Newbie needs some help..
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 29,661
Likes: 43
From: Sheboygan Wisconsin






Take the O2 sensor out and run the engine. Don't run for long because the O2 is out of the exhaust stream. But if the cat is plugged the O2 sensor hole will give a place for the exhaust to get out. If it runs better, then it'* a good chance the cat is clogged.
MY 87 olds did this. Also a 3.8. I cut the cat off and started it and it was loud! but ran lots better! I found out it was the cat while holding it 1/2 way to floor and asked my son if it was smoking he said YES!!! Dad youre on fire!!! Just as I looked down the grass was on fire and flames were just coming up by drivers door. Not fun at all!
Senior Member

True Car Nut
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 4,816
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From: Windsor, Ontario / Detroit, Michigan









Dan, if he pulled his MAF and it ran rougher, does that mean the MAF is bad?
Get the DTC codes pulled on your car to see if you have any misfires. That may lead to a bad coil pack, or help to focus on one cylinder.
By all means, pull the O2 sensor like Dan suggests. Keep in mind you will be shooting hot exhaust gases where they don't belong when you do that, so keep the run time to a minimum.
Get the DTC codes pulled on your car to see if you have any misfires. That may lead to a bad coil pack, or help to focus on one cylinder.
By all means, pull the O2 sensor like Dan suggests. Keep in mind you will be shooting hot exhaust gases where they don't belong when you do that, so keep the run time to a minimum.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Posts like a Ricer Type-R
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 12
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From: Calgary , Alberta, Canada

Ok thank you all for some more input, im getting frusturated with it. I will give the o2 sensor out a try tomorrow after i get her back from the shop if nothing else comes up, Will a bad cat come up on the scan test at all?
from what ive read it sounds like mine did... i noticed one day that there was an unusual vibration noise from the underside of the car and it was running really rough, had it checked out, nothing showing thought it to be the cat so i had it cut off and replaced, cat was broken in half and clogged so bad you could barely see thru it
mine is a 94 SSEi with 167,000 miles so if yours is like mine, the cats on its way out or done gone.... just food for thought
mine is a 94 SSEi with 167,000 miles so if yours is like mine, the cats on its way out or done gone.... just food for thought
Thread Starter
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Posts like a Ricer Type-R
Joined: Jul 2009
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From: Calgary , Alberta, Canada

Okay is there test i can get the shop to do on the cat while its in? Also could the cat start suddenly craping out like it is after running some of that fuel injector cleaner/complete fuel system clean through it at all? (did this about week before issues started, noticed poor fuel economy) I also had her at the track about 3 weeks ago now, took her down the track 6 times so maybe this added to it. As odd as it sounds i would be glad if its the cat to replace and not have to try chase some gremlin in it.
I'd check the following:
Dan'* suggestion for pulling the 02 sensor
Check the PCV Valve, make sure that it has the small rubber washer on it.
Check the battery cables for corrosion - look this up on this site, you'll find tons of reference.
Ohm check the coils
Pull the spark plugs, then use this online chart to read them : http://www.aa1car.com/library/reading_spark_plugs.jpg
Keep a close eye on the plug that is situated by that injector which is suspect.
And lastly, I wasn't sure if your fans are coming on immediately from a cold start ? If so, I may be out of my league here, but I think i read that the Engine Coolant temp sensor affects driveability when it'* non functional.
These are all free and simple things you can look at.
Dan'* suggestion for pulling the 02 sensor
Check the PCV Valve, make sure that it has the small rubber washer on it.
Check the battery cables for corrosion - look this up on this site, you'll find tons of reference.
Ohm check the coils
Pull the spark plugs, then use this online chart to read them : http://www.aa1car.com/library/reading_spark_plugs.jpg
Keep a close eye on the plug that is situated by that injector which is suspect.
And lastly, I wasn't sure if your fans are coming on immediately from a cold start ? If so, I may be out of my league here, but I think i read that the Engine Coolant temp sensor affects driveability when it'* non functional.
These are all free and simple things you can look at.
Last edited by 93bonnieNclyde; Oct 2, 2009 at 03:35 AM.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 12
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From: Calgary , Alberta, Canada

Okay so $200 later with a hi-flow magnaflow cat and the issue remains the same..im furious at this point becuase i dont have alot of money to be chasing the issue around like this, I took it to a buddys and he was looking over it and he found a tiny little pool of coolant around under were the supercharger snout is, but down by were the waterpump is on the block and intake. Im gunna assume this is all from the lower intake manifold leaking? Can my issues im having be from a bad LIM ? I was hoping this would not come up. He said this wont cause any SES which i dont have, light and it will run like a bag of ****..which it is, I also dont see how this can cause the crazy misfire it has going on..



