Exhaust plugged up
 

How does one determine if a catalytic converter is sufficiently plugged up
to affect the engine?

--
Dave

Exhaust plugged up
 

Now does the cat rattle?

Some muffler places will drill a hole near the entrance of the cat to
determine backpressure.
I have removed a plug (02 sensor) to determine that.

What is the engine doing or not doing?
I always recommend rechecking the camshaft timing!!!
--
later,
(One out of many daves)

"Dioclese" <NONE> wrote in message
m...
> How does one determine if a catalytic converter is sufficiently plugged up
> to affect the engine?
>
> --
> Dave
>

Exhaust plugged up
 

"dave AKA vwdoc1" > wrote in message
...
> Now does the cat rattle?
>
> Some muffler places will drill a hole near the entrance of the cat to
> determine backpressure.
> I have removed a plug (02 sensor) to determine that.
>
> What is the engine doing or not doing?
> I always recommend rechecking the camshaft timing!!!
> --
> later,
> (One out of many daves)
>
> "Dioclese" <NONE> wrote in message
> m...
>> How does one determine if a catalytic converter is sufficiently plugged
>> up to affect the engine?
>>
>> --
>> Dave
>>
>
>Take it off and look in it. See if chunks of metal fall out.

Exhaust plugged up
 

No, banging on the catalytic converter indicates sound innards.

Reason I'm asking the question is because I had a bad coolant sensor in the
past. It took me some time to figure it out, a month. The tailpipe is
badly blackened, engine was running very rich.

Are you saying to physically remove the O2 sensor to see if there's
difference in engine power at higher rpms, like climbing hills on the
highway? If so, I can see that's markedly decreased in my observations.

--
Dave
"dave AKA vwdoc1" > wrote in message
...
> Now does the cat rattle?
>
> Some muffler places will drill a hole near the entrance of the cat to
> determine backpressure.
> I have removed a plug (02 sensor) to determine that.
>
> What is the engine doing or not doing?
> I always recommend rechecking the camshaft timing!!!
> --
> later,
> (One out of many daves)
>
> "Dioclese" <NONE> wrote in message
> m...
>> How does one determine if a catalytic converter is sufficiently plugged
>> up to affect the engine?
>>
>> --
>> Dave
>>
>
>

Exhaust plugged up
 

My cat. conv. rattled, but it rattles no more! <g>
Exhaust sounds different too! lol

"None4You" > wrote in message
et...
>
> "dave AKA vwdoc1" > wrote in message
> ...
>> Now does the cat rattle?
>>
>> Some muffler places will drill a hole near the entrance of the cat to
>> determine backpressure.
>> I have removed a plug (02 sensor) to determine that.
>>
>> What is the engine doing or not doing?
>> I always recommend rechecking the camshaft timing!!!
>> --
>> later,
>> (One out of many daves)
>>
>> "Dioclese" <NONE> wrote in message
>> m...
>>> How does one determine if a catalytic converter is sufficiently plugged
>>> up to affect the engine?
>>>
>>> --
>>> Dave
>>>
>>
>>Take it off and look in it. See if chunks of metal fall out.
>
>

Exhaust plugged up
 

If something is wrong......fix it!
If you want someting better...........change it! ;-)

No don't just change the 02 sensor to another location unless you have to.
Now if you install another exhaust manifold and downpipe and neither had a
spot for the multi-wire 02, then put it on the cat. :-)


