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86 LTDead, I think.

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kennypinkerton

kennypinkerton

Yoda
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The car overheated, the cat was cherry red, and fluid dripping under the rear of the engine. Sound dead to you guys?
 
Sounds like clogged cat to me...might just be an overheating problem - checked the freeze plugs yet?
 
nope. Just picked Julie up after it stranded her. We'll go back and try to get the car tomorrow.
 
What engine??

SteveL
 
3.8 v-6
 
Went to pick it up the day after... and no coolant or oil missing. ran good all the way home (less than half the trip from her work to home (but about half way - 5 miles).
 
maybe the cat was/is badly clogged?
 
Quite possibly the cat overheated, melted down and clogged, But what caused it to do that?
Hmmmmmmmmmm
 
That's what I'm wondering... cats are expensive, and if I'm going to melt another, what's the point.
 
By-pass it...and see what happens. The cat in my Camaro clogged up once, didn't get red hot but it made the car run like crap...and i ma sure it heated up more then normal too(no temp guage in the Camaro...only idiot lights). I got rid of it altogether and it's been fine since(a little louder, but I like it like that).
I think mine probably clogged up because the automatic choke wasn't working properly and staying on longer than it should, causing the car to run rich until it was at operating temp....I guess all that extra carbon clogged it up?
 
Ok... the 86 LTD only has dummy lights... (the main reason I hate most cars made after 1980). But, in the interest of getting an accurate answer on why it died....

My wife has been driving the car for a couple months now with no problems. Then all of a sudden in one night, then, bam no power after traveling to work and travelling about 15 miles. Then the power suddenly dropped off, and the car acted like it had overheated (but no dummy lights... storey to be continued)
 
Does the check engine, or possibly the Emissions light
come on when you turn the key to the run position??

SteveL
 
[ QUOTE ]
I guess all that extra carbon clogged it up?

[/ QUOTE ]
Actually the cat is suppose to burn the unburnt gas. This is why it gets so hot. You probally got it so hot it basically melted. Kenny, it sounds like you may have done the same thing. Sorry dude. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif
 
Like I said at the beginning of the thread: "clogged cat"....slide up under it & replace it with a piece of pipe!
 
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