So I got this 83 rx-7 yesterday and it was sitting for abot a year. The battery was dead so we had to jump it. As i was sitting there revin the engine to get the old fuel out I knowticed something after about a half an hour. in the center consol where the window buttom are, smoke was rising it smelt like wires burning so i turned the car off. I asked my dad about it and he said hes had a problem with the catalytic convertor getting to hot and I remembered that the catalytic convertor was right under the counsol. Could that have been what caused the heating? also i later knowticed when the car was off the rear defrost was on the whole time, but i doubted that was it. Any help would be great.

 

the rear defrost would have noting to do with your problem. if there was any oil on the converter or exhaust or any hanging wires touching the exahust you would experience what you saw. a converter will get very hot. hot enough to melt wires and burn oil. you need to see if there are any exposed wires dangling down. inspect the exhaust for oil and anythig else that might be touching it. also, you will need to check exhaust flow if you suspect the converter to be faulty. stand behind the car while its running and have someone rev the engine a little. there should be a lot of exhaust pressure coming out of the exhaust. if there isn't, i wouldnt say the converter is shot or clogged. you dont want to run the engine long if the converter is shot. it'll build up too much backpressure on the engine and the heat also can harm the engine.

 

either break out the converter material or buy a by-pass pipe from racingbeat.