Bad cat!

I find a message on my windshield a couple of days ago from a friend. He is having a problem with his car. It's just an overwhelming lack of power. So when I hear that a car with an ECM and fuel injection has a problem, I usually go with a grimy throttle body. It's fairly common and causes all sorts of minor running problems without having the CHECK ENGINE light go on.

So pop open the inlet on the TB. It's clean as a whistle. That theory is shot.

I listen for the fuel injectors. They're all clicking away.

I check the vacuum lines. There's only a couple and they're all good.

The charcoal box is looking soggy. For some reason antifreeze is dripping all over it, but wouldn't cause the problem.

Finally I ask the question, "you ever smell anything unusual from the car?"

"Yeah," Bryan responded thoughtfully. "Sometimes when I put it in the garage, I smell rotten eggs. That could be from gad gas, right?"

"Ah hah!" I had the clue I needed to solve this problem. "It's your cat."

"The cat?" Bryan asked. "How?"

"A clogged catalytic converter will create a rotten egg smell, as well as a general loss of engine power, as it restricts the flow of exhaust."

While this isn't the cheapest job on a car to do, this car did need an exhaust system and this would be a timely repair. Just in time for the inspection. Better to figure it out BEFORE you go in and they have you by the bawlz.