Skoalbandit

Any parts store should have the gaskets, and if you don't want to replace the cat, I personally would cut it out, if it's rusting outside, chances are it's breaking apart inside which is going to be a b**ch for you later on down the road. You can take it out and stab it out with a large screwdriver, or just cut it out and scab in a piece of exhaust pipe.

gary96360

i would gut the cat but i want this truck to be quiet. ive gutted the cat on my last truck and it was a bit louder. yeah it probably better to get another cat, its been on for 205 miles now and the o2 sensor looks like its never been changed because the bolts look like no one opened them before.

Skoalbandit

I'm not sure how picky the older yota's are, but if the o2 sensor were bad it will generally trip the check engine light. You'd notice a fluctuation in your gas mileage if the o2 were bad, it will either get better or worse. I wouldn't worry about the o2 if you don't know it's bad...they can suck, so beat that horse when you get to it. As for the cheapest way on the cat, you can certainly plug weld it as you suggested, and hope it lasts long enough that it won't clog up until you have the money to replace it. I like to think about the future now, and if you're going to messing with the exhaust now, i'd fix it right the first time. But I understand being cheap about it haha. I'm trying to get my 86 to run on the tightest budget possible. Just got laid off from an auto parts store hahaha. Karma's a bitch huh?

gary96360

i just dont know know im getting 12 mpg shifting at 2000 or 2500 in town. but i bet that leaking exhaust before the o2 sensor screws up the readings.

abecedarian

An exhaust leak can cause an O2 sensor to read a 'lean' condition and make the ECU enrich the mixture. That can lead to poor mileage and overheating the converter causing it to plug up (which hurts mileage) or burn out completely.

gary96360

my exhaust reeks like gas when i start it, but when its at operating temp, the exhaust doesn't smell like anything. every other normal operating vehicle has a little smell to it. so if the 02 sensor reads a lean condition and the ecu enriches the mixture, the exhaust should stink?

abecedarian

since you said it wreaks of gas when you first start it... that suggests some issue, but the O2 and converter don't really start doing anything until the engine is fairly well warmed up, which conversely means they're warmed up.
If you're getting a strong fuel smell from the exhaust when you first start the engine, you may need to inspect, clean and regap or replace your spark plugs, you may have one or more injectors with bad spray patterns, the cold start injector may be leaking or the ECU's coolant temp sensor may be sending bad readings to the ECU... or the timing may not be set correctly... the valves may need adjusting... can't really say any one particular thing is wrong though.

fireman1559

to start with what abe says check your plugs they should be gapped at 0.031. if that doesnt change anything run some seafoam through your brake booster and gas tank to help if your injectors if they are dirty then check your cold start injector http://www.ncttora.com/fsm/1993/engine/97colds.pdf that link will help you test your cold start injector and maybe shed some more light on your problems. to check your timing it will need to be at 10 BTDC and that is at idle that is from toyota service manual

abecedarian

is timing set with the diagnostic jumper inserted?

fireman1559

yea thats what it said to do

abecedarian

just asking.

gary96360

i just did the spark plugs and gapped them to spec. im thinking of using sea foam but my dad warns me that its not good. he told me that it ruined an engine when he used it. i bet he stuck the whole can down at once. the truck hauls ass for a 3.0 with 31`s so the performance is there. but i dont get why the exhaust doesnt smell like anything like its lean or something. gahhh i hate gas engines.

fireman1559

ive never had a problem with seafoam just dont put to much through the brake booster at one time you could hydro lock your motor and that wouldnt be good what i have always done was about half a can and it always worked good

89whitetoyota

Hey al, thats a cute avitar :o) Just thought I'd let you know!

gary96360

i found where the other noise is coming from. i was sitting in the drive thru waiting in neutral gear. i press in the clutch and lord behold some of the sound goes away. is that a sign that the throwout bearing is going out? also when i apply the clutch the pedal squeaks, is the clutch linkage just rusty.

Ocean Racer

I have a ticking but only at idle speed, was thinking I had lifter tapping, but its only at idle? Any thoughts?

Matt90V6SR5

Yeah racer,mines the opposite,lol,at idle its quite and when driving it farts.

calcuta

I had a ticking after replaceing the clutch put presure on the clutch fork and see if changes thats where mine was coming from.