cataletic converter

2000 chevy Blazer s10 anyone know what the symtoms are for a bad cat. converter:runaround:

Any codes?

P0420 (bank1) / P0430 (bank 2) - Catalytic coverter is broken, or blown!

A plugged catalytic converter (No codes) can choke an engine out, run hot, and cause random misfires.

get it up to temp, then drive to a muffler shop like meinike. ask em to check the pre and post cat temps. they have the laser thermometers. takes about 10 seconds.

A scanner can pull the catalytic converter temps!
Whats normal?
Compare bank1 with bank2.

2000 chevy blazer thanks for the help, what is happening is it surges under 2000 RPM runs smooth @2000RPM and over but then it will just die some times it will start after about an hour some times it wont start at all

Keep in mind when looking at the catalytic converter your O2 sensors come into play. When the converter doesn't do it's job the O2 sensors start reading incorrectly and your fuel to air ratio starts getting thrown off. If you gut the converter you will definitely get a code because the pre and post readings are too close. You can buy little extensions that keep the post sensor out of the gas flow (runs cooler) to correct for this. I had problems with poor acceleration and idling until I change the O2 sensors and converter. The converter was totally plugged up after 150,000 mi. on my 99 Blazer.

thanks will check this weekend

Replace Air filter, and clean MAF sensor.
I would only replace the upstream H02 sensors.

I have a few questions regarding this topic. I got a bad misfire on the way home from work today and the service engine light was flashing. I crawled under my blazer when i got in the garage and the cat was glowing orange. is the cat plugged? Prior to this I had a bank 1 running lean code (p0420).

jakey, i'd say that sounds plugged. def something is wrong. but start a new thread!!!!