I have a daughter who just turned 17. I bought this GA and put a 2.3 quad4 motor in it that seems to run ok. The problem it has is that the exhaust gets cherry red down by the cat. Can anybody give me some suggestions as to why? I notice that the car has no power also. I thought it might have a vacuum leak but I can't find one.
Also, since the cat got that hot, could it have gone bad?

The cats probably stoped up.

The cats probably stoped up.

agree...:yup:

...Frank...

Because it got hot or?

No,just age/miles.It's getting hot because the exhaust can't get out quick enough,building too much back pressure.Because it got hot or?

Put a new cat on it (not an orange tabby).Make sure it does not have a head gasket leak between the #2 and #3 cyls either.If you run with the bad cat for too long you will cook the head gasket due to the extreme heat from the plugged up cat.While you have the cat off,pull the exhaust manifold and change the water pump while you are in there.Its a monster to do otherwise.

Because it got hot or?

i think because of your statement...
"I notice that the car has no power "

...:yup:...

Put a new cat on it (not an orange tabby).Make sure it does not have a head gasket leak between the #2 and #3 cyls either.If you run with the bad cat for too long you will cook the head gasket due to the extreme heat from the plugged up cat.While you have the cat off,pull the exhaust manifold and change the water pump while you are in there.Its a monster to do otherwise.

X2


you probably have a clogged catalityc converter or something

Ok guys, i'll probobly get this one. I just wonder if there is something wrong that will damage the new one. I have a few days to keep looking into it so...
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=140228203070&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=004

When that happened to my truck, I drilled several 1/2" holes in the converter and it ran good again.
I had to because a new cat was way out of my monetary limits.

Thats what I plan on doing first so that I can see if I can tell if I need to just trade it in...

Ok guys, i'll probobly get this one. I just wonder if there is something wrong that will damage the new one. I have a few days to keep looking into it so...
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=140228203070&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=004
Common causes for converter failure are as followes(in no particular order)
1.Excessive fuel in exhaust.
2.Engine oil in exhaust(oil burner)
3.Coolant finding its way into exhaust(leaky head gasket is common cause)
4.Bad O2 sensor.
These all require the car to be driven for a while with a pre-existing problem that eventually causes converter failure.There are other things that will cause failure too but these are the most common ones.I would trade it in Quad 4s' are evil.Good luck Gene!!

Common causes for converter failure are as followes(in no particular order)
1.Excessive fuel in exhaust.
2.Engine oil in exhaust(oil burner)
3.Coolant finding its way into exhaust(leaky head gasket is common cause)
4.Bad O2 sensor.
These all require the car to be driven for a while with a pre-existing problem that eventually causes converter failure.There are other things that will cause failure too but these are the most common ones.I would trade it in Quad 4s' are evil.Good luck Gene!!
This is what I was looking for... thanks.
A little history if you care;
Got the car for $200 about 4 years ago needing a motor. The car ran and drove perfect except for a slight noise that I had diagnosed as coming from the lower end while working a Pep Boys. Another tech was assigned the ticket after I referred it to a engine shop, he claimed it to be coming from the top end. Customer agreed to let them (I left the co around this time) tear into it for visual.
I ended up buying it with all the parts from the top end in buckets in the trunk as they couldn't locate the source of the noise and wanted $$ to put it back together.
I bought a low miles complete motor, claimed to be tested in good condition, on ebay from a engine/parts dealer with excellant feedback. Engine sat in garage for about 10 months next to car waiting.
Installed, wouldn't start, changed the plugs and added a couple of gallons of "fresh" fuel. Starts, heater core seeping as moisture builds up on windshield, cat gets cherry red, no power.

The last engine probably had several problems that killed the converter.chains get noisey in them as well as bottom end if you neglect the oil,or a bad head gasket pumping coolant into the crank case(wipe the bearings in short order)I cant tell you how many gm 3.1 and 3.4 liter V-6s' I have replaced due to leaking intake gaskets pumping coolant into em.Man what a lousey designe!!!heater core is super simple on those grand ams.2 hrs tops if you never done one before.Good luck Gene,glad I could give you some info you needed.Pete.

I managed a Midas shop in the late 80's. Replaced many cats doing this same thing. Check with your local muffler shop and see if they can put a universal cat in place of it. I guess they still make em. At least it should be cheaper than the original.

Dont just throw the old cat away either or destroy it. Those baby's bring big money for scrap!

Man what a lousy design!!!

My brother had a '92 Grand AM with the Quad 4 for a while. I think the entire car was a lousy design!! One problem after another, and yes it had a bad catalytic converter, and had no power at all, could barely climb a hill. The car looked nice though. But considering we gave $100 for it and sold it for $400, I guess that wasn't bad.

That era of Grand Ams were definitely pieces of crap! Our dealership owned a Pontiac franchise during that time, all mixed in with our Lincoln Mercury and Toyotas. After about 4 years we dumped Pontiac. My body techs hated to work on them just as much as the service dept. Total Crap!

That era of Grand Ams were definitely pieces of crap! Our dealership owned a Pontiac franchise during that time, all mixed in with our Lincoln Mercury and Toyotas. After about 4 years we dumped Pontiac. My body techs hated to work on them just as much as the service dept. Total Crap!
Glad you think that of my daughters car :rant2:
Bite me Ray :p

I need to put the hollow can back on tomorrow and see what it will do. I am ordering the one I showed previously to put on when I get it right. I thought I could drill it a few times but it just kept crumpling so I had to clear it all out...

Got the car for $200 about 4 years ago needing a motor.

