Donald Haulsee
New Member
- Joined
- May 18, 2019
- Messages
- 5
- Reaction score
- 1
- City, State
- Claremont, Va
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 2002 Mountaineer 4.6 AWD
Thursday I purchased a 2002 Mountaineer with a 4.6, AWD and it seems like every option available except for a sunroof. It's red with 133,000 miles and body wise and interior wise is in very good condition. It came from the Durham NC area. I paid $850 for it and towed it back to tidewater Virginia.
Yes, I was buying a problem child. The owner had given up on it as it died one day and ever since then will start, run ragged and die as soon as it is put into any gear. No codes either.
Well, after a lot of troubleshooting I can say it has clogged catalytic converters. Today I released the Y-pipe from the manifolds and allowed the pipe to drop back about 1/4". I've driven it about 2 miles since then and while noisy, it did ok. I've never seen a vehicle be as screwed up as this one was from plugged cats. I've seen them sluggish but the was a whole new level.
So now the hunt starts for new cats. I'm not sure if I will buy a direct fit unit or just cats and weld it together. At this point I'm not sure if the cats in the downpipes are plugged or if it is just the single one at the rear. It had essentially no exhaust coming out the tail pipe.
Yes, I was buying a problem child. The owner had given up on it as it died one day and ever since then will start, run ragged and die as soon as it is put into any gear. No codes either.
Well, after a lot of troubleshooting I can say it has clogged catalytic converters. Today I released the Y-pipe from the manifolds and allowed the pipe to drop back about 1/4". I've driven it about 2 miles since then and while noisy, it did ok. I've never seen a vehicle be as screwed up as this one was from plugged cats. I've seen them sluggish but the was a whole new level.
So now the hunt starts for new cats. I'm not sure if I will buy a direct fit unit or just cats and weld it together. At this point I'm not sure if the cats in the downpipes are plugged or if it is just the single one at the rear. It had essentially no exhaust coming out the tail pipe.