Serious problem please help asap
 

I just got back from a ~10 minute trip and half way through my car had zero power, just enough to cruise at the speed limit. The car started hesitating really bad and smoking, dying at red lights. I reluctantly made it home and looked under the car, my passenger header was glowing red. The temp gauge reads normal.. any ideas?

Clogged catalytic convertor?


Jim

wouldn't both sides be glowing though

sound like the timing belt is off by a few teeth. That would explain the hesitation issue too

Tom

f it, taking it to a shop.

Hope not something related to a broken valve ...
Any sounds inside the engine?

there is a loud ticking noise now. I hate this ****ing car I wish I never bought it

Don't turn it on anymore! just take the engine out, crack open your passenger bank and check WTF is going on in there...

I think you don't have a major issue...

Timing belt off by a tooth or three or the clogged cat is what comes to my mind.

Im going with clogged cat.

How many miles in the exhaust system?

Any odds that a single cylinder has some reason to be running hellaciously lean?

probably since 1992, 100k miles.. I replaced the long single tube going from cat to muffler because it was rusted. I'm going to punch out the cat tonight and see what happens. If it's a free fix, cool. If it doesn't do anything hey at least it rules out one thing.

Just remove that piece you are mentioning and turn the car on. Drive around the block and see what happens.

MAF? Sudden things like this usually point to electronic issues...

It would be the cat for the bank that is running lean... not the 2 into 1 cat.


Jim

So that baffle thing on that pipe? Is there ceramic stuff inside there?