frustrated... please help
 

I ahve been searching, but dont think I have come up with an answer that explains the problems i am having.
I have a 88 SE I am pretty positive the cats are fried or plugged, if there is a diff I dont know...

Today the car almost didnt start it kinda chugged a few secs then started and puffed out some white smoke, I can tell the cats are bad cuz I acn smell it, and my car will not pass smog and I am totally stock.

Will these probs cause me to loose power, make the car run hot?

i dont knwo if my temp gauge is busted but it never shows any diff unless on start up. But the rad is freakin hot, the hose is fuckin hot... and god damn is hot inside the car....

i have liek no money to fix this... is it worth buying a used stock exh off somebody who has upgraded?

thx fellas..:(

- james

Yes if your cats are plugged or otherwise not letting hot exhaust gas escape thru it, your car will either not run............or have litte to no power. Yes it would run hot. I had a 87 16V GTI the the cat shelled out on. a big chunk lodged in the cat back section and my had no power.......it would run......but thats about it.

remove the cats............a local muffler/exhaust shop can fab a generic straight/downpipe. That may or may not be legal depending on your states emissions laws though.

Deff not legal but cheaper than buying a new exhaust

Heh......more power too!

Well I jsut bought the car this year so it was just smogged so i guess i have over a year til its due again . .. . So screw it I guess ill jsut get some straight pipe welded up there.....

- James