I've posted this several times before, but I figured I'd better try again. When I got my truck new, it REAKED of rotton eggs all the time. I took it to the shop 5 times, and always got the famous, "Problem Could Not Be Duplicated." I took it to a different dealer and they found the problem. The wire harness for the front O2 sensors was FORCED on backwards at the connector, and I had a failed O2 sensor. It finally got fixed at about 6,000 miles, and I now have 11,000. At first I was happy with the FM 40 setup I had, and loved the popping sound I got from it, but as time passed, I ended up going with a mufflerless 3" turndown, which in everyone's opinion I talk to who hasn't heard it, says it'd be insanely loud, with a terrible drone. Well, let me tell ya, it's not very loud, about as loud as my 4.2L with FM 40, and doesn't make a popping noise at all. Were my CATS burned up, and if so, is it probably just the first set? How can I tell, and make the dealer look into it? My guess, would be they'd have to have some kind of camera to throw down the O2 sensor hole on each side. I hear thier is also a back pressure test they can do, but is that really going to be accurate enough? My buddy recently gutted his CATS on his Monte Carlo and the ceramic material in his high flow cats looked melted and almost a solid mass of carbon. How much abuse can these CATS take before melting down? I mean, doesn't it make sence, considering the history and behavior of my setup that the CATS could be bad? Thanks guys...I really appreciate it.

-AR

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2001 F-150 XLT 4x4 Off-Road, SuperCab, Flareside, Black[*] 4.6L Triton V8 HPI[*] 5 Speed / 3:55 Reg. Axle[*] Keyless[*] Premium Audio CD

Mods:[*] K&N Intake (Chopped Airbox)[*] Removed Elbow Silencer[*] 3" Cat-Back (No Muffler, Turn-Down)[*] Cranked Torsion Bars[*] APC XENON PLASMA Super Whites[*] '01 "L" Taillights[*] Bugshield[*] Bedliner[*] Ventshades[*] Taillight Covers (Slotted)[*] Removed Mudflaps[*] "Light Argent" 4x4 Off-Road Decals

Audio:[*] Clarion 6675[*] Rockford Fosgate 5x7's[*] Rockford Fosgate G360A2 Punch Amp[*] JL 12W3-D2 (Ported)[*]Viper 500 Alarm

Build Date: 8/23/00 (Kansas City Plant)

 

When my cats were plugged (there's got to be a joke in there somewhere!), the truck lacked power. It was VERY noticeable, it would barely climb a hill on a highway. My mechanic told me to yank the 02 sensor. If the power came back then the cats were clogged. If it just made more noise, but no more power, then keep looking!
-Balki