How can i check my catilyc convertor to see if its clogging up?

[Gchronic]

It has no power. it acts like it doesnt wanna shift after 3rd and wrps to 3 grand and the tach flutters. Could this be a position control sesor? that has already been changed almost 2 yrs ago. any and all comments are greatly appreciated. Gary

[PontiacL32]

Not sure about the sensor, but you can take out your front o2 sensor and see if that fixs anything. If your problem go's away with it out then your cat is clogged.
Also is your check engine light on?

[Scottydoggs]

take it out for a drive at night, spirited some. then pull over and see if its glowing red. if so its clogged.

you can also get it up on some car ramps, or jack it up, and when its cold, hit the cat and listen for stuff rattling around inside. if so its also shot.

[JDrach]

can you get any issues with no cat?

[Gchronic]

This has been hooked up to a good scanner and the code for the o2 was on it but it was changed and its still doing the same thing. Its at the shop now. i hope he can find out the problem because i cant continue to dump money in this and not fixing the problem

[Gchronic]

yea theres a Sensor 2 bank 2 after the converter so theres no bypassing it

[burgundybullet]

Does it not shift into overdrive at all? May be a transmission issue you are facing.

[Seachicken]

what code did you pull p0420 ??

[87IROCZOWNER69]

Whenever I wanted to check for a clogged cat I would just disconnect the exhaust right before it and if it drove better (or sometimes would run better) then it was a pretty good indication. However to be safe I would button it back up in front of it and then open it behind it.....if it still ran fine with it disconnected after the cat you would know the cat was fine and the problem was elsewhere. Sometimes it would be animals in the mufflers and other things of that nature.

[addzradd]

If after you get done with a drive around the block you have a cat that is glowing red then it is clogged. You can take it out (but for off-road use only) but just make sure to plug the rear o2 in with a spark-plug non-fouler threaded in before it otherwise you'll keep throwing p420, which is a cat efficiency code which indicates a clogged cat or a bad rear-o2.