Catalytic Converter glowing red.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
yes they do, and can be a fire hazard.
you may also be running to rich, its fuel in there burning. A hi flow replacement isn't very expensive and will give you a little perf bump. Also get the carb jetting checked out.
you may also be running to rich, its fuel in there burning. A hi flow replacement isn't very expensive and will give you a little perf bump. Also get the carb jetting checked out.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 11,361
Likes: 383
From: Plano TX
Is this thing factory original? If so, it's way past time for a replacement. The ol' pancake style cats sucked to begin with and several decades don't help. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised at the jump in power with a modern hi-flow replacement such as Catco, magnaflow etc.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,341
Likes: 6
Originally Posted by Burnt71
Why would my cat converter be glowing red ? do they get clogged up ?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 6,248
Likes: 4
From: Lancaster PA
Originally Posted by 45ACP
It is burning off unburned fuel remaining in the exhaust stream, just as it was designed to. It won't continue for long, though, because it was never intended to deal with that volume of fuel except for very briefly. You have problems upstream that need to be dealt with asap. Don't run the car except for diagnostic purposes until the problem is solved.
Last edited by Burnt71; Oct 24, 2006 at 07:52 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,341
Likes: 6
Originally Posted by Burnt71
Yes, I have been having trouble with it flooding when it starts.
Originally Posted by Burnt71
should I replace the Catalytic converter first ?
Originally Posted by Burnt71
Would that solve my choke problem ?
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Race Director
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 11,361
Likes: 383
From: Plano TX
Originally Posted by 45ACP
No, though you may have ruined the cat by overheating it...so it may need to be replaced.
And yes, fix the choke. Is the choke pull-off working? It's supposed to open the choke about 1/2 once the engine starts. It's a little vacuum can. If it is broken the engine will flood/run really rich cold.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,341
Likes: 6
Originally Posted by zwede
I disagree with this statement if it is still the factory pancake converter. Those should definetely be replaced as they were extremely restrictive when new and for sure plugged up by now.
That said, yeah, you really couldn't be more right about the original cats sucking. Heh, I once heard their restrictive nature described as "like trying to exhale through a marshmellow". Fortunately, cats have come a helluva long way since then! They are not restrictive enough now to be of any consequence that I know of, at least on a street car. If it is the original piece, no way would I leave it in place.
I sort of doubt he has the original tucked under there as it is functioning (glowing red indicates that it is operational), the original piece would still be working way beyond its expected lifetime, but I guess is is possible in a low mileage car.
Last edited by 45ACP; Oct 24, 2006 at 12:40 PM.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 6,248
Likes: 4
From: Lancaster PA
I'm sure it's the original cat.conv. It's coming off next weekend. It was a scarry sight to see under the car. I thought for sure I was going to have a fire. The bad part about it was that I couldn't start it again because of my choke problems . It won't start after its been running.
