How To Diagnose An Exhaust Restriction (Blocked Catalytic Converter)

[@georgekounelis2723]

Thank you for your help, I wish I found this earlier. My van is back too full power with no mis,

[@TheWeirdSide1]

Top level diagnosis and video! I wish we didn't have to wade through miles of muck to finally find a great channel. Especially frustrating when the best videos are crushed under the algorythm's fat misleading demons. I have to floor it to climb even small hills. And have all these symptoms: Poor engine performance: The engine may feel sluggish or have reduced acceleration Exhaust smells: The exhaust may smell like rotten eggs or sulfur (not this one) Dark exhaust smoke: The exhaust may be emitting dark smoke Excessive heat: The vehicle may be emitting extreme heat from underneath(yes, center console area gets so hot I almost can't touch it). Check engine light: The check engine light may be illuminated(yes, code for rich...ob1 only. Trouble starting: The car may have trouble starting(yes, at seemingly random times and will die when taking sharp turn quickly. (i replaced power steering pump and idle up valve for that...still dies unless I baby it when turning wheels quickly) Poor fuel economy: The vehicle may have poor fuel economy (i can see the needle move...!5 mpg roughly! Engine misfires: The engine may misfire( not sure...but removing #2 plug wire makes zero difference in idle speed. compression test also indicates lower in that cylinder) Rattling: The vehicle may make a rattling noise( everything shakes..sometimes worse than other times). Transmission issues: The transmission may have difficulty changing gears( Hard to diagnose given all the symtoms, but it seems off. I only had one time a very sharp jerk into gear. automatic)

[@the_retired_mechanic]

Some very interesting and useful information in this video. Thank you once again for taking the time to make it

[@GerardBurkeBurkesGarage]

Thanks for watching, very much appreciated 🙏🙏

[@kennedysgarage3281]

Thanks Gerard, each and every one of us invested mechanic’s have to say a big thank you to Scanner Danner for his education on petrol engines. And fair play to you for this brush up on his kinda thoughts, excellent video good man Ger 🙏🙏👍

[@GerardBurkeBurkesGarage]

Scanner Danner is a legend of the automotive diagnostic game. A fountain of knowledge! Thanks for watching, very much appreciated 💪💪

[@robertboyd321]

Thanks, but my catalytic converter was so clogged up that I think it must have had a possum living in it

[@vunit8213]

I have a 2013 gmc sierra 2500 HD with 3 cats bank1 bank 2 and one in middle before muffler. I put a bore snake camera inside the 02 sensor hole on bank 1 and sure as suspected my driver side is completely clogged and busted. However my other 2 look like new, what would cause only one side to be this bad? And would this explain why I kept getting all my misfires on the 1-3-5-7 cylinders? Or is the engine misfiring on those cylinders causing this cat to clog?

[@robert-h2x]

same on our mazda cx 7

[@Liamautomechanic]

I came across same problem on a 1.4 vw golf. When we did the repair we found the valve stem oil seals and piston rings were worn oil entering exhaust system blocking the cat so head and sump off new rings and valve stem oil seals. To cure the problem.

[@timothycochrane364]

Agreed my aftermarket Mani-Cat failed in less than a year. Manifold split!!

[@georgekounelis2723]

Hi great video did you have any mis fire before the repair. I have changed everything spark plugs coils maf crank angle sensor to no avail. Lose of power and very slow revs to 4000rpm then it misfires and revs start to drop rpm .

[@georgekounelis2723]

also changed fuel pump and filter.

[@PichuPeekaboo]

@@georgekounelis2723 I basically just did the same steps, and the loss of power is still there

[@asteriosmitsimponas8085]

I have the same symptoms with w211 Mercedes 2008 petrol-gas …..

[@STiHigh1]

Thank you for a well presented informative video.

[@GerardBurkeBurkesGarage]

Thanks Terry

[@STiHigh1]

@@GerardBurkeBurkesGarage. I liked the two hand 'tools' you used in this video (Fluke 65 IR thermometer and Oiiwak 'borescope') so after checking with the Minister for Finance (wifey) I bought them. Fluke 65's are no longer available new but I got a used one in excellent condition. Well, you can never have too many tools! 😄

[@patkelly7999]

Great work as always Gerard👌👍🙏💪🙂

[@GerardBurkeBurkesGarage]

Thanks Pat 🙏🙏🤗

[@jamesdean7574]

at 5:11 you mention if the mix is lean, can you do a small video explaining on that and what that means. i would like to understand that part better if you have the time thanks for the great video by the way

[@Kirawolf1971]

A clogged cat will cause exhaust manifold leak . When my cat was partially clogged it did . From the back pressure .

[@MiracleMAX]

Great series of checks mate. Put them all together and you have a sure fire diagnostic path. It's good to do the testing post repair as well as you have, to confirm the repair, rather than just a basic road test. Well done! 😉

[@GerardBurkeBurkesGarage]

Thanks mate, appreciate it buddy. Happy Christmas 🎄🤶🙏🎅

[@MiracleMAX]

@@GerardBurkeBurkesGarage I hope you have a good break with your family & friends. We'll have to catch up at some point 😉

[@florenbaron7111]

Will removing the oxygen censors or opening up the bults cause error codes?

[@dela4994]

Thanks Gerard great video once again.

[@GerardBurkeBurkesGarage]

Thank you, I really appreciate you watching and taking the time to comment 🙏🙏

[@mahmoudhawli3235]

Thx for your information ❤❤

[@GerardBurkeBurkesGarage]

👌👌🙏

[@Smooth00E]

I have a 2011 ford escape xlt and my car was barely moving, and I heard a loud pop sound follow by a bad odor and the car started driving normal again. What do you think is the problem?

[@Kirawolf1971]

This happened to me yesterday . It's the insides of the cat. The catalytic converter now is just a shell . Mine was partially plugged and the insides blew out .

[@nigelhumphreysfsuk2833]

great tips thanks

[@GerardBurkeBurkesGarage]

Cheers Nigel, thank you 🙏🙏

[@SabretoothBarnacle]

Can the same approach with pre/post cat temperatures be applied to DPFs?

[@GerardBurkeBurkesGarage]

No not a test that is used on DPF diagnosing, the dpf is a soot accumulation then burn off, this means we have temperatures of 600 degrees at times of passive or forced regen. Ways to check them. Is pressure checks and soot accumulation % or amount on the scan tool. I have a video with information related to DPF's on my channel as well. Thanks for watching 🙏🙏

[@maxmusterman6030]

thanks alot dude!

[@niallcosgrove5596]

Great video. Good information ☘️

[@GerardBurkeBurkesGarage]

Cheers Niall 🍻🙏👌

[@petar443]

Where did you get that nice aftermarket manifold-cat ? I guess the price is nice. Does the company got a website to check? 👍

[@GerardBurkeBurkesGarage]

We were supplied it through Repco trade account, I am not sure of the exact branding or where it originated from.

[@phamuchuynguyen7921]

❤

[@lancecooper4646]

8:35 SP tools 👍

[@GerardBurkeBurkesGarage]

🧐😁

[@Liamautomechanic]

Always check oil consumption as to why cat was blocked in the first place.

[@GerardBurkeBurkesGarage]

100% Liam, I metioned that in my other Cat efficency video, a good point to bring up 👍👌💪

[@MariaGonzalez-ei1pv]

Wow no check engine light?🤔🤔

[@MechaniclifeJDM]

Aftermarket cat = aftermarket part installation labor rate