Glowing Red Catalytic Converter

Black Sun 5.0

Founding Member

Mar 23, 2002

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L.I., N.Y.

Dec 27, 2004

#1

• Dec 27, 2004

• #1

Quick rundown of my story: I did a 2 hour round trip on Christmas Eve and the car was running great. When I got to my final destination, I had to unload some packages and the car ended up idling for about 20-25 minutes. When I got back out to my car, it was filled with smoke. I immediately killed the ignition and found that the catalytic converter on the passenger side of the car was glowing (and burning the carpet inside the car). I've been daring and have been driving the car and have had no problems. It seems only at idle there's a problem. The car has a brand new catted Magnaflow x-pipe and there appears to be no blackage issues in the pipe. Any ideas? I'm thinking maybe a bad injector, but I'd to hear some more input. Thanks.

 

795.0pacecar

lover of pudgy polygamists

Jul 11, 2003

480

0

17

Senoia, GA

Dec 27, 2004

#2

• Dec 27, 2004

• #2

Bad air pump?

 

Black Sun 5.0

Founding Member

Mar 23, 2002

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Dec 27, 2004

#3

• Dec 27, 2004

• #3

New air pump. Plus, only 1 cat was affected.

 

alanw6

Member

Dec 19, 2002

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memphis, TN

Dec 27, 2004

#4

• Dec 27, 2004

• #4

Could be a possible defect/clogged cat. Even though it's new, I'm thinking this could be your issue.

 

Axemanj3

New Member

Apr 3, 2004

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Dec 27, 2004

#5

• Dec 27, 2004

• #5

what does magnaflow have to say??? most cats have their own warranty...

 

Black Sun 5.0

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Mar 23, 2002

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Dec 27, 2004

#6

• Dec 27, 2004

• #6

There appears to be no pressure loss from the passenger side tailpipe.

 

Black Sun 5.0

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Mar 23, 2002

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Dec 27, 2004

#7

• Dec 27, 2004

• #7

Oh yeah, rotten egg smell from the exhaust.

 

alanw6

Member

Dec 19, 2002

449

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16

memphis, TN

Dec 27, 2004

#8

• Dec 27, 2004

• #8

Your description still seems to point towards a bad convertor. Wish I was more knowledgable, but that's still my guess.

I agree with axeman, at least give MF a call.

 

S

SKYWALKR

New Member

Sep 30, 2003

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Cumberland, Md

Dec 27, 2004

#9

• Dec 27, 2004

• #9

If its not the converter it could be your timing. One of my buddies Grand Am did the exact same thing, glowing red converter... i know its not the same car but the principle is the same. I believe his timing was off causing denotation... bad cap ultimately. Just a thought if the cat comes up a wash.

Luke

Cracked distributor... just checked with him.

 

green

New Member

Apr 26, 2003

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Dec 27, 2004

#10

• Dec 27, 2004

• #10

nope your cats are plugged

 

C

crunchie12268

New Member

Aug 4, 2004

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Manhattan, KS

Dec 27, 2004

#11

• Dec 27, 2004

• #11

yeah, give MF a call, something smells like it is burning in my house.

 

Black Sun 5.0

Founding Member

Mar 23, 2002

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Dec 27, 2004

#12

• Dec 27, 2004

• #12

I called MF and the tech said he never heard of such a condition. He assumes it has to do with a lean or rich condition. Hrm.

 

5

50 4 Fun

New Member

Nov 10, 2004

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Streesboro OH

Dec 27, 2004

#13

• Dec 27, 2004

• #13

If the cat is not bad, then you need to look beoned the cat. I think you have a misfire problem or something like that.

 

Black Sun 5.0

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Dec 27, 2004

#14

• Dec 27, 2004

• #14

I have heard some popping in the exhaust at times. Now, what is causing the misfire?

 

G

GNN60GT500

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Jun 18, 2002

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5 car lengths in front of you!

Dec 27, 2004

#15

• Dec 27, 2004

• #15

Hey, you are either experiencing a rich running condition or a lean misfire, either way excess fuel is getting into the converter, the igniting in the converter causing it to superheat......

hope that helps-
Magnaflow

 

J

JB66

New Member

Aug 21, 2004

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New York

Dec 27, 2004

#16

• Dec 27, 2004

• #16

The cats get into that condition trying to do their job. The more unburned HC and CO poured in there, the harder they have to work. Yours was working overtime. If you have no codes, make sure your idle is not too low, your timing is set properly and all the other things that will make you run too rich. Partially open EGR and stuck diverter valve on the air pump are some other poss.

 

Black Sun 5.0

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Mar 23, 2002

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Dec 28, 2004

#17

• Dec 28, 2004

• #17

The idle has been a bit off. It doesn't have the traditional engine surge. Instead, it will jump up to 1,500 rpm or higher and sit there, then settle down after a while to about 7-800 RPM's for a bit, then back. I just dunno.

 

8

87'GTstang

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Feb 16, 2004

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Dec 28, 2004

#18

• Dec 28, 2004

• #18

If nothing else turns up, check for a fuel injector on the way out. That could explain possibly why it would be running so rich. I on the first round would blame the catalytic converter on that side. If nothing else, you can at least narrow it down to which bank of the engine it is on.

 

4dStang

Banned

Oct 23, 2002

718

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Near St Louis, Missouri

Dec 28, 2004

#19

• Dec 28, 2004

• #19

Take the pipe off, get another H-pipe from some where, I always have an extra for smog. It is either rich (doubt), a burnt valve (doubt) or a partialy clogged cat (ding ding). The answer you got from the company was BS! If you smell rotten eggs, that is a clogged cat, or at least a partially clogged cat. For sure!!!! these pipes are made in China and suck. I have been to GM school and the rotten egg smell is exactly what they taught us to look for on a clogged cat. Plus, your popping may be because of the extra back pressure.

Just get that pipe off and put another one on before you car burns up. If that cat is glowing it will catch you carpet and carpet pad on fire. BAD!!!!!

 

Black Sun 5.0

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Mar 23, 2002

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Dec 29, 2004

#20

• Dec 29, 2004

• #20

Yeah, I understand the idea behind it being a clogged cat, but the fact that when I drive it's fine and only happens during idle is kind of odd, don't you think?