"Dioclese" <NONE> wrote in message
m...
> No, banging on the catalytic converter indicates sound innards.
>
> Reason I'm asking the question is because I had a bad coolant sensor in
> the past. It took me some time to figure it out, a month. The tailpipe
> is badly blackened, engine was running very rich.
>
> Are you saying to physically remove the O2 sensor to see if there's
> difference in engine power at higher rpms, like climbing hills on the
> highway? If so, I can see that's markedly decreased in my observations.
>
> --
> Dave
> "dave AKA vwdoc1" > wrote in message
> ...
>> Now does the cat rattle?
>>
>> Some muffler places will drill a hole near the entrance of the cat to
>> determine backpressure.
>> I have removed a plug (02 sensor) to determine that.
>>
>> What is the engine doing or not doing?
>> I always recommend rechecking the camshaft timing!!!
>> --
>> later,
>> (One out of many daves)
>>
>> "Dioclese" <NONE> wrote in message
>> m...
>>> How does one determine if a catalytic converter is sufficiently plugged
>>> up to affect the engine?
>>>
>>> --
>>> Dave
>>>
>>
>>
>
>

Exhaust plugged up
 

Apparently, there's no test for a plugged catalytic converter per your
reply. THAT is what I'm trying to determine before jumping to something
else. Just dust in the wind is what I'm getting... Nevermind.

--
Dave
"dave AKA vwdoc1" > wrote in message
...
> If something is wrong......fix it!
> If you want someting better...........change it! ;-)
>
> No don't just change the 02 sensor to another location unless you have to.
> Now if you install another exhaust manifold and downpipe and neither had a
> spot for the multi-wire 02, then put it on the cat. :-)
>
>
> "Dioclese" <NONE> wrote in message
> m...
>> No, banging on the catalytic converter indicates sound innards.
>>
>> Reason I'm asking the question is because I had a bad coolant sensor in
>> the past. It took me some time to figure it out, a month. The tailpipe
>> is badly blackened, engine was running very rich.
>>
>> Are you saying to physically remove the O2 sensor to see if there's
>> difference in engine power at higher rpms, like climbing hills on the
>> highway? If so, I can see that's markedly decreased in my observations.
>>
>> --
>> Dave
>> "dave AKA vwdoc1" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> Now does the cat rattle?
>>>
>>> Some muffler places will drill a hole near the entrance of the cat to
>>> determine backpressure.
>>> I have removed a plug (02 sensor) to determine that.
>>>
>>> What is the engine doing or not doing?
>>> I always recommend rechecking the camshaft timing!!!
>>> --
>>> later,
>>> (One out of many daves)
>>>
>>> "Dioclese" <NONE> wrote in message
>>> m...
>>>> How does one determine if a catalytic converter is sufficiently plugged
>>>> up to affect the engine?
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Dave
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>
>

Exhaust plugged up (88VW Fox, 1.8L, CIS-E?)
 

Is this still that '88 Fox?

If you try running the engine with the 02 sensor unplugged/removed then the
engine should run differently. ;-)
Usually poorly if the 02 sensor still functions! 8^o

WOW I answered that question about a test for a plugged catalytic converter
a couple of posts ago..........I will bring it back to the top now.
If the cat. conv. is clogged then the back pressure will be very strong
BEFORE the cat.
I also feel the exhaust coming out of the tailpipe! If it is strong then I
will assume that the cat is fine! <g>

>>>> Some muffler places will drill a hole near the entrance of the cat to
>>>> determine backpressure.
>>>> I have removed a plug (02 sensor) to determine that.

Now if yours is a VW up to 1992 then you might have a CO pipe that has an
easily removeable cap on it. Take that cap off and determine the back
pressure. Just a little exhaust should come out of it if it is not clogged.

Camshaft timing and ign timing can make the engine run well or poorly.
Also vacuum leaks can make the engine run poorly.

