My wife came home saying her 03 expy was hesitating. I took it for a drive and it felt like it was starved for fuel and progressively got worse, to the point were it would barely run. Got back home and opened the hood and noticed the catalytic converter was glowing red. So am I right to assume the cat is bad? If so, is this something I can change out or do I have to take it to a shop?

 

Not at all (at least, not yet).

You have a misfire that is dumping fuel into the exhaust where it is burning in the cat. This will cook the cat if left unrepaired.

Most misfires will be due to a plug or COP fault.

Was you CEL/SES flashing or is it on? If so, the computer has already recognized the misfire and has set a Diagnostic Test Code (DTC) that can be pulled with a scan tool.

If the CEL/SES isn't on yet, it's going to take some more in-depth work to isolate the faulty cylinder(s).

Steve

 

I noticed it flashing for a few seconds and then it went away but it never stayed on. Can I still pull a code with the SES light is not on?

 

I'd bet you will have one. When the light flashes, it means the misfire is bad enough to damage your cat.

 

just to update my problem; sho89 was right, it was a bad COP that caused the miss that dumped fuel into the cat which made it glow. Thanks for the input. I have come to this site several times for my F150 and my wifes expy to help diagnose a problem and I just want to say thanks. Great Job everybody.

Scott