Symptoms Of A Cat Going Bad

[idanity]

im driving a 89 325i conv.

200k miles

the exhaust manifold is rusty and the bolts may have to be welded off.to get headers on.,(if i buy them)

how can i tell if the catalytic conv. is bad.

what can i do to get the lost power i dont have anymore.?

car sputters when i start up in cold wether (until i rev it a bit).

then sometimes when im pacing with traffic it may sputter, and jolt 3-4 times , more so when i put "heet" (inj. cleaner) in the tank.

please help me solve this.

[Bimmin'88]

If you have a welder or know someone who does. Cut the top off the Cat and remove the packing. Weld two pieces of exhaust pipe into the cat and weld the top back on. Or just go to the muffler shop and have them cut off your Cat and weld pipe in its place probably less than $75.00.

I cleaned out my Cat two months ago....and boy...what a difference!!! Sounds good too!!

[idanity]

Originally posted by Bimmin'88@Dec 6 2004, 11:20 PM
If you have a welder or know someone who does. Cut the top off the Cat and remove the packing. Weld two pieces of exhaust pipe into the cat and weld the top back on. Or just go to the muffler shop and have them cut off your Cat and weld pipe in its place probably less than $75.00.

I cleaned out my Cat two months ago....and boy...what a difference!!! Sounds good too!!

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um.
i cant believe that micheal jackson owns a car 15 years old. used

andthanks for the tip,. but my understanding is that its illegal to do that to a cat,
also i want to, but would a muffler shop do that, and i understand the mufflers, but why not call just one a muffle?

well i shall investigate that opertunity today.

but what are the signs of a catalytic converter going bad?

[theratdude64]

car runs like crap due to backpressure or nasty smells outta the tail pipe...

A muffler Shop = an exhaust shop... cats are exhaust. What do you mean about the muffle? Cats are catalytic converters, convert polution stuff, mufflers make things quiet, theyre diffrent. a cool thing to do is put a glasspack muffler in place of the cat, but i have noooo idea how that sounds with these small engines.


ya, its illegal most places, but so what, My car has a gutted cat. I just registered in a diffrent county that didnt require emissions

[Aether]

You can always just go find an E30 cat from a junkyard.
Gut the one you have now, and just put the stock one on before you need to have the car inspected, then take it back off. Or leave it on all year, if you'd rather stay legal all the time.

[Bimmin'88]

Illegal.....So what!!

My car hasn't stumbled since the cat was moded. Definately get a back up for inspection/smog purposes. The swap takes about 30 min. Well worth the time to have a better performing car.




Whats does Michael Jackson like best about 28 year olds???





















Theres twenty of them!!......ha! ha! ha!!

[idanity]

so if the cat gets by-passes (so to speak) then my horsepower goes up, plus it rides nicer,
do they install them only in america?
okay im calling a welder today and ill let ya know, maybe even take some pics.
thanks all

[Aether]

They have them all over the world, but if a manufacturer decides to make multiple models of exhaust pieces, then the US would get the strictest.

[idanity]

i thought we pallooted the most, how come i cant paloot as much as other countrys...okay its palute but how come my neighbor can drive a rusted out 73 truck with 4 different size tires, one headlight, one tailight, a spidered windsheild, a huge gap inthe valves where my car just blows smoke and not have any worries ?

and here i am, with an above average auto not anything special get over the biggest obstical in my exhausts way.

besides the cat has a small crack in it... soorry if im ranting but

also would Canada (or does anyone know of anyone who can) help me.

even the welding shops wont touch it. im in Wa. state ...

[theratdude64]

gotta get a welding shop hook up thats the advantage to being in a local car club. Its illegal toget a cat at a junkyard, they cannot sell used cats, youd have to steal it from the junkard *providing they didnt already discard them*

[Bimmin'88]

This may sound un-reachable.....spend some $ on a 110v wire feed welder...Harbor Freight...an angle grinder...and a cut-off saw......you will become UN-STOPABLE!! you can get hooked-up at Harbor Freight for about $300.00. 'Welder comes with instructions'

HANDS DOWN.....the best (tool) investment I've ever made!!

[idanity]

Originally posted by Bimmin'88@Dec 7 2004, 08:09 PM
This may sound un-reachable.....spend some $ on a 110v wire feed welder...Harbor Freight...an angle grinder...and a cut-off saw......you will become UN-STOPABLE!! you can get hooked-up at Harbor Freight for about $300.00. 'Welder comes with instructions'

HANDS DOWN.....the best (tool) investment I've ever made!!

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yes i truly love tools more than women, they give and dont need diamonds..

i already have a 4" grinder, and can weld both heliarc and gas, not much exp. though.
what i really need is a garage...i live at apartments and seem to be the only one who even changes my oil and wiperblades . i would feel akward with an acetalyne tank sitting out there ..

but you have such a great point, if i cant find help, i should rent the tools.

BTW
what are some symptoms of a catalytic conv, going bad?
are there tests?

[Bimmin'88]

Originally posted by idanity+Dec 7 2004, 09:52 PM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(idanity @ Dec 7 2004, 09:52 PM)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteBegin-Bimmin'88@Dec 7 2004, 08:09 PM
This may sound un-reachable.....spend some $ on a 110v wire feed welder...Harbor Freight...an angle grinder...and a cut-off saw......you will become UN-STOPABLE!! you can get hooked-up at Harbor Freight for about $300.00. 'Welder comes with instructions'

HANDS DOWN.....the best (tool) investment I've ever made!!

[snapback]245551[/snapback]

yes i truly love tools more than women, they give and dont need diamonds..

i already have a 4" grinder, and can weld both heliarc and gas, not much exp. though.
what i really need is a garage...i live at apartments and seem to be the only one who even changes my oil and wiperblades . i would feel akward with an acetalyne tank sitting out there ..

but you have such a great point, if i cant find help, i should rent the tools.

BTW
what are some symptoms of a catalytic conv, going bad?
are there tests?

Mine smelled really bad just before I gutted it. Which is why I gutted it. But, a smog check or a trip to your mechanic could pin pint it for you.

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[ye12]

A couple of questions on removing the cat:

1. Does it really increase HP?
2. Is there a sensor on the cat that signals back to the engine?

Thanks!

[Speedy-325is]

to check ur cat, get under ur car.
with the bottom of ur fist, thump the cat a few times.
listen very carefully for rattling sounds or sounds of particles of decomposed cat insulation shaking at the bottom.
repeat until ur convinced.
if ur still unsure, go to a muffler shop and have them look at it. they usually inspect for free.

Mark