96GPSE Posted January 17, 2008 Report Share Posted January 17, 2008 Hi all, new to the forum. Tons of great info here... but couldn't find anything on this: 96 Grand Prix w/3100. SES light came on a few days ago, so tonight I hooked up a scanner i borrowed from the local Checker. Pulled a code P0420 (something about inefficient catalytic converter). Cleared the code. Started the car to make sure SES light was off, and it was...but the car died about 4-5 seconds after starting. It now does that same thing every time - starts great but dies immediately. This happens even if I'm holding my foot on the gas. Thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremy Posted January 17, 2008 Report Share Posted January 17, 2008 clogged cat? ...just clearing a code doesn't solve the problem, it was thrown for a reason Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
96GPSE Posted January 17, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 17, 2008 I figured the code was either due to bad cat or a bad O2 sensor. The car ran perfectly fine with the exception of the SES light...as soon as I cleared it I get this no run situation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
19GT92 Posted January 17, 2008 Report Share Posted January 17, 2008 PARK THE CAR do not drive it the cats clogged up and engine will occur if you keep driving it with a clogged cat. I'm suggesting to the op to have the car towed to the repair shop and a new cat installed and the 02's changed out for new ones cause when the cat blocks off it super heats the exhaust system up and more then likely it burnt the 02's out.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy K Posted January 17, 2008 Report Share Posted January 17, 2008 may I suggest.... remove both O2 sensors, both the one before and after the cat. see if the car will start... and see if all the exhaust tries to come out the pre-cat O2 port and not the post cat o2 port? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
96GPSE Posted January 17, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 17, 2008 PARK THE CAR do not drive it The car will not run long enough for me to drive it anywhere, so no worries about that. may I suggest.... remove both O2 sensors, both the one before and after the cat. see if the car will start... and see if all the exhaust tries to come out the pre-cat O2 port and not the post cat o2 port? This may be worth a shot... I'm not really convinced it's a clogged cat though. I drove the car fine for a few days with the SES light on before clearing it, and it immediately starts up after dying. It seems to be linked to the clearing of the code... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SigEpCutlass Posted January 18, 2008 Report Share Posted January 18, 2008 clogged cat? ...just clearing a code doesn't solve the problem, it was thrown for a reason That'd be my guess if the code is "inefficient catalytic converter", as a clogged cat would be inefficient. Try Ken's suggestion & let us know what happens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Psych0matt Posted January 18, 2008 Report Share Posted January 18, 2008 do not drive if the cats clogged up and engine will occur if you keep driving it with a clogged cat. so driving on a clogged cat will get me a new engine? driving on a clogged cat wont do much, other than render it undriveable until you fix it. sounds like that's what's happening. My cavalier slowly got worse and worse and I basically had to have my parents in the van behind me push me to the shop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy K Posted January 18, 2008 Report Share Posted January 18, 2008 A clogged car can overheat the exhaust system. It can ruin the Oxygen sensor, and MELT VALVES AND CRACK HEADS. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Psych0matt Posted January 18, 2008 Report Share Posted January 18, 2008 A clogged car can overheat the exhaust system. It can ruin the Oxygen sensor, and MELT VALVES AND CRACK HEADS. well that's if you can actually drive on it, which in most cases you cant once it gets to that point, and before that point you'd still have decent flow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy K Posted January 18, 2008 Report Share Posted January 18, 2008 oh, not the last and not the least.... a clogged cat can set a car on fire. It can actually catch the carpet on fire through the radiated heat! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
96GPSE Posted January 19, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 19, 2008 Thanks all for the replies. I may get to it this weekend, we'll see. Current MN weather -5F, no heated garage = car waiting to get fixed. It's booger freezin cold. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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