For the past few weeks, my car has had zero power or acceleration when I press the gas pedal. If I press too hard, it makes a squeaky sound, and I can barely drive over 10–20 mph. On the freeway, I can only get up to 40 mph with hazards on. I’ve already replaced the O2 sensors after getting a code from the engine light, but it hasn’t helped.
A muffler shop told me both catalytic converters need replacing, which would cost around $1,600. That’s a lot, so I want to make sure I’ve explored other possible causes before committing to that. Any ideas on what could be going wrong?
Those codes usually wouldn’t cause these issues, but clogged catalytic converters definitely could. I’d get a second opinion, but the muffler shop is probably right.
Axel said:
Those codes usually wouldn’t cause these issues, but clogged catalytic converters definitely could. I’d get a second opinion, but the muffler shop is probably right.
I had the same problem on my ‘04, and it was clogged cats as well.
I had this problem too. I went with some cheaper cats from eBay for $150 and installed them myself over a weekend. It ran great after that, although it still threw a P0430 code. I used a defouler downstream on the second bank to pass emissions.
@Dru
No welding needed, just bolts! Try driving it without the bottom cat (under the middle of the car) first, since both exhaust manifolds meet there. If the blockage is there, that might solve the problem temporarily.
For the eBay cats, you’ll need a Dorman 03414B manifold hardware pack since the old bolts probably aren’t in good shape. Be prepared for tight spaces, though—some studs can break off, so a right-angle drill with left-handed bits can help.
Those codes don’t actually explain your symptoms. They’re usually related to a blown fuse for the O2 sensor heaters and the purge valve. I had similar symptoms, and it turned out to be clogged cats. They’d overheated, which melted an O2 sensor wire and blew a fuse.
Sounds like clogged cats to me too (had this issue myself). But remember, cats don’t usually clog up on their own. Often, it’s due to misfires where unburnt fuel gets to the cats and damages them. Once you fix the cats, check the coil packs and spark plugs as well.
