Gas in the catalytic converter....why?

Hello everyone

I noticed when I had my can in the air that my catalytic converter was cherry apple red and I was able to smell gas. I take it that gas is not being burned correctly also I car does not have any pick up and go plus I'm refueling every other day now. This car can clean a full tank of gas in 3 days max now. This is crazy. Any ideals? Thanks

First off, what year is the car and have you checked it for malfunction codes?
My first thoughts on this are that something has to be screwed up that the PCM cannot compensate for because that's a pretty wild amount of gas. Maybe fuel injector stuck open?

Bad O2 sensor?

maybe bum temp sensor, car thinks it's running "cold" all the time...

like Codith said we need more info. What year, SC/not, any codes (is the SES light on, and if so what is the code)... and to your knowledge has the exhaust been replaced before... because...

last time I saw what you're describing it was a 1987 Chrylser LeBaron GTS with a pooped (worn and dirty) fuel injector on the throttle body that was dumping fuel, and as well the scope revealed that some genius had tinkered with the "base timing" on the engine probably thinking they could goose the performance of the 2.5L NA 4 Cyl engine. Fix was to reset base timing to factory spec, replace cat (for some reason it had sooted up) with factory style ("Close Coupled" meaning cat guts are in the downpipe from the exh manifold, not at end of downpipe under car; the 'direct fit' that was on there was not 'close coupled' and so probably did not light off fast enough being so far from the engine, so it sooted up) and replace the fuel injector; and pull-and-clean the TB.

Albertj

First, is the CEL light on and if so what is/are the codes.

Until you know the answer to that, it's all speculation.

If you have no codes at all, then it could just be a clogged Cat, but I think that would trigger a light and code as well.

Jimmy, where at in Warren are 'ya? I work at 14 & Mound. I could possibly bring a few tools and come by after work to help 'ya figure out.

So sorry about this guy
95 Rivi
3800 supercharge
I am getting (service engine) light
I went to Autozone but was told that they could not pull codes from 95's

Dude, I gave 'ya a free diagnosis chance!? I can bring my scan tool and a couple other things by! I'm headin home in about 15 minutes.....

i am going to go out on a uneducated and possibly stupid limb here and say that the cat is hopelessly clogged! there! i said it!

Abaddon wrote:

Jimmy, where at in Warren are 'ya? I work at 14 & Mound. I could possibly bring a few tools and come by after work to help 'ya figure out.

Thats the quality of people you'll find on here.

Abaddon wrote:

Dude, I gave 'ya a free diagnosis chance!? I can bring my scan tool and a couple other things by! I'm headin home in about 15 minutes.....

What happened, y'all didn't hook up.?

That's too bad Jimmy, you had a chance for a very good Tech to get a good look at things but you missed it.

Alas,the ship has sailed..........................

Nah, hasn't sailed away yet. It's still floatin in the harbor.....

Abaddon wrote:

Nah, hasn't sailed away yet. It's still floatin in the harbor.....

He's such a dedicated Employee.

Shall we vote for Employee of the Month.

Rickw wrote:

What happened, y'all didn't hook up.?

That's too bad Jimmy, you had a chance for a very good Tech to get a good look at things but you missed it.

Rickw wrote:

He's such a dedicated Employee.

Shall we vote for Employee of the Month.

jimmytullip wrote:

So sorry about this guy
95 Rivi
3800 supercharge
I am getting (service engine) light
I went to Autozone but was told that they could not pull codes from 95's

the 95 has OBD - I with OBD - II plug. AZ can't read them. Many if not most independent mechanics can.

If I were you I'd take Abbadon up on his offer, or go clean and just take the car to the shop he works at & pay the diag charge. Other alternative is to buy your own scanner, the ones that work with the 95s come up on eBay a lot, for reasonable $$. There was a thread about them on this site but I can't find it.

Albertj

dude. the cat is clogged. cherry apple red? clogged. cut the bitch off,clear the codes,and work on getting a high flow cat sometime down the road. just my 2cents. i also have been through this. I speak from experience. and maybe the 95s usual issues related to high mileage. crank position sensor,boost control solenoid.etc.etc.....

robotennis61 wrote:

dude. the cat is clogged. cherry apple red? clogged. cut the bitch off,clear the codes,and work on getting a high flow cat sometime down the road. just my 2cents. i also have been through this. I speak from experience. and maybe the 95s usual issues related to high mileage. crank position sensor,boost control solenoid.etc.etc.....

Robo FYI.....I talked to jimmy tonight, and I'm going over his place after work tomorrow to figure out the problem. He had the Cat replaced a few weeks ago for the same concern. Either the cat "they" installed is bad, or he has a cylinder or 2 dumping fuel into the exhaust. We'll get it figured out tomorrow.....

doh!

...be sure to check for dumb stuff like broken/popped spark plug wires...

good luck

Albertj

We should all be so lucky to have someone like Scott near us ready to make a house call with all the proper diag equipment to read a 1995 PCM.

Update with the issue, Scott came by and I would say 15 minutes into his search he found the problem. It was a sensor hose loose.Scott went Macgyver on me and created a piece I need from extra hose from my windshield wiper hose that runs to the sprayer. A few minutes later Scott and I were on the road I saw the difference within minutes of me racing up Mound road. Before Scott came by I would get no more than 20 miles per quarter of a tank. Now it took me three days just to get through a quarter tank and this is with out a tune up which is needed. The codes were not pulled yet but will be soon. I'm sure I'll hit another snag and will be asking more questions.For now I want to say thank you to everyone who who gave input ans Scott for trucking over and doing what you do.

Nice Scott, which sensor did the hose belong to?

Glad to hear it's running better man. Now let's get some of the other easy stuff out of the way .

BMD wrote:

Nice Scott, which sensor did the hose belong to?

The center vacuum line on the Canister Purge Valve (at least I think that's what it was lol) was torn through and laying on the valve cover. That particular line went to that vacuum junction near the BCS. It was a HUGE vacuum leak. Given that the Series I has a lot vacuum controlled sensors, I'll assume that everything connected to that tree had no vacuum, including the BCS. We still have a few more bugs to work out, but it's nothing $$$ intensive. I think for about $100 and some time, we can get it runnin purrfect.

Abaddon wrote:

Glad to hear it's running better man. Now let's get some of the other easy stuff out of the way .

BMD wrote:

Nice Scott, which sensor did the hose belong to?

The center vacuum line on the Canister Purge Valve (at least I think that's what it was lol) was torn through and laying on the valve cover. That particular line went to that vacuum junction near the BCS. It was a HUGE vacuum leak. Given that the Series I has a lot vacuum controlled sensors, I'll assume that everything connected to that tree had no vacuum, including the BCS. We still have a few more bugs to work out, but it's nothing $$$ intensive. I think for about $100 and some time, we can get it runnin purrfect.

Cool Beans

Albertj