I was out running some errands yesterday when my catalytic converter decided to take a crap. Got it to a muffler shop, had it replaced. But now the Cav has zero power, no throttle response and is shaking like a wet dog at idle. Im guessing a tune up is in order but given that the car is 18 years old is it worth it?
Year, make, model?
Did the cat break part internaly, or did it break part externally and parts are in the rest of the exhaust.
- 2004 Cavalier - 124k, owned since new
1992
Chevy Cavalier RS, 2.2 3speed auto.
When I got the car on the lift the cat was cherry red internally, would the mechanic cut it off you could see where a piece of it had broke off inside. AFAIK the cat was original.
The exhaust system is probably clogged with pieces of the converter.
Same thing happened to a friend's Rustang. Caught the rear seat on fire! Pieces of the CAT were stuck in the muffler.
My question is that given the Cav's age, would it be worth it to get her fixed?
Depends on how you feel about the car, some people love their car so much they'll move heaven and earth for it no matter how much it costs.
Im having somewhat of the same problem... I failed my emissions test badly and my mechanic said it was the cat.. so he replaced it... But i found my z24 lost alot of pickup after he did it... I sort of figured the old cat was punched out but now im wondering... lol
As for the question by the OP, a new cat-back is cheaper then a new car of any kind (if that is the problem) so i'd fix it personally... Hell, i might have to do the same! :p
So you replaced the cat -but how about the O2 sensors? If the cat was that hot the sensors may also be shot, but you would likely have a CEL if the sensors were bad.
