Hello Advisers,
My indy advised me that the catalytic converter is bad since i was complaining about a rattle on the right hand side of the car when engine gets warm and tranny is engaged. I am kinda short on funds and i would like to know if it is not advisable to go on a long trip with a bad cat? Car drives strong and great but the noise is there when engine is in idling mode. How is the procedure in replacing the cat conv? Apparently i don't get codes?
thanks a lot
94 850 wagon n/a 188K

I've had broken cat clog the exhaust on an '85 740, causing freeway stalls some years back so have had the cats removed completely from my current rwd bricks. I know that's not an option in CA.

One Ozbricks writer opines against racing cats or cat removal for the 850. Also some exhaust discussion threads linked there:

http://au.geocities.com/ozbrick850/engine-etc.html

Good Luck,

Chris
--
In the Country of the Blind, the One-Eyed Man is King

thanks Chris

If you live in a state that does emmission testing, you'll have to replace it prior to next inspection if it's bad. Otherwise, if the rattle bothers you, remove the cat and take a long punch or screwdriver and hammer and bust up the honeycomb inards and dump it out. Drove my 740 like that for 5 year til til the exhaust needed replacing and put on a new cat at that time.

bl

Hi,
So car won't stall like indy mechanic claims? he just probably wants to sell service and parts. i live in LA,CA>
thanks for the advice.

Are you sure it's the cat and not a motor mount? Unless you live in a state that does emmission testing, you can drive it until the cat plugs up and then dies because it can no longer exhaust itself.
If it runs fine and there are no codes, keep going. Save up for a new cat.

Klaus
--
98 V70Rawd(101Kmi), 95 854T(85K mi), 75 164E(173K mi)

Hi Klaus,
Well i live in LA,Calif but forutnately i already did the smog last year so we'll probably do another smog after 2 yrs. Accdg to the dealer it's the cat conv w/c rattles. I don't mind the rattle since it is only obvious during idling but when ypu drive ypu can hardly hear it and car drives great. I am just worried that car might stall esp when wife uses it? Indy mechanic says there's a chance that it will stall when cat gets plugged up, is that true?
Need to go so SF over the weekend, a good 700 miles round trip and I am kinda low on the budget for a cat repair...what do you think?
Thanks
Cesar

If it is making noise, that is a good thing for a failing cat. That means that it is not melting into a glob and plugging the exhaust. Go ahead and make your trip.

If you want insurance, bring along a ratchet to remove the exhaust bolts behind the cat, two new bolts, and an exhaust clamp. If the exhaust gets plugged, break off the existing exhaust clamp bolts, have a piece of rebar about 2 ft long and hammer it into the cat and make a large hole in the "core". Then reclamp the exhaust pipe and continue on your way!

Doubt if you need to do that. Save up your pocket change for a new cat,

Klaus
--
98 V70Rawd(101Kmi), 95 854T(85K mi), 75 164E(173K mi)

Mr. Klaus, Thanks a lot!!!

I drove for over 1 year with a bad cat. Cost me over 7$00.00 to replace but I had to use OEM because I have a 1993...

so mechanic says car will stall is BS?
thanks

Hi there: My mechanic told me eventually the cat will break apart and the car will stall but like I said, I drove it for over 1 year with a failed cat with no problems. Sounds like yours is trying scare tactics. I live in San Francisco and had to do smog this year so had to have it replaced. Otherwise, I would have waited until it failed. Mechanics charge 90.00 per hour here which I imagine is more expensive than Los Angeles.

Hello Chad,
Actually we're driving to SF over the weekend to visit in-laws who lives in Hercules. 850 is wife's car and i just want to make sure that the car will be ok during the trip w/c is a good 700 miles R/T.
Well that's a welcome relief and i have a feeling it was a scare tactic, a mechanics' not so good traits...
Thanks
Cesar

Have a safe trip! It's supposed to rain here this weekend. . .

LOL, i know, thanks again

May want to get another opinion...

well, he put the car on the lift and showed me where the rattle is coming from( Cat)
thanks