motoman

Anyone had trouble with their cat/manifold on a 2001 civic LX? We're pretty sure ours is blocked. The car started bogging and would die, then run fine for a minute once it cooled, then bog again. Engine code showed a misfire or ignition control system problem. It did it again on Sat. night and I was 1 block from the shop, when we popped the hood the manifold was glowing bright red at the front of the pipe only. Our mechanic said that the converter must be blocked since it was at the front and if the blockage was further down the pipe would glow up to the blockage usually. He said the older Ford Contours had this problem when they designed the manifold/converter as one piece. Does this sound right?
Any help would be appreciated.

bbarbulo

iTrader: (2)

it would be a first that I've heard of.... HOWEVER, what is more likely that an ignition pack died, causing a misfire, then causing raw fuel to go into the catalytic converter which is hella hot, then the raw fuel would combust in the catalytic converter causing it to glow. My cat is in the header too, but mine hasn't clogged

motoman

Is there an easy way to test the ignition pack so as to find out which one it faulty?

bbarbulo

iTrader: (2)

yes

motoman

Any chance you could enlighten me here? I'm in a bit of a bind and I'd hate to spend upwards of $700 if I don't need to. Thanks for the tip about the coil pack though. So how can I test them? Could I bring them to a dealer or is a test that can be done at home in the driveway/garage?

bbarbulo

iTrader: (2)

with other coil packs it's been as simple as resistance test between two towers of the coil pack. that was on my Saturn... in the case of newer Hondas I have no idea what the resistance should be... so just test one pack, then test the other pack... if they differ a LOT, then odds are one of the coil packs is toast.

anyways, shouldn't you be under warranty?

motoman

We are just over the warranty on them. They cad and most other stuff is 100-130 K and we just broke 150K so I may be out of luck. I'll test them tonight and see if they all produce roughly the same voltage. If not I guess I'll be looking for some parts. Thanks for the help.

bbarbulo

iTrader: (2)

ummm not voltage... you're looking for resistance between coil packs.

bbarbulo

iTrader: (2)

http://autorepair.about.com/cs/troub.../aa062902b.htm

that's a good link to check out

motoman

Resistance? I'm a bit confused as to why we'd check the resistance. I though the coil packs just sent a charge to the wire/plug?

car tech

motoman when u check ur volatge at the coil be carefull not to get electrocuted and by the way barbulo is rite resistance not voltage if ur not sure to this take it to the profesional.

bbarbulo

iTrader: (2)

yeah, when firing, those individual coils put out in excess of 80,000 Volts I'm pretty sure. you definitely don't wanna have your fingers near there with measuring eq't in order to test it.