Exhaust "leak"? Power loss...
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Exhaust "leak"? Power loss...
I posted a thread a week ago or so explaining that after driving the car for 10-15(mins) it will sometimes lose alot of power/acceleration. I can step on the gas and after a certain point in the throttle it won't gain any acceleration. The RPMs clime much slower than usual. Does that make sense?
Anyways (understand that I don't know much about cars), today I noticed while inspecting the exhaust (was told by a mechanic it may be a catalytic converter, that's why I was looking) I noticed what appeared to be a "leak" in the exhaust. Not a liquid leak, but the temp was low enough outside that the heat from the exhaust allowed me to see where the air was coming from (hot/cold air condensation).
The "leak" was coming from a large kind of ovular shaped piece under the car about where the rear seats are located. Is this where the catalytic converter is? If not what is causing this leak? Is this leak a problem and might it be causing my power loss?
Sorry for the long post, but I suck with cars and am very anxious to learn more about them and maintaining/modifying them. Thanks for any help, this forum is great!
Anyways (understand that I don't know much about cars), today I noticed while inspecting the exhaust (was told by a mechanic it may be a catalytic converter, that's why I was looking) I noticed what appeared to be a "leak" in the exhaust. Not a liquid leak, but the temp was low enough outside that the heat from the exhaust allowed me to see where the air was coming from (hot/cold air condensation).
The "leak" was coming from a large kind of ovular shaped piece under the car about where the rear seats are located. Is this where the catalytic converter is? If not what is causing this leak? Is this leak a problem and might it be causing my power loss?
Sorry for the long post, but I suck with cars and am very anxious to learn more about them and maintaining/modifying them. Thanks for any help, this forum is great!
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Joined: May 2002
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Well...
Your cat is located further front. It is a cylindrical piece in between the front wheels. the piece by the rear wheels is probably your mid-exhaust system(I call it the suitcase). I have heard it gives additional low end torque, which could be why you are losing some power. but a clogged cat would make u loose even more power. Tap the cat and see it it rattles.
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Re: The above info is assuming u have a B3
Ya, sorry about that. The car is a B3, 1989 90. Thanks for the help. The "suitcase" is where it is leaking from. What does this mean if anything? I will have to try and see if my catalytic converter rattles today.
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Cat does rattle and strange buzzing...
Ok, following the info given by tonydule, I tapped my cat and sure enough, if I hit it not too hard but hard enough there is a high-pitched rattle. This is also the rattle I notice when I startup my car and it will also rattle sometimes around 2.5 RPM's. Does this mean the cat is shot? How much are they to replace and is it hard to do or does it have to be done by a dealer?
Also, I've had this problem since I bought the car last year, but forgot to ever mention it. In the rear under the car (around or at the "suitcase"), there is a buzzing noise. It sounds more like an electronic buzz rather than a mechanical noise though. What exactly is the "suitcase" for and what does this buzzing mean?
Also, I've had this problem since I bought the car last year, but forgot to ever mention it. In the rear under the car (around or at the "suitcase"), there is a buzzing noise. It sounds more like an electronic buzz rather than a mechanical noise though. What exactly is the "suitcase" for and what does this buzzing mean?
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