Here I go. I have a 2004 RX8 with 81K it is all stock. A week ago I noticed the cat was glowing red after a 15 min run on the highway. I stopped and started to do some research on here and I changed the Coils, Wires, Plugs, High flow Cat, and the down stream O2 sensor since I got CEL. I did all of this the same day. I also had Mazda checked compression and it passed. Last night when I got home I decided to check underneath my car and what a surprise, the end of the cat and pipe was glowing red again. I tried researching before i posted here but came out empty. Can someone help me..?

 

Any CELS or misfires?
Was your cat still intact?

 

What cat did you install?

 

P0037 I did notice I don't get that punch i use too at 7k

 

I installed a Magnaflow Cat

 

Try replacing the rear O2 sensor, then reset the fuel trims.

My bet is on the ECU dumping a ton of excess fuel into the exhaust and burning it there.

 

And depending on WHICH magnaflow cat you installed, it may already be melted

 

Hopefully it didn,t, I will find out later today.
Magnaflow Manufacturer's Part Number:51356

 

Will try that out today. Thanks.

 

dont lie op tell us what you were really doing

 

LOl, you got me... Nah mines was just boring ride from work.

 

Really, the cat makes all the difference. I've got a BHR midpipe and cat and have no issues even under hard driving, but some of the cats are known to melt neigh immediately. Ask BigCajun about his brand new Walker cat. Was melted after like a week.

 

Thanks for your help. Whats weird is that it happen half an hour after I installed everything I mentioned above. Everything was done on the same day, took it out for a drive glowing red pipe and the end of the Cat. Maybe the cat was a piece of crap.... will check it again tonight and try a custom made mid pipe.

 

I Had my cat blow up and burn my heat shield on top of it and the consol inside beside the passenger side melted away. I removed the Cat and replaced it with just a exhaust pipe just to be able to drive it around. When I turn the car on and drive for 10 mins it's heats up a lot can't touch it. I even surround the exhaust pipe below where it's getting hot with a titanium heat wrap but the heat beside the passengers side is unbearable given that when I'm under the car and touch the same part it's not as hot as inside the car. It's very confusing. if I change the original burned heat shield would that solve the problem?

 

Brettus

 

That's not right.
I used it for about 3 weeks 2 years ago for inspection with no issue.
Last month I had it on for about 2 weeks, and I had an issue with the car dying and smoking.
Took it off, no obvious damage, but it runs fine now.
I think it was an issue with extended idling on a +100° day, and heat soaking.

 

Not sure exactly what you did, but if you wrapped the pipe with heat wrap, you might have made it worse by allowing the wrap to absorb the heat from the exhaust and moving it closer to the console.
Removing the heat wrap and fixing the heat shield would be your best bet, imo.
That's strictly an opinion.