Glad you think that of my daughters car :rant2:
Bite me Ray :p
Did you think you were gonna get a good car for $200 :cool:
I think you need to give her your Comet! :yup:

Did you think you were gonna get a good car for $200 :cool:
I think you need to give her your Comet! :yup:

Yeah, based on this thread...

http://mmb.maverick.to/showthread.php?t=44343

Some guys wake up all refreshed and full of jokes :rolleyes:.
My daughter did say she would trade me when I finish the Comet. I told her I might just do that, because she would probobly have a new car by the time i'm done :D. She said "as long as it has ac" :16suspect...

Now I have the exaust breathing nice and clear ;)
I can get it up to 65mph going down hill, 45 going up :(.
Feels real slugish when I accelerate and I have to crank the heck out of it... also feel a stall cruising and steping on the pedal. TPS?... Coolant sensor?:hmmm:
Ideas welcome...

You mean a Grand Am is suppose to go faster than that??? :hmmm:

Gas filter/fuel pressure regulator leaking(pull the vac hose off it,if theres gas in the hose or weeping out the vac nipple its bad)Fuel pump/bad plugs.Is the throttle body clean??? if not scrub it out and see what happens.Good luck Gene.Those cars are evil.

Gas filter/fuel pressure regulator leaking(pull the vac hose off it,if theres gas in the hose or weeping out the vac nipple its bad)Fuel pump/bad plugs.Is the throttle body clean??? if not scrub it out and see what happens.Good luck Gene.Those cars are evil.
Just came back from a test drive with my scanner hooked up. No codes came up then I punched it, very slow response and still nada. I go to park and notice the lean code is on, not sure when it came on tho. I stoped paying attention the last two miles or so. I'm starting to think fuel pump.
I think I will swap the regulator just for grins. I have all the parts still on the origional motor, either off or on but somewhere in the garage. Sure wish I had a fuel pressure guage. Maybe i'll invest in one tomorrow, I gotta get this car fixed.

is it possible that cherry red exhaust killed the O2 sensor and now your getting a bad air/fuel mix and its causing a lack of power?

is it possible that cherry red exhaust killed the O2 sensor and now your getting a bad air/fuel mix and its causing a lack of power?
I thought that so today I changed it with the one from the origional motor. It does switch and I see counting on the scanner.

You mean a Grand Am is suppose to go faster than that??? :hmmm:

:naughty:


Gas filter/fuel pressure regulator leaking(pull the vac hose off it,if theres gas in the hose or weeping out the vac nipple its bad)Fuel pump/bad plugs.Is the throttle body clean??? if not scrub it out and see what happens.Good luck Gene.Those cars are evil.

X2

Check the basic. I would try to clean the throttle body...

I would try to clean the throttle body...
Sorry, I didn't mention that I already did that.
I won and bought a pcm for like $10 on ebay and I even tried that before I drug out my scanner. No difference...and no check engine light.

I say :Blasting: and put it out of it's misery. :)

Two things;
when you did the exhaust did you check all the pipes for a collapsed pipe?
See if there is a hot spot in any pipes - especially the ones that you didn't replace.
If you don't find any problems there then check the stall speed of the torque converter.
With the brakes held to the floor and the park brake on hard, stab the throttle to the floor and hold it for up to 10 seconds while you look at the rpm. Idle it high (1200) after the test. If you are getting 1200 rpm then the converter is ok. If you get less than that then the one-way clutch in the converter is toast. If you get signifigantly higher rpm then you are slipping the TC or the vanes have folded on you. Either way you need a new one.

Dam coil castle! Looks good on the outside. I swaped it with the origional and it fixed it. A few more bugs and my daughter will be ready to take on the seniors, she's a junior. Thanks guys for putting in your thoughts and suggestions . :Handshake
AC is next and I know for sure it needs the heater core :rant2:

speaking of juniors im a junior in highschool and i totally own in races with my mav :bananaman i love my mav :2thumbs:

speaking of juniors im a junior in highschool and i totally own in races with my mav :bananaman i love my mav :2thumbs:
Too bad you ain't here. I'd let you check out my...:hmmm:... Comet. :rl:

Go juniors! Class of '09 all the way. Unfortunately, my mav probably won't be ready 'till I'm a senior...(sigh)
Glad you could get the poncho fixed, though. I'm from a family of Chevy/GM guys on my dad's side, and my mom's side mostly likes Fords and a couple of them like Dodge.
I, on the other hand, have no brand loyalty. National, however, American Muscle, man. that's the only thing that matters when it comes to cars if you ask me. :)

Well, I gave her the car :hide:... It runs really good but the darn ac compressor is leaking around the case :(. She didn't want to wait till I could get it fixed in a couple of weeks. It looks really nice and she loves it so i'm happy that I was able to give her her first car. :dance:
I told her that now I just have to :character0182:watch for her when i'm in town :rl:.

Go juniors! Class of '09 all the way. Unfortunately, my mav probably won't be ready 'till I'm a senior...(sigh)
Glad you could get the poncho fixed, though. I'm from a family of Chevy/GM guys on my dad's side, and my mom's side mostly likes Fords and a couple of them like Dodge.
I, on the other hand, have no brand loyalty. National, however, American Muscle, man. that's the only thing that matters when it comes to cars if you ask me. :)
So you understand when I say I would like to have a Heavy Chevy :D...?

Yeah. I like 'em all, so long as they're American made and from before the '80's. My dad has a '67 Impala, My Uncle has a '67 Biscayne, a '64 Corvair pickup, but he also has a 49 Ford and a 68 Mustang, so I grew up with influence from both sides of the fence I'm sittin' on. It's nice not being bound by brand loyalty.