93 Econoline/transmission affecting engine?
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 794
Likes: 25
I went ahead and made sure all the Distributor wires were connected to the
correct plugs and they are. I then went ahead and adjusted the timeing
again. Same idle issue, but...... By chance I was walking by the exaust while
it was idling and I hear this noise that sounds like a light saber from star
wars coming from the exaust LOL, just as the engine misses, I put my hand
up the the exhaust and I barely feel anything coming out but when it misses
the exaust pressure increases then it drops back down. Has anyone heard
of this kind of sound before? Bad CAT? or clogged muffler maybe?
correct plugs and they are. I then went ahead and adjusted the timeing
again. Same idle issue, but...... By chance I was walking by the exaust while
it was idling and I hear this noise that sounds like a light saber from star
wars coming from the exaust LOL, just as the engine misses, I put my hand
up the the exhaust and I barely feel anything coming out but when it misses
the exaust pressure increases then it drops back down. Has anyone heard
of this kind of sound before? Bad CAT? or clogged muffler maybe?
Hotshot
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 11,141
Likes: 25
From: south louisiana
I went ahead and made sure all the Distributor wires were connected to the
correct plugs and they are. I then went ahead and adjusted the timeing
again. Same idle issue, but...... By chance I was walking by the exaust while
it was idling and I hear this noise that sounds like a light saber from star
wars coming from the exaust LOL, just as the engine misses, I put my hand
up the the exhaust and I barely feel anything coming out but when it misses
the exaust pressure increases then it drops back down. Has anyone heard
of this kind of sound before? Bad CAT? or clogged muffler maybe?
correct plugs and they are. I then went ahead and adjusted the timeing
again. Same idle issue, but...... By chance I was walking by the exaust while
it was idling and I hear this noise that sounds like a light saber from star
wars coming from the exaust LOL, just as the engine misses, I put my hand
up the the exhaust and I barely feel anything coming out but when it misses
the exaust pressure increases then it drops back down. Has anyone heard
of this kind of sound before? Bad CAT? or clogged muffler maybe?
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 794
Likes: 25
It looks like theres 2 cats and they are welded together. Theres nowhere to
cut in front of the first one that will allow me to make a repair with coupling
but the first one is bolted to the bottom of the exaust manifold with a flange, the
nuts and bolts are really rusted. Maybe i can hit them with some PB blaster
and let it sit a while. Would it cause any damage to the valves or engine if
I were to disconnect right at the exhaust manifold and let it idle just for a minute?
Thanks.
cut in front of the first one that will allow me to make a repair with coupling
but the first one is bolted to the bottom of the exaust manifold with a flange, the
nuts and bolts are really rusted. Maybe i can hit them with some PB blaster
and let it sit a while. Would it cause any damage to the valves or engine if
I were to disconnect right at the exhaust manifold and let it idle just for a minute?
Thanks.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,100
Likes: 8
There is a "Back-Pressure-Tester" tool out there, that you remove the O2 sensor, screw it in, and within 1 minute you know if you have a plugged cat or not. No cutting, No guesting.
Any good general mechanic or exhaust shop should have this for the test.
From what you write about the pressure coming out of the tail pipe, chances are your cat it plugged.
This van is what, a '93? Should only be one catalytic converter on this van, with the square mounting plate at the front - to the Y pipe.
Take 98Econoline150 advice and take it to a exhaust shop first.
Any good general mechanic or exhaust shop should have this for the test.
From what you write about the pressure coming out of the tail pipe, chances are your cat it plugged.
This van is what, a '93? Should only be one catalytic converter on this van, with the square mounting plate at the front - to the Y pipe.
Take 98Econoline150 advice and take it to a exhaust shop first.
Hotshot
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 11,141
Likes: 25
From: south louisiana
Yea, you can run it a few minutes with just the manifolds sitting in the driveway. Be a little noisy, but no harm will come. Use a six point socket on those manifold nuts to unscrew them after spraying them. Cooking oil works great for this too.
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 794
Likes: 25
Its a late model 93. Theres definately two cats, One up front thats kind of
laying sideways and another laying flat, they both have heat shields, then
the muffler, looks round.
