Thread: What are the symptoms of a blocked catalytic converter?

I am suspecting my rpm bogging and warm up idle dropping is being caused by it cause everything else checks out fine.

Basically you will hit a brick wall of flow if your catalytic convertor is clogged.

Does your car have power at 4500-5500rpm? because that's about where you have peak power and the car is forcing out the most air. If you had a clogged catalytic convertor, your engine would never make it up there!

It will also get hot enough to catch your car on fire at times.

just gut it and take the metal inside to the junkyard. they threw me 15$ for mine

One symptom will be a huge power loss. Like your car lost 25 hp.
The car will also sound like it's running under water.
My idle was fine honestly. it was only noticeable during driving matter of fact I thought my Maf **** the bed.

OK, I am making it past 4500. It bogs around those RPM's intermittently. It could be the beginning. I just do not want to throw parts at it. I want a direct hit. All the sensors check out fine. Nothing looks loose.

Check for vacuum leaks. Test your MAF voltage. Check spark plugs, check O2 sensor.

Those are some of the basics.

Checking vacuum can hint of a clogged cat convertor. If vacuum starts to drop or reaches close to 0, without being WOT it can be a clogged cat.

Sorry for the OT Pretty White, I will separate this thread and move the Cat parts to a new thread when I get a chance.

EDIT: New Thread

Cat also turns red hot and smells like it's burning.