I have a bone stock 91 crx si, 214,000 miles on it.

I was driving down the highway last night, doing about 75mph and it was running great. All the sudden it started to loose power, and act like the fuel pump was turning off and on. I pulled over to the side of the highway and popped the hood. I knew I had the proper amount of oil in the motor, and there wasn't anything leaking. I could smell something burning though.
I looked under the crx, and the catalytic converter was glowing bright orange like it was on fire. There was no signs all all that the Cat was starting to clog up and we don't have inspections here.

So I let it cool down, and called AAA and did all that. After about an hour of cooling down, and still today it won't start.

I am pretty sure I need a new Cat. I am also worried about the timing belt. Is it a possibility that the clogged Cat could have casued the timing belt to jump a tooth or something????

 

I highly doubt a clogged cat would cause your timing belt to do that.

Just replace your cat and see how the car runs, I guarantee the honeycomb inside the cat is broken/clogged/loose.

 

I got the Cat off. I shined a flash light through it and it does look a little clogged.

I tried to start it with the Cat off and it turned over but wouldn't start and run. It back fired though.

 

I put a new Cat on and replaced the 02 sensor. It still will not start. I think the timing belt broke or jumped a tooth.

 

Check your distributor. Could be the ignitor, rotor came loose, bad wires, etc. Also a possibility it could be your main relay.

 

Also check your ground wires. Add more for precaution.

 

I checked for spark, it is good.
I can hear the fuel pump kick on, but I swapped out the MR and it still wouldn't start.

I sounds like it wants to start, and then sputters and doesn't start.

 

If you think it's the timing belt, then check it.

Are there any codes?

 

Same thing happened to me last night. I was trying out my new itr cams, revving hard up to 8k. 20 minutes later my car feels like it jumped timing or maybe the fuel pump wasnt working properly. So Im driving the car home babying it and all of a sudden it dies. I look behind me and I see pieces of bright red metal on the street behind me just glowing. I pull over to a gas station checked the oil. Everything was good. Its just the car wont start, or will only start for a few seconds and die. Spark is good, fuel is good. No codes. Im going to check compression, remember the exhaust gasses had barely anywhere to go. Maybe put a cap full of Marvel Mystery oil in each cylinder to boost the compression a little. Let me know how yours turns out. Ill keep you updated on mine.

 

I have the same thing going on in my sedan, let me know if you get her running. Do you know a Mike Watson out your way by any chance?

 

a severe lack of fuel causes exhaust gas temperature to rise to very high levels, which can cause a loss of power and a glowing hot exhaust system.

 

I don't even run a catalytic converter anyways I just run a straightpipe. I get 32 MPG and no one can sit there and give me **** for hurting the environment when they're getting 14 MPG in the mormon assault vehicles.