possible catalytic converter problems

[purple c4]

Thanks in advance for your time and efforts, 95 LT1, 126,000 miles, corsa exhaust system, car has no power, motor takes much longer to warm up than usual, lost about 300 rpm at idle, engine oil and water look normal, no water out the exhaust, car just has no power, been running great sometimes not so great other times lately, started the car last week and it had the above symptons, when I rev the engine getting lots of metal shavings out the left exhaust, about the size of glitter with a gold tint to them, talked to a couple of friends who both said the converter on that side, just looking to get some more feedback before throwing money at it, will really appreciate any thoughts about it, Jim:confused

 

[ex-x-fire]

Loosen the connections at the manifold/y-pipe & take it for a ride.

 

[purple c4]

Loosen the connections at the manifold/y-pipe & take it for a ride.

Thank You, good advice, I guess I overlooked that, I thought about loosening the connection at the cat but it's after the converter not before, ever heard of metal shavings from the cat? thanks again for the good advice

 

[boomdriver]

Thanks in advance for your time and efforts, 95 LT1, 126,000 miles, corsa exhaust system, car has no power, motor takes much longer to warm up than usual, lost about 300 rpm at idle, engine oil and water look normal, no water out the exhaust, car just has no power, been running great sometimes not so great other times lately, started the car last week and it had the above symptons, when I rev the engine getting lots of metal shavings out the left exhaust, about the size of glitter with a gold tint to them, talked to a couple of friends who both said the converter on that side, just looking to get some more feedback before throwing money at it, will really appreciate any thoughts about it, Jim:confused

There are simple test that a shop can do to test for excessive back pressure in the exhaust. One way is to replace an O2 sensor with a fitting and connect a compression tester. A system should not have more than 2 or 3 lbs back pressure. Any more and the cat is plugged and must be replaced. Another is a heat test on either side of the cat. This takes a more sensitive temp sensor than most people have access to. Most places just burn a hole in the pipes just before and just after the cat. A good cat will have little or no more blow-out from the pre hole when compared to the aft hole.

 

[Schrade]

Get this for $15, and do the cat temps like boom said. $9.50 right now...

 

[boomdriver]

Get this for $15, and do the cat temps like boom said. $9.50 right now...

Just buy a temp sensor that will read up to 7--800 degrees. Many only go to 300 degrees and thats usually not near enough.

The exit of the cat when its lit up and running should be 80* hotter than the inlet side. Thats where you test the temp. The aft side of the cat should be hotter, if not, the cats dead.

 

[Hib Halverson]

All this talk about measuring temperature and taking back pressure measurements is pointless.

If your getting gold-flecked metallic residue out the exhaust and the engine has no power, replace both the cats. At 126,000 miles it's understandable that the cats have failed.

There is metal inside the cat converter. What's happened is the cat's substrate has disintegrated and is plugging up your exhaust. That's why the car has no power.

The metallic residue is the debris from the disintegrating cats. Pull the exhaust off, remove the cats and you'll see.

 

[Tuna]

If your state doesn't have sniffer checks, just gut them and put them back on.

My state does not have vehicle inspections so when the cats on my old '92 started rattling, I did just that and never looked back.

 

[Schrade]

Sorry to offend anyone with 'pointless' posts. I hope you'll forgive me.

And you too boom - shame on you!

















Forum nazis. :eyerole I hate forum nazis.

 

[Hib Halverson]

If your state doesn't have sniffer checks, just gut them and put them back on.

My state does not have vehicle inspections so when the cats on my old '92 started rattling, I did just that and never looked back.

As Tuna says, gutting the cats is also an alternative and pretty easy once you get the cat bolts out. It unlikely you can reuse them so have a tap and a set of new bolts available.

Gutted cats will make the exhaust louder and may increase performance slightly.

 

[purple c4]

Bad cats

Thank you all for your good advice, I have an appointment tomorrow with the local muffler shop to get the cats replaced, will let you know if that is the only problem and if the car feels like the old purple vette