2009 MT GT, 61000 miles.

Bought my car about a month and half ago, two weeks later it developed a nasty misfire, replaced plugs/wires/coils and haven't seen the CEL since. That being said, about two days after replacing everything, I felt like my car was being a little sluggish. I'm not sure if the new ignition system simply created a bit more torque than it had prior and that's why it felt weird, or if it was truly being sluggish. It felt like it pulled stronger than before but it gathered rpm's slower.

About two days after that, I had been running a bunch of errands/driving for the fun of it, and grabbed my phone out of the cup holder and it was warm. I was like oh crap, and started feeling around the passenger side. It was warm near the buttons for the seat warmers (it's never done that before), cool where the car is carpeted, but the metal brackets holding the passenger seat in place were red hot. Like you could touch it for a little bit without being hurt, but if you were to touch it for any length of time, it would burn you.

I'm not getting any CEL's currently. Also, on that last errand before driving home my car had a hard time starting, but the battery needs to be replaced and it was starting with both the headlights and the A/C. A compression test was done about three weeks ago and all the numbers were between 7.3-7.6@250rpm.

At this moment, I can't afford a new exhaust. Between a $3000 downpayment, an ER visit, paying monthly car payments, and insurance (haven't owned a car in about two years), and then a two week vacation between LA and Orlando, I'm a bit strapped for cash.

So I guess what I'm asking, do those symptoms sound like the cat is gone? Is gutting it an ok temporary solution? I'll need it to last about a month so I can recoup.

Obviously I'll drop the cat and check it out before I gut it, if the cat looks ok, what else could be causing this?

I really appreciate the opinions/advice. Thanks guys!!

Ps, I have done some reading and realize there's a good chance I'll get a CEL and won't pass emissions, but I don't have to worry about that till next June. But it also sounds like the car is going is going to reek.

 

There is a DIY thread on gutting cats, it should have the info you need.

 

I did read some of the DIY, I'm just not sure if it would be beneficial or not.

 

If it's clogged, yes, better to gut it than possibly damage your engine.
Just be sure it's bad, since an OEM cat is around $1400.

 

It is normal to get the cup holder area warm, so that alone doesn't mean there is anything wrong with the cat.

 

Hold up! There are several companies that buy used cats and extract the precious metals from them! They do not buy damaged cat material by itself, but the whole cat.

Get a quote from one of those companies (I've read that for cats like ours it's in the range of $300) and sell it to them! Use that money to get a proper midpipe.

 

Secondary hold up! Since your car is so new, Mazda is required by law to replace the cat for free!

 

Lol now that has the kinda price tag that I like. How would I know for sure? Call and ask?

 

I've noticed the cup holders get warm, but I had never had it start heating up my phone before. Which led me to feeling around the rest of the car. I'm just assuming that the metal on the passenger side isn't supposed to get burning hot.

 

It's a legal requirement, find the law, take your car to the dealership, and tell them that they're going to replace it for free.

The EPA law is that the manufacturer is required to replace it for free if the car is under 8 years/80,000 miles.

Tell us how it goes!

 

http://www.epa.gov/obd/pubs/420f09048.pdf

Here's the link I found if anyone needs this. I'll report back within the next week.

Thanks for that suggestion!! Makes me wish I didn't park my car for the week before we went on vacation....

 

Good catch, I didn't even think about it.

 

So I took it to the dealer, and basically they said since there wasn't a CEL they wouldn't be able to send it back to mazda. They also said that the cat is "within operating specs" and they couldn't recreate the problem after driving 20 miles. Which I call bullcrap on because those mounting brackets get burning hot.

But basically I paid $70 for a car wash and to be told that I need to change my air filter. But I guess it's on record now, so if the cat goes and takes the engine with it, atleast I can be like "told you so".

On the other side of that coin though, if they had "proved it faulty", they were more than willing to honor that warranty. He told me to keep an eye on it and to come back the second that CEL comes on because he said these cats can be dying but still technically pass the computers tests. So we'll see.

Thanks a ton for that tip though. I never would have thought of that.

 

Seriously bro, you HAVE to take it off and inspect it.
Why didn't they visually inspect it you may ask?
Because the dealer DOES NOT want to just give you a $1400 converter, & they don't care if you kill your engine, they might even hope you do so they can make some money selling you a crappy reman Mazda engine.
Take it off and inspect it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It's the only way to be sure.

 

Find another mazda dealer or call mazda directly. They are obligated to replace under the federal emissions warranty for 8 yrs or 80,000 miles. This is also true for the ECM. You might even find a link to report it to the epa.

 

Yeah, it's not an option for them under any circumstances. I don't understand why people are so passive aggressive with dealers. Just be like "screw you, do this."

 

Mane this is so true! In most dealers dey will change it out anyway to gets free money from headquarters ya digs. Most like warranty works.