them, so I just have the air routed down to the h pipe, but it is after the first two cats. It is both sides that is glowing, and the ones that are closer to headers.
And watch for smoldering carpet if you HAVE to drive the car. Seriously - you can catch the interior on fire.
Jason is very right - find out why the cats clogged (if that is the case) so you dont destroy the new ones (if you put some back on).
Good luck.
Jason is very right - find out why the cats clogged (if that is the case) so you dont destroy the new ones (if you put some back on).
Good luck.
gt40_2003wes
I did sound a wee bit gay there.
had the same prob got a new exhaust system and cat back and no prob now.but mine never got so hot they glowed just hot enough u could feel it comin into the car.
SeventyMach1
Keep it lubed .... keep it straight .... and keep
If they were glowing, yes, get new cats. My old RX-7 had bad cats ..... they would glow CHERRY RED. Pretty cool at night, lol. It looked like some ricer kid with red neons! Anyway, yeah, you should have a decent lack of power as well. And I wouldn't drive it, except to the exhaust shop REALLY slow (low RPM's), because like JT said ..... they can cause a fire inside.
RMODEL65
Member
my 91 vert 5.0 would stop running when i got it on real hot and humid days down here in ga i put an off road h pipe on mine no problem since there was a definite loss in power mine never glowed though
Age often does play into it - they are a sacrificial component. Many cat manufacturers imply a 50K mile life, though most go for much longer (that spec was pertaining to having them function at or near optimal).85cleangtvert said:
The front two are the first to be succepted to the effects of poor tune or contaminates - it seems to reason that they can go first.
That was my point before - figure out that you are running at decently stoich before installing new ones........
Good luck.
darthcual
Member
If you dont have the money to fix, but you need ur car still i've got the redneck solution. Take the pipe off the car, then with a rubber mallet, beat the fooey out of the problem cats intill all the junk comes out of the end. Then reinstall. Be sure to whistle will you work. Good luck.
PS this is a temporary fix
PS this is a temporary fix
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