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Catalytic Converter glowing Cherry Red

Old Jul 16, 2017 | 01:32 PM
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Default Catalytic Converter glowing Cherry Red

Catalytic converter glows red when I drive it around the block. I have tried everything I could thing off. Please give suggestions
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Old Jul 16, 2017 | 04:54 PM
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replace it.
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Old Jul 16, 2017 | 07:38 PM
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What year Jeep? How many miles on the cat?

How's your Jeep running?

I read somewhere that it could also be your fuel mix having too much fuel and that is cooking your cat.

Are you getting any codes?
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Old Jul 16, 2017 | 10:02 PM
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In my experience, it is running rich. The catalytic converter burns off unburnt fuel and certain exhaust gases to make them less detrimental to the environment. If you introduce too much fuel to the exhaust, it will overwork the cat. What does your oil smell like? If it smells strongly of fuel, that also points to running rich.
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Old Jul 17, 2017 | 01:01 AM
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If its glowing red its either running way to rich or the cat its self is clogged/bad.
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Old Jul 19, 2017 | 12:58 AM
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do you have a picture of your cat? Sounds like a sight to see. But I agree with checking for codes, fuel mixture (to rich or lean), and also try tapping on your cat with a rubber mallet while it's cool and listen for jingling. If it's jingling, get a new one, if it's not, definitely an issue further up the line.
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Old Jul 19, 2017 | 12:20 PM
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If its glowing cherry red, id say the damage has been done. The substrate inside overheats and evntually melts, literally. Once it starts, there is no turning back. It will clog which can lead to hard starts, no starts, stalling and loss of power on hills. Worn out cat, o2 sensor, injector, temp sensor, fuel pressure...could be anything.

If you think you smell gas in the oil, DO NOT wave an open flame or use a lighter over the filler. If it goes, losing your eyebrows will be the least of your worries.


This is a cat gone bad. Vehicles have caught fire because of this.

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Old Jul 19, 2017 | 05:54 PM
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Yep. Etiher running too rich, or hte cat is bad, but.... the cat is bad if it's running like that.

Don't just replace the cat. Find out how it got that way or you'll be replacing it again.

And yes, that's a catastrophic fire waiting to happen. Do not ignore this.
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Old Jul 19, 2017 | 06:20 PM
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And when/if you replace the cat, i'd replace the O2 sensor(s) along with it.
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Old Jul 19, 2017 | 06:24 PM
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Originally Posted by moparado
And when/if you replace the cat, i'd replace the O2 sensor(s) along with it.
Start with this if cats not bad that will cause it to be.
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