possible catalytic converter problem

My '99 Firebird with the 3.8 V6 recently showed the p0420 code. A couple of days later it started making a very loud clicking noise in the engine compartment when started. It stops after about a minute. With the clicking noise it also runs rough until the noise quits and it looks like it isn't blowing hardly anything out of the pipes unitl the noise stops. It has sluggish acceleration sometimes and the "rotten-egg" smell 3 times now. Does this sound like a cat problem to you?

sounds like it to me, my aunts 2002 monte carlo ss done that and it wouldnt pull hills over 30 mph. the dealership had to replace them.

I just bought the car 2 weeks ago...took it to the dealer today and he was nice enough to put it in the shop for me. I was just informed that my problem was a wrong size oil filter and that my car doesn't even have a catalytic converter. Isn't it illegal to sell even a used car without one?

it depends on what state you live in, i believe. I live in michigan so i can basically get away with anything i want with emissions, but i cant tint my front windows, so that pisses me off.

Your cat is going to be expensive. I just replaced mine for $300. Best deal I could find the other estimate was for $640 because the guy wanted to replace everything leading into the cat.

If you hurry there was the cat & pipes on ebay going off auction

I just bought the car 2 weeks ago...took it to the dealer today and he was nice enough to put it in the shop for me. I was just informed that my problem was a wrong size oil filter and that my car doesn't even have a catalytic converter. Isn't it illegal to sell even a used car without one?


something does not jive here,of course it is illegal not to have a converter.that egg smell is generated by a faulty convertor, so how can you not have one? and what is this about a wrong sized oil filter? if it doesn't fit it doesn't fit! never heard such nonsense before, you better have somebody check that you can trust, a dealer that sold you a car will tell you anything...

I agree with volkerc on the egg smell.