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General Forums => The Mess Hall => Topic started by: dan684 on September 20, 2006, 09:10:36 PM

Title: Catylitic convertor question??
Post by: dan684 on September 20, 2006, 09:10:36 PM
i think my catalitic convertor is stopped up.  i was driving down the road and all of a sudden my exaust got real quiet and now if i step down on the gas hard it sounds like it is flooding out.  does this sound like a stopped up convertor and if so what are the effects of removing it and using only a muffler?  i live in horn lake Mississippi so inspection consists of making sure the tail pipe isnt dragging the ground and all 4 tires hold air somewhat.
Title: Catylitic convertor question??
Post by: Guardian7 on September 20, 2006, 10:04:46 PM
Yes the cat is clogged up and probably getting very hot. If you dont need to replace it you can just knock the guts out of it or install a peice of pipe in it's place. A cats only function is to reburn unburnt fuel vapors before the go out the tailpipe. A new cat will run about $80 at most muffler shops.
Title: Catylitic convertor question??
Post by: Jeffy on September 20, 2006, 11:11:59 PM
Quote from: "Guardian7"
Yes the cat is clogged up and probably getting very hot. If you dont need to replace it you can just knock the guts out of it or install a peice of pipe in it's place. A cats only function is to reburn unburnt fuel vapors before the go out the tailpipe. A new cat will run about $80 at most muffler shops.


If you knock the stuff out besure to wear a mask.  That stuff is toxic!  I'd just swap it out for a bolt-in.  You won't see any gains in power without it.  Some people have seen a drop too.
Title: Catylitic convertor question??
Post by: Bounty Hunter on September 21, 2006, 12:27:11 PM
My experience with a plugged converter, the jeep would run worse as it warmed up and the material/clog in the converter heated and expanded.  It would eventually kill the engine, then run again after the converter cooled off.

An IR thermometer would confirm the clog.
Title: Catylitic convertor question??
Post by: SMC4WD on September 21, 2006, 04:52:40 PM
Quote from: "Bounty Hunter"
An IR thermometer would confirm the clog.


And a power drill will fix the clog   :lol:  :lol:
(http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c33/SMC4WD/habadh24dv.jpg)
Title: Catylitic convertor question??
Post by: chardrc on September 21, 2006, 04:54:29 PM
lol.. git r done
Title: Catylitic convertor question??
Post by: dexetr30 on September 21, 2006, 06:27:25 PM
If a drill of adequate size is not avaialable...... use a piece of rebar and a sledge hammer and pound it out. It's messy but it gets the job done. Oh, and as mentioned previously... use a mask. It can be a messy job and you don't want any of the catalysts in your system. :wink:
Title: Catylitic convertor question??
Post by: Guardian7 on September 21, 2006, 07:11:33 PM
I had a cat go bad and the guts went into my muffler and clogged it too.
Title: problem solved
Post by: dan684 on September 22, 2006, 08:23:16 AM
well i took it to my buddy at the muffler shop and he cut a hole in the cat with a torch and cleaned it out. then he welded a new piece of metal over the hole.  seemed simple enough that i could have done it but i dont have a welder handy.
Title: Catylitic convertor question??
Post by: Dare2BSquare on September 30, 2006, 07:33:43 AM
I laugh everytime someone talks about a catalytic converter. One of the guys who works for me fancies himself to be a real good shadetree mechanic. I have heard him on several occassions refer to it as the "cadillac converter". The funny thing is - that is what he thinks it's called. No one has ever corrected him, we just laugh when he says it.
Title: Catylitic convertor question??
Post by: Jeffy on September 30, 2006, 12:40:10 PM
Quote from: "Dare2BSquare"
I laugh everytime someone talks about a catalytic converter. One of the guys who works for me fancies himself to be a real good shadetree mechanic. I have heard him on several occassions refer to it as the "cadillac converter". The funny thing is - that is what he thinks it's called. No one has ever corrected him, we just laugh when he says it.


Ask him if he's got the El Dorado model?
Title: Catylitic convertor question??
Post by: SMC4WD on September 30, 2006, 10:57:15 PM
Well I called up MagnaFlow (that's the one your using, right Jeffy?)...  I'm expecting one from them on Monday or Tuesday...

I think I've gotta call Gibson and see about replacing the muffler too.  I hear tinging coming from it, so I'm fairly sure it's all busted up inside there.  I wonder if a failed cat will take out a muffler too...   :roll:

I drove my Jeep around all day today (unregistered). The weather is changing and I'm not going to have much time left with the top off.  It's been sitting for a month or two since the registation issue.
Title: Catylitic convertor question??
Post by: Jeffy on October 01, 2006, 01:20:08 AM
Quote from: "SMC4WD"
Well I called up MagnaFlow (that's the one your using, right Jeffy?)...  I'm expecting one from them on Monday or Tuesday...

I think I've gotta call Gibson and see about replacing the muffler too.  I hear tinging coming from it, so I'm fairly sure it's all busted up inside there.  I wonder if a failed cat will take out a muffler too...   :roll:

I drove my Jeep around all day today (unregistered). The weather is changing and I'm not going to have much time left with the top off.  It's been sitting for a month or two since the registation issue.


