Catayltic Converter

[txdisco1]

Hello All,
I am surprised I never found this web site since I have been driving my 1996 Disco1 for 7 years. I am happy to be on-board and hope I can get some answers for quite a few "little" problems. Today I just want to know if it is "bad" to drive over a prolonged period of time with a sub standard catalytic converter (below threshold). I recently picked up an obdII device and came across P0430. I have since turned off the CEL, the truck runs great except for poor gas mileage. I noticed in a previous thread that running the defroster actuallu turns on the AC. Never knew that!! Thanks for any help with this problem. Bill

 

[discomike]

You don't want to run on bad cats. Besides the possibility of excessive back pressure and burning you exhaust valves, the cats will break up and pass back into the muffler plugging it up then you have even more things to replace.
Check out my favorite old place for cats.
http://www.completeexhaust.com/product_info.php?cPath=22&products_id=184
Great selection and better prices.
How many miles on your truck, have you changed out your plug wires and O2's yet???
MIke J.

 

[txdisco1]

Mike J
Thanks for the reply - I had the trk serviced about 3 years ago - new sensors, plugs, etc - not sure if the wires were changed. I have 123,000 miles on my trk and have read on this site that Magnecor 8mm wires are what you want. Any suggestions on where to pick them up and $? Thanks Bill

 

[discomike]

Bill,
First of all here is a web site to one of our club sponsors, good service and fair prices.
http://www.offroadtuff.com/
Two thoughts, one pull your plugs, 3 years and they have seen enough miles. Check each one and note any difference, black as for fouling or lots of white crustys for bad gas or coolant. Then replace them. The one reason you want to look at each plug is to try and get an idea what might have trashed your cats, you do want to do it again soon.
Now replace the plugs and wires.
Then I have a list of things you will want to do over time. Flush the crank case at least twice over the next 4000 miles and 2 oil changes. Then I will walk you thru using some additive like SeaFoam or B&G's 44K to help decarbon the engine.
By doing thes things you will get better power and mileages and have a happier truck.
Mike J.

 

[txdisco1]

Thanks - I will pull the plugs tomorrow. Bill

 

[Slartibartfast]

Hi Mike reading your comment about driving with bad cats could you be a bit more specific in what other problems this could be causing for instance would this cause the engine to carb up more rapidly than normal and would this lead to the "Sticky Valve" sydrome which i seem to get more than my fare share of ...................thanks

 

[discomike]

The biggest effect on the engine other then lack of power and bad gas mileage is excess back pressure which can with time take out the exhaust valves. The other problem is that as the cat breaks, it pass back into the muffler thus requiring it's replacement also.
Mike J.

 

[kavic]

And just how do you know if your cats are bad?

 

[discomike]

They start to rattle as the catalist metals down and breaks.
Mike J.

 

[kavic]

Gee I thought there may something more high tech than that. Mine were rattling and I took it to the dealer but they did not suggest replacement. They did replace the rest of the pipes and muffler. I guess it's time to bite the bullet and replace.