Cat problems.
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Cat problems.
I think my cat is stoped up on my 96 exlorer 4.0. It has two cats on it and I realy don't know witch on it is. I don't have the money to replace it so I am thinking about pulling it off and gutting the inside for now. Does anyone know what effects that will have as far as power or fuel ec.?
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From: Rio Rancho USA
Remove the 02 sensor foward of each cat one at a time. If the engine runs better that is the clogged one. Normally a clogged cat will kill tons of power and is definately noticeable.
Weld a pipe inside the gutted cat the size of the rest of the erxhaust system so the exhaust gasses still flow well.
Weld a pipe inside the gutted cat the size of the rest of the erxhaust system so the exhaust gasses still flow well.
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Cool never thought of doing that. Makes complete sense. But for future reference (when I have the money) would it be better to replace with a universal or high flow cat than having it gutted? Also will gutting it out cause my check engine light come on. I just spent a lot of time and money to fix every thing to get it cleared. Thanks.
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Originally Posted by joker944
Cool never thought of doing that. Makes complete sense. But for future reference (when I have the money) would it be better to replace with a universal or high flow cat than having it gutted? Also will gutting it out cause my check engine light come on. I just spent a lot of time and money to fix every thing to get it cleared. Thanks.
If the 4.0l has o2 sensors after the the cats the light may come on.
A univ. cat usually gos for around $80-$100 each. If your state isn't a sniffer state you won't have to worry about it passing inspection with a gutted cat.
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From: Rio Rancho USA
Originally Posted by joker944
Cool never thought of doing that. Makes complete sense. But for future reference (when I have the money) would it be better to replace with a universal or high flow cat than having it gutted? Also will gutting it out cause my check engine light come on. I just spent a lot of time and money to fix every thing to get it cleared. Thanks.
Wehter the laws are enforced or not, the laws still exist and you can get caught.
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From: Salt Lake City, Utah
Your '96 explorer is OBD-II compliant, so your light will come on if you gut the cat. What most often happens here is that the packing around the converter (usually the front one) fails to hold the brick firmly and the brick begins to move within the case. Over time, from the expansion and contraction of the case the brick with move until it either rounds off and turns sideways or it cracks. Once this happens, its all over and the converter clogs itself. The second most common is that the fuel eto air ratio becomes too rich and the catalyst overheats and either melts down or cracks. If the first happens, you just replace it. If the second happens you have to fix the problem that caused the failure, and then replace the converter.
On an OBD-II vehicle ('96 and newer) there is no way to eliminate the converter and still keep the CEL off. And before someone here suggests MIL eliminators, those are no longer available within the US, and the companies that made them have been closed down (at least the companies that were located in the US).
On an OBD-II vehicle ('96 and newer) there is no way to eliminate the converter and still keep the CEL off. And before someone here suggests MIL eliminators, those are no longer available within the US, and the companies that made them have been closed down (at least the companies that were located in the US).
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Yeah I know it's wrong to gut it and I should replace it, but I got layed off at my job and replace by some --- that would do it for half the price so I am just looking for a temp. fix until I get back on my feet. Trust me I don't like to rig my ride my 96 will usually out perform a lot of new explorers and everything works on it. I am kinda **** when it comes to my car, you know the don't lean on my car kinda guy.
Anyway, how do you tell if it overheated or melted? I just recently had to clean the entire egr system and replace the pressure fed back sensor and the mass air flow sensor, would that have any thing to do with the cat clogging. Also b/f I fixed the maf and the egr system I was getting a code for the O2 sensor in bank 1 but that went away when I fixed the egr and maf. And when I bought it a while back the guy I got it from had 140,000 on the orig. plugs and wire and the contacts on the plugs were completely gone.
Anyway, how do you tell if it overheated or melted? I just recently had to clean the entire egr system and replace the pressure fed back sensor and the mass air flow sensor, would that have any thing to do with the cat clogging. Also b/f I fixed the maf and the egr system I was getting a code for the O2 sensor in bank 1 but that went away when I fixed the egr and maf. And when I bought it a while back the guy I got it from had 140,000 on the orig. plugs and wire and the contacts on the plugs were completely gone.
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From: Rio Rancho USA
In your case if there is a CEL I would check that first, it may be a sensor and not a cat. Like I said if one is clogged there is usually a pretty serious power loss. That doesnt sound like your problem.
Good luck with the job situation, I have been there before myself.
Good luck with the job situation, I have been there before myself.
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Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Salt Lake City, Utah
If the converter has melted, it means you have a bad fuel managment problem and a leaking injector or bad O2 sensor is probably to blame. If you have a clogged cat, severe power loss is often the result. A lot of people quickly jump to blaming the converter for every problem on the vehicle, but since I deal with converters every single day, I can tell you from experience that converter do not fail without a cause unless the vehicle has defect in the design. The explorer does not have a history of problems, at least not more so that any other model.
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From: Salt Lake City, Utah
Originally Posted by godblessmud
Better play it safe and scrap both cats, that'l clear ya right up! Just make sure you aint got emmisions inspection
Take care and hold in there Joker944. I just don't want you to spend your time and money throwing parts at a problem. Make sure that the converter is bad before you try to replace it. If you are having performance problems look at everything that can cause your symptoms in order of simplicity and price.
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