The company was called Carsound which is a division of Magnaflow.  A broken cat wil send crap into the muffler.  You might see if you can clear it out without having to replace everything.
Title: Catylitic convertor question??
Post by: SMC4WD on October 03, 2006, 09:47:26 PM
The box does say that the Magnaflow cat is a division of carsounds...

I called Gibson today but had to leave a voice mail message.  The logical thing to do is to replace both...  My Gibson system isn't stainless, so I have to see if they'll warranty my aluminized steel one.  That or see what it'll cost me to get a replacement.  They're great regarding warranty, so maybe an upgrade to S/S is in order...
Title: Catylitic convertor question??
Post by: Jeffy on October 03, 2006, 09:50:28 PM
Quote from: "SMC4WD"
The box does say that the Magnaflow cat is a division of carsounds...

I called Gibson today but had to leave a voice mail message.  The logical thing to do is to replace both...  My Gibson system isn't stainless, so I have to see if they'll warranty my aluminized steel one.  That or see what it'll cost me to get a replacement.  They're great regarding warranty, so maybe an upgrade to S/S is in order...


Hmm, I thougth it was the other way around.  Probably the exact same thing though.  I'va had no problems with mine.  Passes CA SMOG with no problems.
Title: Catylitic convertor question??
Post by: SMC4WD on October 03, 2006, 10:00:01 PM
These are my three steps to passing emissions...

#1, change the cat
#2, change the oil
#3, locate and possibly disconnect the charcoal cannister for the fuel vapors.  Rumor has it that it too could be causing a problem.  Definately last thing on the list.

I really need it to be registered...  I drove it around all day Saturday, and it could have been a $150.00 play day.
Title: Catylitic convertor question??
Post by: Mozman68 on October 03, 2006, 10:13:16 PM
hah.."passing emissions"...

One thing I love about living in Michigan...no inspection...you can drive around with no doors and no hood on the car if you want.

Surprisingly, not as many beater type cars driving around as you'd think.
Title: Catylitic convertor question??
Post by: YJmechanic on October 04, 2006, 04:41:01 PM
pa is pretty easy, inspection is all safety and emissions is simple.  95- all equip must be there and 96+ no engine light on.
Title: Catylitic convertor question??
Post by: SMC4WD on October 04, 2006, 04:57:40 PM
Quote from: "YJmechanic"
pa is pretty easy, inspection is all safety and emissions is simple.  95- all equip must be there and 96+ no engine light on.


But do they do the sniffer test?  Testing CO and O2 at idle and at 2500+/- RPM...  I've failed 3 times already at idle...   :cry:
Title: Catylitic convertor question??
Post by: YJmechanic on October 05, 2006, 04:08:52 PM
depends what region you are in.    i forgot to mention that.  where i live, no they just visually inspect the equipment to check and make sure it is there and hooked up.  they region around philly and pittsburg have the asm testing but even they are eliminating them.  they are going to the simpler system that we have.  i know cause they told me when i got my license renewed and they said you no longer need the additional certifications.
Title: Catylitic convertor question??
Post by: tttppp54 on October 07, 2006, 12:56:14 PM
Would a semptom of a clogged cat be a rough start. When i start my engine it stumbles, almost cuts off. Let it warm up a little and it is fine. Also, there is a vibration right b4 2k rpms under the floor board where the cat is. Once above 2k its gone, any ideas?
Title: Catylitic convertor question??
Post by: YJmechanic on October 08, 2006, 07:45:55 AM
well the converter can rattle when the catalyst breaks down but they generally cause more problems when hot then cold.  just bang on the converter and see if it rattles.
Title: Catylitic convertor question??
Post by: SGT_Tirrell on November 25, 2006, 12:10:57 PM
I would just straight pipe it, as I know you can get some money out of the old Cats because they have platinum in them.  I think my dad turns them in to a recycling place for like 25-30 a piece.
Title: Catylitic convertor question??
Post by: Jeepin' Texan on November 25, 2006, 05:48:55 PM
Will a bad cat cause this?:

I will be driving and it will start to like back fire and like it is not getting gas. I have change all of the following: plugs, rotors, cap, wires, 02 sensor, fuel filter, throttle body and TPS. But it still does it. It doesn't do it all the time, it just comes and goes when it wants. I am willing to try just about anything else. How can you tell if the fuel pump is going out? How about the fuel injectors? I am thinking it has something to do with fuel. When it does this the engine never dies it is just like it is starving for fuel. I can keep punching on the gas pedal and it doesn't rev it just feel like it is starving for fuel and backfiring. Any and all help is appreciated.

