I knew it, I knew it, I knew it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Why didn't they listen to me?

The shop my car was at told me cat was fine, and that they had pulled it and looked at both ends.

I suspected the cat at first because of the symptoms and the exhaust noise dropping significantly, while the intake became much louder.

Well...I took my car to an exhaust shop right up the street and they used a laser to check the cat temp, which should be about the same throughout. Well....the result was that the outflow side was cool due to lack of flow, and that there was a blockage in the center!

Why didn't they listen to me!??????

Now I am out all that labor, and I will be giving them a nice little phone call on Monday. I will also be replacing the cat Monday if all goes well.

I should have just trusted my feelings and went to the exhaust shop to start.

Oh well, I will in the future.

 

nice you figured it out, sucks about the labor though. Back to the track

 

Congrates on figuring it out. So when is your next track outing??

 

I'm curious did they pull the cat and look through it or is this all based on the laser?

 

Laser and backpressure. It was hot in the front, cool in the back. Its very obvious. He also pointed out where the blockage was, which was in the center.

 

So when is the next Steele date?

 

No Cat = No Blocked Cat

 

That be bad Sprite man.

 

When you get a car worthy of a re-match!

Thats in reply to your po.com post.

 

All that time with those worn out plugs was making you run slightly rich, whick fouled the cat. We thought all along that is was the cat, I bet they didn't even check it. You car will run faster now than it ever has run. Glad you didn't sell it just yet. I went to the track yesterday by myself, and my car was running really good, I bet you would have run your best. The friday crowd wasn't that bad this time, I got to make 18 passes.

 

Yeah, I am sure it will run a lot better.

I wish the cat was replaced right now, but I have no way of getting it done before Monday. Commerce is open tonight for test and tune. They open the gates at 6:30 and start running at 7pm. Thats only a 45 minute drive for me.

If I had a lift and the appropriate tools I would clear the blockage temporarily, oh well..have to wait.

 

I forgot doesn't allow you to run without a cat

 

Now you can get that Random Tech. Cat and get a whole 1hp

 

That's why I said "did they use a backpressure tester on the cat". It would have achieved the same result as the laser.

You can't always tell by looking. A backpressure tester is a pressure gauge that screws into the O2 sensor hole. I've found it to be a fairly conclusive way to tell...

pats self on back

 

Oh, you shall see my friend (mad scientist laugh ensues)

 

any other way to tell if you got a blocked cat? i have 65k mileage and just put on the y pipe and exhaust about3-4k miles ago, besides all that testing, any specific symptons?

 

When it starts to block up you will notice a signicant drop in power and the harder you push on the gas, the harder it will feel it is to go. You will also notice a drop in the volume of your exhaust, and your intake will become louder, sounding like its straining.

Ppl follwoing behind you may also get the rotten egg smell.