Thanks for the tips and ideas guys.
laying sideways and another laying flat, they both have heat shields, then
the muffler, looks round.
Thanks for the tips and ideas guys.
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Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 794
Likes: 25
Ive got one mechanic (my regular one) wanting $200 to diagnose the rough engine/idle/accleration problem, One that will replace both cats for $500 but will not diagnose weather the cats are bad or not and another muffler shop that will charge me $50 to cut the cats open, physically inspect them to see if the cats are bad and weld them back up. 
Question: If a cat or both are clogged would it cause the symptoms I have described to appear?
Idling smooth for about a minute then one big rough idle, van shakes and electrical gauge dips along with the dash lights dimming slightly.
If It is in drive then sometimes it will stall, but if I put it in neutral or park when I come to a stop it wont stall but it still does the rough idle and electrical gauge dip thing. I have been driving it for the last week and every red light and stop sighn i come to I have to put it in N or Park so it doesnt stall.
Oh, I forgot to add, when I slam on the pedal and get moving quick It bucks like crazy and I hear some kind of fast paced clicking or ticking noise coming from directly under me, cant tell if its from the engine or under the transmission hump.
Thanks.
Question: If a cat or both are clogged would it cause the symptoms I have described to appear?
Idling smooth for about a minute then one big rough idle, van shakes and electrical gauge dips along with the dash lights dimming slightly.
If It is in drive then sometimes it will stall, but if I put it in neutral or park when I come to a stop it wont stall but it still does the rough idle and electrical gauge dip thing. I have been driving it for the last week and every red light and stop sighn i come to I have to put it in N or Park so it doesnt stall.
Oh, I forgot to add, when I slam on the pedal and get moving quick It bucks like crazy and I hear some kind of fast paced clicking or ticking noise coming from directly under me, cant tell if its from the engine or under the transmission hump.
Thanks.
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 794
Likes: 25
I have a code reader but no codes are being thrown for the engine. I dont know if my reader would throw anything about the cats or the O2 sensor, My van is only OBD1.
My mechanic said something about a valve drip/drop test or something I dont remember exactly.
Yea, I never heard that either, I would think they would be damaged enough to render them useless.
My mechanic said something about a valve drip/drop test or something I dont remember exactly.
Yea, I never heard that either, I would think they would be damaged enough to render them useless.
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 794
Likes: 25
Yup.... The saga continues. LOL
I took it to another mechanic and he wants to replace the plugs and wires for $350. but he is not sure that will solve the problem.
I would replace them myself but its a pain to get to some of the plugs and If I remember I think the misfire problem was there before I had them replaced about a year ago, dont remember exactly.
Time is up for smog at the end of this month and doubt its going to pass.
I found a post on another forum stating that the 1993 and 1994 5.8 engines had a defect in the computer that causes a misfire like symptom and replacing the computer fixes the misfire. IIRC this is the thread.
Has anyone else heard of this?
1994 E150 5.8 WIth strange skip in motor - Car Forums and Automotive Chat
I took it to another mechanic and he wants to replace the plugs and wires for $350. but he is not sure that will solve the problem.
I would replace them myself but its a pain to get to some of the plugs and If I remember I think the misfire problem was there before I had them replaced about a year ago, dont remember exactly.
Time is up for smog at the end of this month and doubt its going to pass.
I found a post on another forum stating that the 1993 and 1994 5.8 engines had a defect in the computer that causes a misfire like symptom and replacing the computer fixes the misfire. IIRC this is the thread.
Has anyone else heard of this?
1994 E150 5.8 WIth strange skip in motor - Car Forums and Automotive Chat
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 474
Likes: 1
That alone sounds like a Cat has crumbled inside, grab a Rubber Hammer and give the Cat a good hit and see if it sounds like it's full of rocks or gravel.................
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 794
Likes: 25
Has anyone heard of this computer defect in 94 and 95 years?
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 474
Likes: 1
You can hit it before or after the shields on the pipes and if their bad you'll hear something rattle inside, it won't take to much. Any poor running Engine will cook the Cats pretty quickly and chunks of it can plug up the Muffler too................