So, the other day I was driving along fine when I came to a stop light, take off as normal and my car instantly bogged down and would not accelerate as normal.I got it back home (1/2 mile away) and put it in park . It idles a little rough but the biggest thing is that (in park) when I step on the gas it goes up to 3000rom and then automatically drops down to around (fluctuating) 2000rpm. While driving it, it crawls up to speed VERY slowly. I took it down the street to have a car shop look at it and the guy took it around the block. He said that he was 90% sure it was the catalytic converter. Since I only paid $1500 for it and it has body damage I don't want to sink TOO much into getting running (already put $2000 into it).
This is on a 1992 Lexus SC400 4.0L 1UZ-FE (Stock) So here are the symptoms: -Loss of Power/ Slow acceleration -gas smell from exhaust on both ends -exhaust pipe directly after catalytic converter on passenger side reaches almost 300F (catalytic converter ~ 170F at normal operating temp) -engine does not overheat So here is what I have done after the problem happened:
-check ALL fluid levels (they are good) -replaced ALL spark plugs and wires -sprayed bolt loosener on back bolts of the catalytic converter that was over heating near pipe -Put up on stands to get under the car -Checked the temperature of the entire exhaust system running from manifolds to tail pipe I have looked and it seems like it is a pretty hard job to get those catalytic converters off. Any help would be appreciated
