Wednesday, August 24, 2005 - 06:58 pm, by: Scott Kirby
Got a distress call from my g/f tonight saying the car was running really badly and smoke was coming up from the bonnet. I got her to park it and I went to investigate - coolant was fine, oil level etc. fine, couldn't work out what it was. The car was running really roughly like it was in a limp mode and smelled terrible. Weren't far from home so I babied it back and just before I got back the cat overheat light came on. Parked it and popped the bonnet and smoke was coming up from the back of the bay - the exhaust on the drivers side after the manifold was on fire?!?! A hole has burned right through right where the O2 sensor is.
Can anyone tell me why this happened? The car has been running perfectly with no sign of blockage or overheating and all of a sudden as it was driving, this happens?
Going to try and get it into an exhaust shop ASAP to get it looked at, but has this happened to anyone else? And is it likely to be a coil problem or just the exhaust?
Wednesday, August 24, 2005 - 09:25 pm, by: Neil Griffiths
Scott,,Sounds like the CAT failed.Causing a Super Heat to happen. After having the CAT replaced.(And 02 Sensor) Have tune scope put on the engine to check for any missfiring.
Thursday, August 25, 2005 - 02:44 pm, by: Paul Irwin
Brings back memories of the West Coaster and what happens when you are trying to keep up with Grandad using a gearbox that was over filled with trans fluid by your mechanic.
lots and lots of smoke.
Neil Griffiths Trader 1 x JZZ30,2 x UZZ31,1 x UZZ32,1 x UZZ Track Car,1 x AeroCabin,1 x Crown V8,1 x Celsior
Thursday, August 25, 2005 - 07:05 pm, by: Scott Kirby
Replaced both cats today and started the car back up - same problem. Car is running very poorly and the new cats heated up really quickly. I'm thinking I must have a coil and or ignitor problem like Nathan Grech is also posting about.
I'm going to try and test both coil packs, if it turns out this is the culprit does anybody like my chances of finding a replacement tomorrow?
Sunday, August 28, 2005 - 01:58 pm, by: Nathan Grech(Aerthorn)
Scott, I've got two spare igniters if you want to buy em, paid $100 for the pair. Check the high tension lead that goes from the coil pack to the dizzy, mine was snapped clean all the way through. I think it rubbed up against the timing belt. My car was off the road for two months, i bought two igniters, and wasted many people time trying to figure out what the hell was going on. Mechanics told me they couldnt figure it out either (i didnt bother checking the leads as i assumed they would have done that!!!), turns out thats all it was. Thanks to everyone for the help by the way! if you want one of those igniters email me, if you read the responses in my old post it should tell you how to diagnose it.
Friday, September 02, 2005 - 08:37 am, by: Scott Kirby(Scott_kirby)
Thanks for the offer Nathan - It turned out to be the coil pack at the front of the engine. A tiny piece of plastic on the coil's power clip had snapped and the lead had worked itself off = no spark = unhappy cats!
After being quoted $300+ for ONE coil pack from a few wreckers I found the one I was after for $150 delivered and fitted it in the exhaust shop. Run beautifully now with the new larger cats and some healthy spark!
I'd hold onto those ignitors if I were you mate - if they ever go you'd be kicking yourself!!
Thanks everybody for your help - this forum was the only reason I worked out what the problem was - the exhaust shop told me they would get my car towed to his "Mechanic mate round the corner" and they knew how to "fix the car". Said it was probably a cracked injector and I'd need to replace most of them, and the leads (quoted me $1K for leads)!!! They really tried to stooge me! I walked in and said don't worry, I know what it is - I'll fix it. And drove out of there a few hours later! Thanks again!
Friday, September 02, 2005 - 08:43 am, by: Peter Nitschke(Pen)
A good result then Scott, and thanks for reporting back. It's always good to find out the results that people get from using the forum, and the information then becomes valuable to someone else with a similar problem.
Friday, September 02, 2005 - 12:14 pm, by: Scott Kirby(Scott_kirby)
I loved the look on his face when he realised I knew he was just making problems up and trying to con me out of more $$$ - His price for Cats was bad enough.. I had to do it because I didn't want to drive it any further!
Friday, September 02, 2005 - 03:11 pm, by: Don Bagnall(Baggs)
Jeez Scott, for that price for cats, I'd be wanting Grand Champion Sire & Dam pedigree Persians with a years supply of Fillet Mignon for the "Incoming", a years supply of Kitty Litter for the "Outgoing", & a crap load of squeaky toys for the "In between times".