Posted by Cliff Robb on January 29, 1999 at 10:28:28:
In Reply to: Re: Loss of Power while running posted by Chandler Ogden on January 28, 1999 at 22:17:17:
It's pretty easy to figure out if the cat is bad. With the engine fully warmed up & spinning about 2000 rpm or more, the outside skin temp of the cat. should be about 600F. If it's a lot higher than that, it could be partially plugged. If it's a lot cooler than that, it's probably mostly plugged & not lighting off. The trick way to check the temp is with one of those point & shoot temp guns. Or, you could just get a high temp thermometer & hold it against the cat with a pair of gloves on. Good luck.
: : When was the last time you ran a bottle of Injector cleaner thru?
: I just bought the car about 5 months ago, and ran a bottle of Techron through right after I bought it. I bought another bottle yesterday, and will add it with the next full tank of gas (tomorrow).
: It drove OK today, with no loss of power...I may just be paranoid, but it seemed to be a bit on the sluggish, rough side all around. I was thinking that the Catalytic convertor may be suspect because the cat-back section had been cobbed with a single pipe setup. I would not mind if it was a fatty pipe, but it looks like they just replaced the two pipes with a single about the same size. I also have caught a whiff of catalyst smell over the last week or so when I stop and get out of the car, or ride with the windows down....I just turned 110K on the odo, and the Bentley manual says they have about 60K life in them. I have no idea if the one I have is the original or not. It is certainly old, regardless....
: I will try the trick Troy mentioned about shutting off electrical stuff to check the Voltage regulator, in addition to the Techron...
: I'll let ya know if it helps..
: regards,
: Chandler