Cat going bad?

firecadet613 · December 24, 2002

Well I've narrowed down that rattling sound I had a while back to the cat. It makes it at about 1500RPM and then every now and then at idle for a few seconds but moreso when its cold out. I take it its a sign my cats about to go? How much time do I have left? How long do I have before I should get a new one?

Joe

December 24, 2002

That rattle is most likely a heat shield on or around the cat. I think I've only heard of one or maybe two cats fail. I do seem to remember that they swell up shut when they go. I also think that was way back when you could still get leaded gas and that's what made them fail.

firecadet613 · December 24, 2002

OK, how do I tighten the heat shield thats on the cat, that must be making the noise.

Joe

CMNTMXR81 · December 27, 2002

Take them off.

Unless you can somehow get someone to tack weld them in the places that are loose. I'd just take them off, but that's just me.

If your cat was going bad, you'd smell it! Yummmmy rotten eggs!

firecadet613 · December 28, 2002

How should I take them off? Just rip them off? I can always just weld em on there at school, probably might do that.

CTRDRV55 · January 30, 2003

That same thing happened on my 99 Xtreme.My dealer replaced the cat under warranty.Is it sound like a really load ticking/vibrating sound?

titanium10k · January 31, 2003

my old dakotas cat started rattling at about 130000 miles....the cat needed replacing the insides were rattling when it was idling

mnstrmdnss · January 31, 2003

If your cat was going bad, you'd smell it! Yummmmy rotten eggs!

cats dont smell when their going bad, the rotten egg smell means the cat is working harder to break down unburned hydrocarbons(raw gas). cats are taken out usually because of a rich running engine condition, unless their just being drug along the ground to get beat up!