Loss of Power & Glowing Catalytic converter "HELP"

Kalbarri_baru · Post by **Kalbarri_baru** » Mon Jul 08, 2013 9:13 pm

Just left work and the L with an EA82 Carby was running a little rough, it has just started with the sticky lifter noise where it will now stay even after a good run.

So I went down to B.P and filled up with Premium and added some octane boost "sometimes this helps" took the L for a 10km drive @ 110kmh and still the lifter noise continued.

Popped the hood at home and went through the plugs, leads and dizzy, cleaned all, then I looked at the air filter and it had a little oil around the filter and the housing, I only cleaned that whole area a week ago and replaced the filter.

Put everything back together and it ran worse than before where it had high revs and was mis firing a fair bit, after about 2mins max I turned it off and saw the Catalytic converter was glowing bright orange and freaked.

I checked to see that I had replaced the leads in order and the rotor back in place (all good) so now I am stuck for ideas, (could I have broken one of the timing belts ??) only ask as I have a new oil leak in the filter area and underneath the plastic timing belt covers.

Any assistance appreciated.

Cheers WayneO

taza · Post by **taza** » Mon Jul 08, 2013 9:44 pm

Sorry to hear Wayne. I can't help as I only know the basics with the old carbies...
Paul(RSR) is you man, maybe you should give him a call!
I'd say that's really not good that the cat converter was glowing red! Could be blocked/collapsed...
Hope you work it out mate.

Kalbarri_baru · Post by **Kalbarri_baru** » Mon Jul 08, 2013 10:03 pm

Cheers Taza,

been researching online and so many different theory's, gonna replace dizzy cap and rotor along with leads, spark plugs and ignition coil.

If that fails or makes no difference I might have to get the carby looked at, and failing that I reckon it may be a timing issue.

Oh well back to Google for now.

Cheers bloke

WayneO

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Tue Jul 09, 2013 7:38 am

if car is not burning fuel sufficiently, unburnt fuel hits cat, not good for cat - glowing eh ?

Could it be the reverse, a blocked cat, glows hot causes engine not to be able to breathe nice so carries on - had this before on gas car- would die just as trying to dart out of a give way

ajcmbrown · Post by **ajcmbrown** » Tue Jul 09, 2013 1:36 pm

I'll go with Steptoe and say a blocked exhaust/cat.

Kalbarri_baru · Post by **Kalbarri_baru** » Tue Jul 09, 2013 7:54 pm

Spoke to Paul (RSR555) today and he has agreed to have a look for me

And after changing the plugs, dizzy cap, rotor and ignition coil, (need new leads to try though), but after all that I am still having big problems and I agree with Paul that it may be the drivers side Timing belt that has failed / broke.

I was due for a full Timing kit anyway, good excuse to get it all done @ RSR, will also remove Cat when down that way to have a straight through system.

Once the problem is sorted I will post what the problem actually was and how it was fixed, may help others if the same problem occurs again.

Have found a Youtube clip to help stop the lifter noise in an EA82, worth a view.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m19jwo4cJY0

picture.php?albumid=178&pictureid=1692

picture.php?albumid=178&pictureid=1691

picture.php?albumid=178&pictureid=1690

picture.php?albumid=178&pictureid=1689

picture.php?albumid=178&pictureid=1688

Cheers WayneO

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Wed Jul 10, 2013 8:04 am

maybe not broken belt as it won't run if it is dizzy side, maybe slipped ? You could try the line up the three lines of flywheel with small covers of front of each side ??

Kalbarri_baru · Post by **Kalbarri_baru** » Sun Jul 14, 2013 7:21 pm

Cheers @ Steptoe , yeah your right about the timing belt, they are both intact (that sux as it would have solved the prob).

When I removed the spark plugs they were all covered fully in thick black soot and the Dizzy cap where the ignition coil lead goes had some sort of corrosion, so all is replaced and cleaned now.