"Dioclese" <NONE> wrote in message
...
> Apparently, there's no test for a plugged catalytic converter per your
> reply. THAT is what I'm trying to determine before jumping to something
> else. Just dust in the wind is what I'm getting... Nevermind.
>
> --
> Dave
> "dave AKA vwdoc1" > wrote in message
> ...
>> If something is wrong......fix it!
>> If you want someting better...........change it! ;-)
>>
>> No don't just change the 02 sensor to another location unless you have
>> to.
>> Now if you install another exhaust manifold and downpipe and neither had
>> a spot for the multi-wire 02, then put it on the cat. :-)
>>
>>
>> "Dioclese" <NONE> wrote in message
>> m...
>>> No, banging on the catalytic converter indicates sound innards.
>>>
>>> Reason I'm asking the question is because I had a bad coolant sensor in
>>> the past. It took me some time to figure it out, a month. The tailpipe
>>> is badly blackened, engine was running very rich.
>>>
>>> Are you saying to physically remove the O2 sensor to see if there's
>>> difference in engine power at higher rpms, like climbing hills on the
>>> highway? If so, I can see that's markedly decreased in my observations.
>>>
>>> --
>>> Dave
>>> "dave AKA vwdoc1" > wrote in message
>>> ...
>>>> Now does the cat rattle?
>>>>
>>>> Some muffler places will drill a hole near the entrance of the cat to
>>>> determine backpressure.
>>>> I have removed a plug (02 sensor) to determine that.
>>>>
>>>> What is the engine doing or not doing?
>>>> I always recommend rechecking the camshaft timing!!!
>>>> --
>>>> later,
>>>> (One out of many daves)
>>>>
>>>> "Dioclese" <NONE> wrote in message
>>>> m...
>>>>> How does one determine if a catalytic converter is sufficiently
>>>>> plugged up to affect the engine?
>>>>>
>>>>> --
>>>>> Dave

Exhaust plugged up
 

one way to check for a plugged cat is with a manifold vacuum gauge. under
light throttle at cruising speeds up to about 70mph the vacuum should stay
higher. If it drops off it maybe a sign of a bad cat.


"Dioclese" <NONE> wrote in message
...
> Apparently, there's no test for a plugged catalytic converter per your
> reply. THAT is what I'm trying to determine before jumping to something
> else. Just dust in the wind is what I'm getting... Nevermind.
>
> --
> Dave
> "dave AKA vwdoc1" > wrote in message
> ...
>> If something is wrong......fix it!
>> If you want someting better...........change it! ;-)
>>
>> No don't just change the 02 sensor to another location unless you have
>> to.
>> Now if you install another exhaust manifold and downpipe and neither had
>> a spot for the multi-wire 02, then put it on the cat. :-)
>>
>>
>> "Dioclese" <NONE> wrote in message
>> m...
>>> No, banging on the catalytic converter indicates sound innards.
>>>
>>> Reason I'm asking the question is because I had a bad coolant sensor in
>>> the past. It took me some time to figure it out, a month. The tailpipe
>>> is badly blackened, engine was running very rich.
>>>
>>> Are you saying to physically remove the O2 sensor to see if there's
>>> difference in engine power at higher rpms, like climbing hills on the
>>> highway? If so, I can see that's markedly decreased in my observations.
>>>
>>> --
>>> Dave
>>> "dave AKA vwdoc1" > wrote in message
>>> ...
>>>> Now does the cat rattle?
>>>>
>>>> Some muffler places will drill a hole near the entrance of the cat to
>>>> determine backpressure.
>>>> I have removed a plug (02 sensor) to determine that.
>>>>
>>>> What is the engine doing or not doing?
>>>> I always recommend rechecking the camshaft timing!!!
>>>> --
>>>> later,
>>>> (One out of many daves)
>>>>
>>>> "Dioclese" <NONE> wrote in message
>>>> m...
>>>>> How does one determine if a catalytic converter is sufficiently
>>>>> plugged up to affect the engine?
>>>>>
>>>>> --
>>>>> Dave
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>
>

Exhaust plugged up
 

On Jun 24, 7:25*am, "Dioclese" <NONE> wrote:
> How does one determine if a catalytic converter is sufficiently plugged up
> to affect the engine?
>
> --
> Dave


The easy test is to get out on the freeway and accelerate up to the
speed limit (will maybe a little over) in a bit of a hurry. If it is
blocked, you should feel a lack of power and slow acieration. It may
hit like a brick wall. This is not a sure test, but it works well
most of the time.

If you don't know, likely it is not overly clogged.

Why do you think it is clogged?