STARTED A WEEK AGO...THOUGHT IT WAS SPARK PLUGS AND CHGD THEM LAST NITE BUT ENGINE STILL IS BUCKING/POPING SOUNDS FROM MUFFLERS...?WHAT CAN I DO NEXT TO CORRECT PROBLEMS?

***HAPPY HOLIDAYS GUYS***

 

1) Turn off CAPS LOCK
2) Tell us what car this is
3) Tell us your mods
4) Tell us what the IDLE is doing
5) Tell us when it started and what you were doing
6) Post.
~Tom

 

Sorry about caps...Ok it's a 1989 GXL N/A, no mods just a straight pipe with high flow cat.; But the cat. lately(2 weeks ago) was making wierd sounds like all carbons were lose then it suddenly stopped...? That's when the car started with the idle goig up/dwn and popping noise from mufflers? Changed the spark plugs which was very dirty and symptoms still the same. Oh also took Air pump belt off..

Thanks....

 

Disconnecting the air pump will ruin your cat. A clogged cat will make the car run poorly and possibly even damage your engine. My suggestions is to replace the cat and reconnect the air pump.
~Tom

 

Would it hurt to replace cat. with resonator, high flow mufflers and remove air pump completely? Maybe free up some HP?
Being there is no emision testing here in Miami...

 

It might hurt if your engine detonates due to the increased flow. You'll need a way to deliver more fuel or you'll run lean. Also, you'll need to tune it, which is probably what would help your sputtering and weird idle.
~Tom

 

ECU time

 

Thanks guys for your replies...I think I'll just put new cat. and reconect air pump? Don't want to kill the engine(155k) before doing rebuilding$$$$!!!