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Oh noes! Mileage dropped off & loss of power on the highway :(

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Old Jan 26, 2005 | 03:30 PM
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Default Oh noes! Mileage dropped off & loss of power on the highway :(

My last tank of gas only lasted to just under 200 miles. Normally, I can go over 300. No I do not have a heavy foot, as this would be just a waste of gas in a CX

Since it has started to get colder there is also a hesitation if I push the pedal more than halfway down and it won't break through the hesitating unless I let off the gas and slowly accelerate. After it warmed up, everything would be peachy, but now it pretty much does it warmed up or just from a cold start.

On the highway, I hit a brick wall (acceleration-wise) on the mildest of hills. This is something new, not related to having a cursed CX with the tallest gears known to man.

The weird thing is the CEL light has never lit.

My guess is the cat is clogged and maybe the intake plumbing/throttle body needs a cleaning. I replaced the plugs, wires, and air filter recently.

You can comment on anything above, but that's not the question I am here for. I want to know if gutting the cat will cause an o2 CEL on a 93 CX. The o2 sensor is on the cat, not after it, so the sensor isn't really monitoring the efficiency of the cat as well as a downstream sensor would. I'm just wondering if I can get away with a CEL or not. Peace.

:EDIT: I'm not looking for a lesson on the perils of defeating a part of my emissions system.
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Old Jan 26, 2005 | 03:43 PM
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4500rpm hesitation
 
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Originally Posted by umop-apisdn
My last tank of gas only lasted to just under 200 miles. Normally, I can go over 300. No I do not have a heavy foot, as this would be just a waste of gas in a CX

Since it has started to get colder there is also a hesitation if I push the pedal more than halfway down and it won't break through the hesitating unless I let off the gas and slowly accelerate. After it warmed up, everything would be peachy, but now it pretty much does it warmed up or just from a cold start.

On the highway, I hit a brick wall (acceleration-wise) on the mildest of hills. This is something new, not related to having a cursed CX with the tallest gears known to man.

The weird thing is the CEL light has never lit.

My guess is the cat is clogged and maybe the intake plumbing/throttle body needs a cleaning. I replaced the plugs, wires, and air filter recently.

You can comment on anything above, but that's not the question I am here for. I want to know if gutting the cat will cause an o2 CEL on a 93 CX. The o2 sensor is on the cat, not after it, so the sensor isn't really monitoring the efficiency of the cat as well as a downstream sensor would. I'm just wondering if I can get away with a CEL or not. Peace.

:EDIT: I'm not looking for a lesson on the perils of defeating a part of my emissions system.

Not unless you use a hack of some sort to fool the o2 sensor.


Gutted cat = way higher emissions = cel.
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Old Jan 27, 2005 | 06:44 PM
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I'm more than aware of that, however, the o2 sensor is upstream of the cat. I am almost 100% sure this will work, i'm just the worrying type. I just wanted someone to bounce this off of. That's why I came here.
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Old Jan 27, 2005 | 07:41 PM
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4500rpm hesitation
 
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Originally Posted by umop-apisdn
I'm more than aware of that, however, the o2 sensor is upstream of the cat. I am almost 100% sure this will work, i'm just the worrying type. I just wanted someone to bounce this off of. That's why I came here.

Sorry , guess I didn't read the upstream part.


Sound like it will work.
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Old Jan 28, 2005 | 08:32 AM
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you have one O2 sensor in your '93... running with no cat at all will not cause a CEL and the car will run fine. Many of us do it with OBD1 cars all the time with no problems at all.... well other than emissions testing.

did you replace the fuel filter?
adjust the valves?
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Old Jan 28, 2005 | 11:34 AM
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I did the valves like 5K ago or so. Fuel filter is a good idea though :thumbup:
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Old Jan 28, 2005 | 05:32 PM
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I'd check the resistance of the TPS thoughout it's range just for shits and giggles.
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Old Jan 28, 2005 | 10:50 PM
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Also, you said you gave it a tune up, but didn't mention the distributor cap and rotor. If those weren't changed, then that would be a great place to start checking around. Sometimes the chalky-white upper crust can be lightly cleaned off with sandpaper, but if it's gouged, burnt, melted, or the cap is coated with a rusty orange dust, the gap is too wide on the rotor/cap, and both parts are too far gone to be saved.

Wow, that was one hell off a run on sentence. I'm going to assume you changed it already.... what did you set the plug gaps to?
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Old Jan 30, 2005 | 03:17 PM
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Sounds like a problem that I have been having for the past 2+ years. I have to let mine warm up and wait for the stuttering go by then I can drive off. If I take off b4 that it will hesitate to accelerate.

This is what I have done to it so far and ruled out. Replaced cap&rotor , timing belt , water pump , coolant , IAC valve , plugs , wires , fuel filter , and PCV. Used throttle body cleaner , Seafoamed the intake , gas , and oil , fuel injection cleaner b4 every oil change.

Right now all I am waiting for is an O2 sensor to come in. That has got to be it since it is the original with 147,000 miles on it and my a/f gauge only works when I first start the car.
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