what would be the signs/symptoms of a clogge (or collapsed or worn out or whatever) cataytic converter?

and what are the downsides to just removing it all together? will that f-up the O2 sensors?

thanks
pilsner...

 

I have had a strange rattling coming from my cat ever since i had my head gasket replaced. Upon taking it back to my mechanic they insisted that a piece had broken off inside of itself and was bouncing around. While changing my oil I noticed a exhaust manifold bolt sitting in between my cat and the frame of the car. I pulled it out and it never made the sound again. From the looks of it during the head job they dropped it and never bothered to find it. Im sure this doesnt help your situation but i just thought i would tell the story.

 

What is making you think a cat is bad? No, you can't run with a cat removed, your ECU will slip into open loop and your engine will run very rick and really bad.
Usually when a cat starts going, you should have a code or two.

 

Go under your truck and tap on the cats with a rubber mallet and listen for rattling.

 

Still chasing your 11MPH issue?

A clogged cat will cause lose of power at higher engine RPM.
If you remove your cats you will get literally 4MPG.
And it is illegal.

 

Can you see a lot of mice under the truck? If so, your cats are gone. Get new ones.

 

Laugh out freaking loud.

 

when the one went out on my silverado, I just kept losing power until it got to the point it wouldn't make it up ANY type of hill, no matter how slight... hard on the engine as it increases backpressure to an ungodly high pressure

 

yes i am still chasing the 11MPH issue - i have been gone on an army thing for the last monthor two and my problem is still waiting in my driveway. i have tried almost everything - it is down to checking random suggestions. best guess is something in the fuel/air/exhaust area. no trouble codes at all. weird. there is some old posts under my screen name that give specifics. PLEASE HELP!
trying the cat then the TPS sensor. after that idk what to try next.


thanks
jaynes

 

Ok I know that I am going to sound like a huge d!ck but I told you in your original post, and I told your wife in her post while you were gone.
It is the transmission, it is toast.
She said that the fluid was black, it wont hardly move, it is dead.
Have it towed to a shop and have this confirmed but that is why there are no trouble codes, the clutches inside the trans are gone.
That will not throw a code.
Take it from a guy who goes through 2 transmission a year, it is dead.
Flatbed it to AMMCO, the LR dealer, anybody who does transmissions, it is toast.
And like I told your wife be proud because a ZF tranny is almost impossible to destroy.
They use these transmissions in Jag's, BMW's, straight trucks, bulldozers, off road dump trucks, almost anything that needs a solid tranny that will take tons of abuse.
Let us know when you get it fixed.
Best of luck to you and thank you for your service to this country.