For the past week, every time i drive my car i have a hard time breathing and i always smell like exhaust. I told a couple of my rx buddys and they say they never herd of such a thing. My guess is that my catalytic converter is not good or i have an exhaust leak and im breathing in the stuff. What do you guys think. And if it is the cat which one should i buy to replace??????

 

check all the connecting points of your exhaust to see is there are any leaks. if there is a leak, it could be coming into the cabin thru any number of holes. my guess is that the exhaust is prolly coming in thru somewhere close to the shifter. there is a seal where your shifter sits and it might be worn out depending on how old your car is. i would jack the car up and go up and down the car along the exhaust to see if there any open holes (not plugged by rubber seals, where the wires go in and out of the cabin). my car had the same problem. i had a hole right above muffler and every time i drove my car, i felt like i was getting high from the fumes. good luck.

 

Get you some seafoam and have a buddy pour it down the throats, and you look under the car.
Any smoke not coming from the tailpipe is a leak.

 

That's normal when driving a rotary hahaha

 

I actually had the same problem... my car had exhaust leaks and no cat. So I installed a cat and fixed the leaks. Problem solved. The cat didn't seem to rob and power, and it sounded great afterward. Plus no smell or health trouble afterward

 

check to make sure the air pump is working properly

 

i dont have any leaks but i get exhaust fumes in the cabin through the brake light holes when driving because my seals are bad. Seafoam check is a good idea like jeezus said, this will help you locate where the fumes are going from and to

 

exhaust = rotary cologne.

:AA:

 

i was getting really worried. My throat is very raspy and i just finished taking the rx around the block and started to have a hard time breathing. I Really hope its just the exhaust leaking or a bad cat. What cat should i get to replace the stock one?

 

Here are 2 options from Rotary Performance

http://www.rx7.com/store/rx7/saexhaust.html

Bönez Performance Converter System $245 (replaces the main cat )

Bönez Race Pipe $125 (replaces all three cats) (no emission control)

You need to get that fixed before you hurt yourself. Carbon Monoxide is unpleasant stuff.

 

air pump was deleted by previous owner.

 

thanks alot. but wait i thought these cars only had one cat??

 

It's called CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING and yes you should fix it. Until it's fixed do yourself a favor and drive with your windows down.

 

ditto

 

oh im fixing it asap im actually not gonna drive the car until i fix it. Looks like im gonna be spending over 275 for a cat and installation. I'm Freaking out over here i feel like going to the docs and getting a check up or sumthin.

 

I think all the other people thinking about removing there cats should rethink it for there heath sakes. I did a little research on carbon monoxide poisoning and its not nice ****!!

 

I was in the same boat. I used a cat without an air pipe. It was a $40 magnaflow cat that was on sale. So I'm not using the air pump. The cat doesn't work it's magic as well as it would if it had the air pump and other emissions gear, but it was inexpensive, it killed the stink, and no more health trouble. I don't have emissions testing in my city.

 

It may not be your exhaust leaking, so don't run out and waste
your money just yet. Typically this is your rear hatch window seal,
or as someone else suggested rear light seals, not making a good
seal and letting exhaust into the cabin.

Do like Jeezus said and run some seafaom thru the carb and see
where you see the smoke come out. If you don't see or hear
exhaust leaks under the car, then its probably your hatch seal.

 

+1. The flow-thru cabin vent design on the -7 works great, but only if the rear hatch seal, tail light seals (esp. the left), and all other openings at the rear of the car are properly sealed up. I've heard rust-throughs can do it, too.

If not, the natural vacuum pocket inside the cabin will suck exhaust inside, & poison you.

Monoxide poisoning in particular is bad news; prevents your red blood cells from carrying oxygen, & doesn't just go away with a little fresh air.

 

The car has 2 cats, a pre cat and the main one. If you plan on replacing them you need to do both. Most cat kits include both. You can still drive the car if you need to, but keep the windows open and you should be fine.

 

your cats won't work without an airpump pumping air in to help them burn up the bad stuff. You need to get an airpump with those cats.

 

so if i find there are no leaks. In order to make the cat work ima need a air pump??? correct?

 

Thanks a lot guys. My breathing got worse i'm in the emergency room right know ill keep u guys posted.!

 

Damn bro, I hope your allright. Make sure to get a chest xray and or ct scan of your lungs (for a start). I'm not trying to scare you but better safe than sorry. It's possible you have a more serious medical condition going on and you may "think" its being caused by your car when its not. It's also possible that your car is making that underlying condition worse. Don't get the doctors looking soley at your car being the problem. Trust me on this one, unfortunately I have a personal experience to fall back on here from when my dad started having breathing problems.

 

Thanks alot guys i really appreciate the help im alright i had bronchitis and a chest cold. That's why i felt the way i did. I got the proper meds and ill be okay in a week or so. Ill be running the sea foam as soon as possible and ima do some reserch on with cat would be the best. Thanks alot rotor heads!!