Ignition Coil (replaced with 2nd hand one better condition)
Spark Plugs (Replaced new)
Dizzy Cap (Replaced 2nd hand one better condition)
Leads (Replaced 2nd hand ones)
Rotor (Replaced 2nd hand one)

Found a few small hoses around carby area were off and placed them back on, gave the Carby area a good cleaning with degreaser (on outside only) and Carby cleaner (both outside and inside).

The L runs somewhat better but still starts in high revs (like auto choke stuck) only lasts for a few seconds then burbles in idle, thick black smoke from the exhaust, power has returned somewhat but Cat still gets red hot after a few minutes running, and now the constant very loud lifter noise that will not go away (GRRRRRR) wish it had been the timing belt.

So now it may be like Steptoe said "perhaps it is a slipped belt", or a carby issue or the Cat, or a combination of all above.

Cheers WayneO

Post by **TOONGA** » Mon Jul 15, 2013 7:15 am

I did a search on subaru glowing cat ... those Koreans are wierd...

Unburnt fuel from an ignition problem is the most likely cause of the cat glowing red, as it is burning the fuel ( it isn't designed to do this) causing it to freak out.

perhaps its time to move to an EJ motor

TOONGA

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Mon Jul 15, 2013 7:59 am

black exhaust smoke is sign of too rich or unburnt fuel as TOONG says above, and if only you had injectors (squirting rather than spraying) or a dud O2 sensor.
Does it just need a good cobweb blow now to sort it ? Some carby cleaner sprayed into the mouth of a fast runnng carb can do wonders. So too a look down the throat as it is idling and just small blip on the throttle to see it is all spraying and atomising nicely - just fuel dribbling in through loose bits?

YouTube · Post by **El_Freddo** » Tue Jul 16, 2013 8:28 pm

Kalbarri_baru wrote:Popped the hood at home and went through the plugs, leads and dizzy, cleaned all, then I looked at the air filter and it had a little oil around the filter and the housing, I only cleaned that whole area a week ago and replaced the filter.

Put everything back together and it ran worse than before where it had high revs and was mis firing a fair bit, after about 2mins max I turned it off and saw the Catalytic converter was glowing bright orange and freaked.

Can you double check those leads (again!) just to be sure?

It's either a timing issue, especially if it's backfiring etc when you try to rev the engine, or you've got a blocked cat coverter - it happens from time to time, especially with an old cat.

I think mine did this years ago with the EA82, it ran like a dog so I (being "much" younger) flogged it harder until it ran well again - hitting it on a rock offroading probably helped too as it crushed the cat's innards.

Best of luck with it mate, you've got a very clean L series there - I'd say almost show quality! Trust me, it is, you just need to see Ruby Scoo first then you'll know what I'm talking about!

Is Paul headed up your way or do you have to get down to Paul? The problem might have cleared by the time you drive it to Paul's if that's the case!

Cheers

Bennie

Kalbarri_baru · Post by **Kalbarri_baru** » Tue Jul 16, 2013 9:30 pm

Heya Bennie,
Yeah bloke checked the leads (have 2 sets that I have tried) and the cat will be coming off once I get to Rockingham (if it makes it that far) and Paul will be doing a complete timing kit for me.

Cheers for talking up my L (any takers for $5000) LOL

, but seriously I am trying to get it to a tidy condition before having a respray, hey a lot of changes since you last saw it.

Already done

Roo Bar
Hid 55w 4 inch Spotties
H4 headlights (got rid of the H6 imports)
Genuine Subaru Plastic headlight covers
High gain Phone Aerial (Next G, 3G, 4G, Optus, Voda and Telstra compatible)
Roof rack basket with extra roof rack (3 in total)
Straight second hand Bonnet in grey primer

Then

I have new front and rear KYB's ready to go on
Two new Maxis Bravo 751 to be purchased in Perth (3 weeks time)
A Complete Timing Kit to go in by RSR (3 weeks time)
A New set of front pipes (without the cat) 2 inch straight through(3 weeks time)
Finally if I have some funds left a complete front bush kit.

Quick shot of before and now, anyhows cheers for the advice and I will try again with brand new leads.

Cheers WayneO

YouTube · Post by **El_Freddo** » Tue Jul 16, 2013 9:42 pm

If it is in fact a blocked cat it'll be a painful drive down south for that length of time!

Have a go at this - remove the exhaust after the cat, smash the cat with a hammer and a block, will be difficult in the car, probably best to remove the Y pipes and do where ever it suits. Basically you want to smash the guts out of the cat then rattle all the bits out and re-install the Y pipe.

If that is the issue you should notice a pick up in performance back to what it was before, might sound tinnier though. I'd recommend getting a new cat with the new exhaust - it'll cost big bucks IF you happen to get caught without one

All the best mate! Your subi's looking mean with the bar and those extra lights on top! Now you just need a set of scorpions

Cheers

Bennie

Kalbarri_baru · Post by **Kalbarri_baru** » Tue Jul 16, 2013 10:03 pm

The big problem with the removal of the cat at the moment is that when I last went to Perth the Exhaust mob welded the hotdog directly to the cat (will post pics tomorrow), yeah thought about the legalities of the cat removal and might just get a high flow cat.

Know anyone with 5 Scorpions for sale??? (would look awesome).

Hey Bennie the Camping along the river at this time of year is awesome, if ur ever back this way look us up and I will show you all the top spots.

Cheers WayneO

YouTube · Post by **El_Freddo** » Tue Jul 16, 2013 10:10 pm

So jealous right now mate! Since our snow trip (totally awesome) we've only had shit weather back at home...

I'm super keen to get Ruby Scoo over there! One day maybe

Cheers

Bennie

taza · Post by **taza** » Wed Jul 17, 2013 8:43 pm

Yeah Boi your L looks wicked Wayne! We'll have to go for a fish and 4wd sometime when I come back home. Not sure when as I have only been home once this year

She looks heaps better with that roo bar and spotties on, that's for sure.

El_Freddo, hurry up and get your arse over here. lol

Kalbarri_baru · Post by **Kalbarri_baru** » Thu Jul 18, 2013 3:46 pm

taza wrote:Yeah Boi your L looks wicked Wayne! We'll have to go for a fish and 4wd sometime when I come back home. Not sure when as I have only been home once this year
She looks heaps better with that roo bar and spotties on, that's for sure.

El_Freddo, hurry up and get your arse over here. lol

Heya Taza, I will be down in Perth (Rockingham) in about 3 weeks time where Paul will be working on my L, he also suggested that we go on a quick 4wd Fishing trip and I am sure an extra vehicle would only make the trip better (hint hint).

I think I can leave Kalbarri Saturday 3rd August and be in Perth by Monday, these dates are not confirmed just yet, just waiting on the nod from the boss, but could look at the weekend of the 9th, 10th and 11th August for a fishing trip.

Been making a heap of Tailor rigs during the quiet times so I have more than enough rigs for everyone, just hope the L will be up for the run, want to get so much done to it whilst in Perth (Timing, Exhaust mods, Suspension repairs, a few engine mods, and front rubber).

But hey let me know ur thoughts if ur interested.

Cheers WayneO

YouTube · Post by **El_Freddo** » Sat Jul 20, 2013 11:12 am

taza wrote:El_Freddo, hurry up and get your arse over here. lol

Yeah mate... gotta get the funds up! Coffin Bay in two years looks like more of a goer, it's a while away but that's how it goes

I might be able to build an L series camper trailer in that time to drag over with me

Cheers

Bennie

Kalbarri_baru · Post by **Kalbarri_baru** » Sat Jul 20, 2013 3:56 pm

El_Freddo wrote:Yeah mate... gotta get the funds up! Coffin Bay in two years looks like more of a goer, it's a while away but that's how it goes I might be able to build an L series camper trailer in that time to drag over with me

Cheers

Bennie

L series Camper Trailer, I have images in my mind already (Awesome).

Cheers

WayneO