Blocked Cat?
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Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 27
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Blocked Cat?
I have a 1989 coupe with a 6 speed. For a few weeks now, when starting the car I have had a metallic vibration akin to the sound an air brake makes on a semi coming from underneath the car. 
A person I know who is knowlegeable told me one of the pre-catalytic converters may be going bad. He said just simply tap them with a rubber hammer before I drive the car and see if the noise didn't stop. I did and the car ran well. The past couple of weeks, however, the car has had no speed in gears and has had a pulse during acceleration. Today, first gear had NO power at all and it took about two minutes to get to 40 mph. I limped home, got it in the garage and noticed the smell of overheated metal. I have no leaks, no smoke, correct operating temp and correct oil pressure. I'm hoping this is just a blocked cat that has overheated. Has anyone else had this experience?
A person I know who is knowlegeable told me one of the pre-catalytic converters may be going bad. He said just simply tap them with a rubber hammer before I drive the car and see if the noise didn't stop. I did and the car ran well. The past couple of weeks, however, the car has had no speed in gears and has had a pulse during acceleration. Today, first gear had NO power at all and it took about two minutes to get to 40 mph. I limped home, got it in the garage and noticed the smell of overheated metal. I have no leaks, no smoke, correct operating temp and correct oil pressure. I'm hoping this is just a blocked cat that has overheated. Has anyone else had this experience?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,389
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From: Poocakes loves teh sausage! N.E. Ohio
What you are experiencing sounds like a blocked cat or a combo w/ the pre-cats. I changed my front y to an uncatted unit and put a high flow main cat on. You can always unbolt the y and start it to see if you have more power while reving it.
