OK, I am pretty sure I broke my catalytic converter. How is not important, suffice to say it involved a curb that I did not see

Anyway, when I started up this morning I heard rattling (like a rock in a can) and it seemed to emanate from the center of the car. I'm going to jack it up tomorrow to verify.

What I have also noticed is that the car has lost power. I can cruise at 75 without issue but it seems it take far longer to get there and pressing the go pedal does not seem to be very effective at making it happen as quick as it used too.

Also, when the engine is under load (even slight pressure of the gas pedal) I hear what sounds like a faint high pitched whistle. The second I let off the gas it stops and under even cruise it is not present. It only manifests it's self under acceleration.

Could a broken cat do this? Am I looking at more than just a busted cat?

TIA for any input.

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Sent from an agnostic abacus

2014 C250 21,XXX my new DD ** 2013 GLK 350 18,000 Wife's new DD**

- With out god, life is everything.
- God is an ever receding pocket of scientific ignorance that's getting smaller and smaller as time moves on..." Neil DeGrasse Tyson
- You can pray for me, I'll think for you.
- When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours.

It sounds like you have dented the cat enough to cause enough back pressure to make the engine work overtime. I wouldn't drive it this way at all.

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Don't Chrome them; polish them

I just jacked up the car and took a look. Nothing looks like it is restricted. The cat does have a scrape on it but it does not look deformed. Nothing else is even dented from the header all the way back to the muffler.

I tap the cat with my hand and did hear some movement. Could something have collapsed inside and cause a restriction? Or should I be looking elsewhere fro my problem?

Thanks

__________________
Sent from an agnostic abacus

2014 C250 21,XXX my new DD ** 2013 GLK 350 18,000 Wife's new DD**

- With out god, life is everything.
- God is an ever receding pocket of scientific ignorance that's getting smaller and smaller as time moves on..." Neil DeGrasse Tyson
- You can pray for me, I'll think for you.
- When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours.

Could something have collapsed inside and cause a restriction?

I think this is quite possible. It doesn't take much to stop up a cat anyway - just a badly tuned engine and enough carbon as a result will do it.

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Don't Chrome them; polish them

Take aluminum tape and seal up your exhausts at the the ends, then jack the car up from the back and supprot it safely. Start the car. If you reach your hand up around the muffler, you may notice that is has a hole or is scratched, My wife hit a big rock with our 400E the drive shaft bounced up and punched a hole in the exhaust pipe right above it. PC-7 seems to work well to stop the holes.

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1993 400E, 256,000 miles (totaled)
1994 E420, 200,000+ miles
1995 E420, 201,000 miles

Buy a new cat and replace the broken one. The matrix inside is broken. To confirm this, take the car to an emissions shop and have it checked.

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Regards

Warren

Currently 1965 220Sb, 2002 FORD Crown Vic Police Interceptor

Had 1965 220SEb, 1967 230S, 280SE 4.5, 300SE (W126), 420SEL

ENTER > = (HP RPN)

Not part of the in-crowd since 1952.

Does this mean I probably broke the cat. in my S320? While doing the tranny removal, the entire front half of the exhaust fell about 3-3 1/2 feet to the concrete floor. As soon as it happened I was afraid that I may have damaged the cat/s. BTW, does an S320 have two cats per side (total of 4 cats on the car)?

So you're saying that if you tap the cat. or move it around you can hear something loose inside?

Thanks
David

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2000 Honda Accord V6 137k miles

1972 300SEL 4.5 98k miles

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I agree, but if it rattles I would not bother having the emissions checked. It should not rattle. The cat material is a matrix, like a grid, of ceramic material and will break. If it is broken it will not work correctly and could easily plug the flow.

Tom W

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

It was the cat. I just got back from the muffler shop and when he pulled it off he should me the insides. One of the panels of material was cocked at an angle so the holes that pass though (think honey comb) was at an angle so air could not pass through. With the new cat I have power and no whistling anymore.

Life is good once again, $185 poorer but at least the car runs well again.

__________________
Sent from an agnostic abacus

2014 C250 21,XXX my new DD ** 2013 GLK 350 18,000 Wife's new DD**

- With out god, life is everything.
- God is an ever receding pocket of scientific ignorance that's getting smaller and smaller as time moves on..." Neil DeGrasse Tyson
- You can pray for me, I'll think for you.
- When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours.