Plugged Cat Converter - Noise under passenger side floor board/seat

[Alan Peters]

I have a strong reason to believe my cat converter is plugged. Over the past 2 weeks, I've noticed a rattling noise coming from under the passenger side floor board/seat. This rattle turned into a whistle, then a hissing to a swooshing, almost like a window is down. Its extremely load in the cabin almost to a point you can hear it over the radio at 3/4 volume high. When you crawl under the trac and listen the cat sounds restricted or plugged and its very very noticeable. I get minimal exhaust on cold mornings. Other symptoms other than minimal exhaust is a burning oder, sometimes a sulfur smell, every 5 days or 150 miles Im filling my tank, and a metallic burning smell.



I believe emissions warranty is 8 years 800000, both which I'm under. My question: Is my cat plugged?

 

[Denis Bourque]

Sorta sounds like that might be your problem. Do you notice a loss in power at around 60-70 MPH. This is another sign of a plugged cat.....





If it is plugged do not wait to get it fixed, I was reading an article in Popular Mechanics that mentioned the Escape having an issue with there cats and causing bottom end damage when not being fixed due to overheating.

 

[Rodger Tellefson]

Yup, get them replaced now before you have bigger problems. Cost us $1200 back in '06.

 

[Kevin Palmer]

If you have had a decrease in MPG's, notice a lack in power (not always true), then you may be on the right path.



Many shops can test for this. At our shop, you drill a 1/8th in hole in front of the converter, insert a tube hooked to a pressure guage, floor the engine for a moment and see where the gauge goes to. A reading of 1 to 8ish PSI is ok, if it hits 10 or higher then something is plugged or partially plugged.



At exhaust shops such as ours, the main in-line converts installed run about $150 ish.

At the upper Y pipe location a bit more as they are more labor intrusive.



Hope this helps...

 

[TrainTrac]

Sounds like a good time to install some Random Technology exhaust parts from Zabteck to me!:banana:

 

[Alan Peters]

Just curious how many cats are on the trac?



I have noticed a performance loss at highway speeds. I have 63K miles and its under the 8yr emissions warranty. Its almost hard to drive at times between the noise and no power.

 

[TrainTrac]

On a Gen 1 Trac, there are four cats total. Two "pre-cats" on the Y-pipe, and two inline on the exhaust pipe just aft of the Y-pipe and before the muffler.



The R/T Y-pipe eliminates the two "pre-cats" and the R/T high-flow cat replaces the other two with one high-flow cat. Both parts are direct bolt-on items.

 

[David Ponder]

I believe emissions warranty is 8 years 800000

Wow, I would hope you are under 800000 miles... If not, you have a helluva story to tell.. :banana:



Sorry, couldnt resist... :lol:

 

[Alan Peters]

No that's ok. I'm laughing too.