My girlfriend said her 93 accord was lacking in power and bogging down. She also said she would randomly smell a rotten egg smell. Then yesterday she was driving, and the car sputtered...and then just died while she was driving it down the road. The car will not start, it just turns over and over. Could this be a clogged CAT?

 

it's a possibility. it's also free to check (if you do your own work) and easy (if the bolts are too badly rusted and you have a proper set of tools). it would also be a good idea to confirm you have good spark, in-spec ignition timing and no Check Engine Light (stored DTC).

 

Pull out the O2 sensor and see if there is any back pressure building up. That is easier than pulling out the cat and lookin at it.

 

Travis,

A fully clogged converter will choke the back-pressure of the exhaust and cause the engine to quit in a couple of minutes (or sometimes seconds if it's a particularly pronounced clog). A partially clogged converter will affect the performance of the engine as well. Decreased fuel efficiency is one of the telltale signs of a clogged converter.

To determine whether or not your cat is plugged, place the Accord on a lift. Place an exhaust hose onto the tailpipe and route the hose to the outside of the building and then start the vehicle before lifting it all the way up on the lift.

Lift the vehicle up and then put on the safety glasses and the safety gloves.

Temporarily remove the exhaust hose from the tailpipe and then place your hand over it to check the back pressure of the exhaust. Built up pressure from the exhaust system should eventually force your hand away from the tailpipe or relocate to manufacturers seep holes (or deterioration holes) in the exhaust system. If little or no back pressure emits from the tailpipe, then a clog in the exhaust system if most likely the culprit. Replace the exhaust hose.

Locate and visually inspect the shell of the converter (for reference, consult this Accord exhaust diagram) Exhaust gases emitting from an engine are hot enough to start fires in tall dry grass or similar landscapes. When a converter partially to fully clogs, the gases get trapped inside the converter and the shell can easily begin to glow a cherry red color, indicating build-up of tremendous heat inside of it. Be careful not to touch the surface of the converter shell, even with the safety gloves on.

Note the performance of the engine after starting it up. If it chugs and threatens to stall, a partially clogged converter may be the result. Locate and then remove the oxygen sensor forward (towards the front of the motor) of the catalytic converter. Use the oxygen sensor socket and the ratchet to remove the sensor. Once the oxygen sensor is removed, the exhaust gases will emit quickly and smoothly through the sensor porthole. The performance of the engine will increase dramatically.


If you still cannot tell whether or not the cat is plugged then let us know

 

that sounds like a lot of work... why not just take the cat off and look at it? six bolts. that's it.