I have installed a new cat about 4 months ago. Is it possible to install it backwards?
Title: Catylitic convertor question??
Post by: Guardian7 on November 25, 2006, 10:32:34 PM
Sounds like it could be the cat, if the cat stops working it will not burn off the extra fuel vapors which might cause the backfire and when the cat cloggs up it really kills your power too.
Title: Catylitic convertor question??
Post by: Tall Boy on November 26, 2006, 10:14:50 AM
If it comes and goes when it wants, I would assume it is an electrical problemo there. Or a blockage of the fuel intermittently like say when it sloshes. A cat will kill the motor when hot and foul when hot, specifically.  I would not just keep throwing parts at it though,youve already spent mass amounts of dough as it is and still not located it. The dealer can put it on a scanner. It will throw a check engine light if it causes a problem with the operational systems,and the dealer can tell you why.  Is your battery good to go, Is it getting 12v? Got crud on the terminals? how bout overheating? Tell us more Texan!
 Remember the Alamo !
Title: Catylitic convertor question??
Post by: Jeepin' Texan on November 26, 2006, 02:12:03 PM
OK, here we go. IT never heats up, always around 205-210. I put my hand up against the tail pipe and plenty of pressure coming out. I am getting ready to test the fuel system. I have a friend who has a tester. The engine never dies it is just like it is starving for fuel. When this happens i turn the engine off for about a niute and then she runs fine. So i don't think it is the cat since it is brand new. Does it matter which is the inlet and which is outlet on the cat?
Title: Catylitic convertor question??
Post by: Tall Boy on November 26, 2006, 03:09:52 PM
I am not positive but I would guess it only goes one way. It is a honeycomb deal. It also depends, it should throw a light on if it is running bad.
 Intermittent problems are ususually not mechanical, but moreso rubber gaskets, electrical wiring, the battrey, something shaking loose with idleing. clogged fuel filter in tank.
 what kind of a Jeep is it? what year? how often is it happening? how long has it been going on.

Does the fuel pump make any noise?
Title: Catylitic convertor question??
Post by: Jeepin' Texan on November 26, 2006, 03:33:31 PM
It is a 1995 YJ w/4 angry squirels. I bought it used in May of this year. when i bought it and drove it from SC it never did this. Well a few months later i had the tranny rebuilt and the exhaust put on. All it had before was a glasspack (talk about loud). Since the tranny rebuild and new exhaust it has been happening. It doesn't happen all the time just whenever it feels like it. Like i said the engine never dies just like it is starving for fuel. Once i turn off for a mnute she will run fine. I have never gotten any codes when this happens. I am at a total loss her.

The fuel pressure test was ok. 41psi with the vacuum line disconnected and 32 when i connect it back to the regulator.
Title: Catylitic convertor question??
Post by: Jeepin' Texan on November 26, 2006, 03:34:09 PM
The fuel pump makes no noise.
Title: Catylitic convertor question??
Post by: Tall Boy on November 26, 2006, 03:46:44 PM
Ignition switch ? Thermostat? Something you did wrong after the rebuild. Crankshatf position sensor? the wiring on top of the tranny not connected?

 :nothing:
Title: Catylitic convertor question??
Post by: Jeepin' Texan on November 26, 2006, 03:50:22 PM
The tranny wiring ig odd and connected. The CPS is a little grooved i noticed yesterday. Thermostat is good, but going to change it when i install my electric fan.

I am just tempted to take it to the stealership and have them run a diagnostic on it. And see wht they tell me and how many fingers and toes they will charge me.
Title: Catylitic convertor question??
Post by: Tall Boy on November 26, 2006, 04:16:07 PM
Emissions are hard to find unless you got a manual. I got "Automotive Technology a systems approach" from my college course. I also got the factory manual from Jeep . They both cost me $100.00 each but are well worth the money.
Title: Catylitic convertor question??
Post by: Jeepin' Texan on November 27, 2006, 04:03:37 PM
Is it possible to connect it to an OBD I scanner? I have a friend who has one. I did get under and looked at the CPs. It is grooved on the sensor end and has like a piece missing from the side. I also noticed that the screws that hold it in place are different. It looks like the transmission people only put it on with one screw and then it messed up and they found another screw to fit in there.

i read this on another website:
Symptoms of a CPS problem:
- Poor starting.  The engine cranks longer than usual
  before starting.
- Vehicle stalls for no apparent reason.  Hot, cold, idling,
  accelerating, or cruising, etc.
- Vehicle starts and stalls after 10 seconds.
- Vehicle won't start.
- Disconnecting the battery or CPS connection and reconnecting
  it seems to solve the problem temporarily.
- Engine diagnostic codes may indicate fault 13, 14, or 15.
Title: Catylitic convertor question??
Post by: Tall Boy on November 27, 2006, 09:29:57 PM
OBD 1 ended in 1995 I think. OBD 2 started with 1996 model year vehicles if I am correct,it's got different pig tail adapters for each brand of car I think(ford,chevy,dodge etc..). Yeah, I mean you just got to go through eveything they did to your car , prior to messing with the other stuff they did not touch. A good muffler shop will tell you if the cat  is in backwards or not.Anything that looks supect could be the culprit. I always double check any mechanics work. They mess up just like we all do.  I have heard of stories where a mechanic emptied the tranny oil, and overfilled the motor oil, then blew the hell out of the car on a test drive.