Catalitic Converter is GLOWING!!!!!!!!

[Wagoneer622]

I know the thing is bad. Here is the story behind it, today after we were done changing the starter and letting the battery re-charge(this was done by letting the motor and so on.). While looking for tools under the truck my buddy notices my Cat. converter is glowing!!!!. Looked like lava! :eek: :eek:
Here is my question to you guys, I live in New Jersey and we have the inspection every 2 years and I am good until Oct. 2003. Can I run a strait pipe for my y-pipe to my muffler for a couple of weeks with out messing up the motor(1983-360). This thing is causing all of my problems with my motor running like garbage. I knew it was bad I didn't think it was that bad. WOW!! I have seen a lot of wierd stuff with Jeeps but never anything like that! TIA!

Chris
83 Wagoneer Ltd.(360/727/229)

[jeepbob]

I have seen them get so hot that they set the carpet on a Mopar on fire :eek: Check your power valve to see if it is blown as running too rich is a cause of this and will also plug it up.

[ March 02, 2002: Message edited by: jeepbob ]</p>

[andy d]

nother thing to check is the coil. weak spark will cause the same over rich situation. check the oil, if it smells gassy thats another sign. you didnt hear this from me, but people have been known to drop the muffler and take a jack or a broom handle to the innards of a clogged cat.

[Wagoneer622]

Andy D.
I just want to eliminate it for right now until I can get a new one. Would this be ok?

Chris
83 Wagoneer Ltd.
(360/727/229)

[JEEPGUZZZI]

I don't see a problem installing a "test tube " temporarily. Also, check the timing and make sure your plug wires are in good shape, a crossfiring plug wire made the cat glow in a toyota i borrowed once. ;)

[kreb]

i knew this guy, who drive a similar jeep as mine and looked some what like me and did not run a cat. converter for about a year to date. he says it is fine, but illegal.

benjamin
you did not here it from me though

[Wagoneer622]

Every thing is good, the wires are brand new and are in the correct sequence, and the timing is pretty much on. Thanks for the suggestions, I will only be running the pipe for about 2-3 weeks at the most.

Chris
83 Wagoneer Ltd.(360/727/229)

[andy d]

ok, heres the deal, if you remove the cat, it has to be replaced with something. why not remove the cat, clean it out and reinstall it? save the cost of the temporary pipe. i throw around nickels like they were manhole covers :D

[joe]

Chris, if your concern is will running w/o a cat hurt anything..no. It'll prolly run so nice you'll want to wait till the day before inspection to install a new cat...and remove it again the day after smile.gif

[Hump]

I'm with Andy D. Where I am in IN, we don't have inspections, but we still have to have a cat to be legal. So if you can get it off, take it over to the nearest field fence and jam one of those metal posts right through the middle. Bang it around a little until all the inerds have fallen out, and then just put it back on. Chances are that with it being that old, if it pass with it on it should still be able to pass inspection.

You don't want to have to buy a new cat though. Those things are pretty expensive!

[gwinn]

Some of the emmissions equipment, (smog pump for example), is good to keep in operation to avoid fouling up your cat. If your cat is bad, and you can get away with it, hollow it or take it out. It won't damage anything but the air quality. ;)

[LRRH]

hehe! i test drove a 88 J20 about 2 years ago. I realized there was a problem when exhaust was coming through the back window. Got out and saw FLAMES shooting out, and melting CAT. I decided not to buy it.....

[greenchero]

If your cat is getting red-hot it is doing its job. You have some other problem causing it to heat up that much. Hydrocarbons (misfire,vacuum leak,lean condition) and oxygen make the cat get red hot not rich running conditions. However, if the cat stays that hot for too long it will melt.

[andy d]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by greenchero:
If your cat is getting red-hot it is doing its job. You have some other problem causing it to heat up that much. Hydrocarbons (misfire,vacuum leak,lean condition) and oxygen make the cat get red hot not rich running conditions. However, if the cat stays that hot for too long it will melt.<hr></blockquote> i strongly disagree with this.granted other things, lean and advanced, for example will make a cat red hot. running too rich will clog up a cat and then start melting the ceramic core. i ruined a brand new cat by not fixing the cause of the richness ,a weak coil. it also filled the muffler up with unburnt air/fuel then ignited splitting 2 mufflers. all the time i thought i had carb problems. an exhaust analyzer will tell the tale.

[ March 03, 2002: Message edited by: andy d ]</p>

[greenchero]

"Unburned hydrocarbons (HC) are particles, usually vapors, of gasoline that have not been burned during combustion."
"Carbon Monoxide (CO) is a poisonous chemical compound of carbon and oxygen. It forms in the engine when there is not enough oxygen to combine with the carbon during combustion."
"Excessive HC emisions may be caused by:
-Ignition system misfiring
-improper ignition timing
-excessively lean or rich air/fuel ratio
-low cylinder combustion
-defective valves, guides, or lifters
-defective rings, pistons, or cylinders
-vacuum leaks
Excessive CO emissions may be caused by:
-rich air/fuel mixtures
-dirty air filter
-faulty injectors
-higher than normal fuel pressures
-defective system input sensor"

Quoted from automotive technology (a systems approach)

Rich running (excessive CO's) can plug the cat. Running rich will also cause high HC. CO alone cannot melt a cat. It takes HC and Oxygen to create the amount of heat to make a cat glow.
The oxygen would have to enter the exhaust system in front of the cat in order for a rich running (extremely rich) condition to melt the catalyst.

[greenchero]

I was a bit hasty with my first post, but how long did you let your engine recharge your battery? Idling your engine for 20 minutes or more can cause the cat to overheat. Also, is your cat a 3-way (it would have an air tube running to it from your bypass valve). That would give the cat the oxygen to burn the excessive HC's causing it to overheat. Before hollowing the cat check to see if it is plugged or melted as there may be nothing wrong with it (catalytic converters usually cost $150+). I would suggest driving your truck and rechecking the cat to see if it is overheating. If the cat is melted or plugged it may be causing your engine to run bad, but there is a reason why your cat is going bad. If your engine is running extremely rich it is gas washing your cylinders and will cause excessive wear. If it is an excessive hydrocarbon problem (lean condition, vacuum leak, etc.) you could burn a valve and/or scuff your cylinder walls.
Also, unless you're in a bind, try not to recharge your battery with the alternator. This can cause the alternator to overheat and fail prematurely.


[ March 03, 2002: Message edited by: greenchero ]

[ March 03, 2002: Message edited by: greenchero ]</p>

[Wagoneer622]

The truck is defnitily running rich. I need a new carb. I know this because if I turn the mixture scews all of the way in an all of the way out there is no change. That was the next thing on the list, was to rebuild it next sat, now it looks like I will be doing two things.(lol) Oh well, I have fun working on the Wag, I really enjoy it, that is the main reason I bought it. Thanks for all of the info!!

Chris
83 Wagoneer Ltd.(360/727/229)

[andy d]

peace. another thing though, if the air pump is working there is the necessary o2 to light the mixture. a forced draft is created. and it gets hot enough to melt ceramic. :eek: liked the trouble shooting flow chart smile.gif believe me, that was a costly mis-diagnosis. 2 mufflers ,2 cats and a carburator. the fix was a coil from my parts car.
:rolleyes: