2013 Catalytic Converter

[mike 4275]

I have a 2013 class a m-home on a ford f-53 my problem is after going up a grade and starting down the grade i believe the converter is getting hot i have to push gas pedal to floor to go down the grade has no power feels like the brakes are on if i stop and let it cool everything seems fine the converter gets so hot it starting to melt one of the basement boxes ford doesnt get any codes so they cant fix. thanks

[Skip426]

Sorry your here with problems.

I can see problems with a cat. convertor , causing problems going up hill; but can't think of a reason for you needing to apply throttle going downhill that would relate to a , plugged/overheating convertor. Have you tried shifting to neutral, and coasting downhill when the problem is happening?

A second thought, I always have them: If and this is a big " IF " the brake fluid line to the rear brakes in in the area that is getting too hot, the fluid could be expanding to the point of applying the rear brakes, and in that case the rear brakes should be showing signs of overheating too.

JMHO: Get in touch with the Ford district service rep, and tell him , your lawyer and your insurance company's lawyers ,will be in touch if your coach burns down. That may get you some action.

[JohnRR]

Good luck with a suitable solution.

[ga traveler]

With the brake pedal off, your fluid would be able to return to the master cylinder if heated. thus the brakes should not go on. Ford uses a honeycomb glass (ceremic) converter. I have seen these break and clog. I have also seen these melt. It is very easy to test for this. Simply take the exhaust pipe loose just in front of the converter misallign the pipes. Drive in a unpopulated area. It will be loud under throttle.

[ga traveler]

I should also have said, While you have the pipe disconnected, shine a flashlight into the pipe and you can clearly see the converter honeycomb. Check to see if it is broken are melted.

[Skip426]

The Ford shop , should have , gauges to hook up to the exhaust system, in place of the O2 sensors, to check for excess back pressure in the convertor, you shouldn't have to do any of the testing yourself on a chassis that's under warranty.
JMHO: The shop is trying to brush you off because it's a motor home and they don't want to work on it. Get in touch with the district service rep, and rattle his cage, you want this fixed before you damage the engine, or burn the coach down.

[TeJay]

You say the converter is getting hot. Do you have an IR (Infra-Red) temperature gauge??? They are fairly cheap $20-25 and very handy. Make sure you know exactly what is getting hot and how hot. Maybe it's a brake drum/rotor and not the converter. I've seen stranger diagnosis issues before.
Just a thought!!
TeJay

[TeJay]

What skip said is good info. Converters are designed to last a long time. If one is getting to hot with as few miles as you have on it something may be overloading the cat for what ever reason. They will get real hot but there's usually a good reason like to much fuel in the cat. That should set some codes. Get it to a shop that will try to diagnose things. The last I remember those cats are good for at least 50-K miles or more.

TeJay

[rodz]

Pushing the gas pedal to the floor to go down hill doesn't add up. You should be flying down hill and if anything you should be using your brakes not gas.

[rgmiller32]

Check your transmission fluid levels. Make sure you check it when it is fully warmed up to operating temp. If the fluid level is at the full mark when it is cold as is gets warm it will be over filled. As you go up the hill and it gets even warmer it will be way overfilled and cause dragging. This means you have to give it more pedal and more drag. Going down the hill it would still be over filled. Our unit was overfilled by 2 quarts. Seems someone topped it off when cold.

Also check the air filter and make sure it is not dirty or wet. This will cause a rich mixture and the converters will have to work harder and hotter. Use the factory Motorcraft filter for best results. Stay away from aftermarket filters that are oiled.

[rodz]

Originally Posted by rgmiller32

Check your transmission fluid levels. Make sure you check it when it is fully warmed up to operating temp. If the fluid level is at the full mark when it is cold as is gets warm it will be over filled. As you go up the hill and it gets even warmer it will be way overfilled and cause dragging. This means you have to give it more pedal and more drag. Going down the hill it would still be over filled. Our unit was overfilled by 2 quarts. Seems someone topped it off when cold.

Also check the air filter and make sure it is not dirty or wet. This will cause a rich mixture and the converters will have to work harder and hotter. Use the factory Motorcraft filter for best results. Stay away from aftermarket filters that are oiled.

What does that have to do with flooring it to go down hill? I'm starting to think this thread is just a hoax from a new member.

[JohnRR]

Flooring it to go down hill could very well be a symptom of a clogged exhaust system. Once the cylinders fill up with burnt gases and cannot get fresh gas into them the engine will act as a brake.

Letting off the gas pedal actually can help it to maintain speed maybe even accelerate at bit, putting it in neutral and letting off the gas all the way for a few seconds to let the burnt gases out would allow for the engine to accelerate or maintain speed for a period of time till the cylinders back up with burnt gases again.

[rodz]

Originally Posted by JohnRR

Flooring it to go down hill could very well be a symptom of a clogged exhaust system. Once the cylinders fill up with burnt gases and cannot get fresh gas into them the engine will act as a brake.

Letting off the gas pedal actually can help it to maintain speed maybe even accelerate at bit, putting it in neutral and letting off the gas all the way for a few seconds to let the burnt gases out would allow for the engine to accelerate or maintain speed for a period of time till the cylinders back up with burnt gases again.

[mrv8outboard]

There have been some new Fords that have had converters fail in the Super Duty's, more that you think but not a lot.