Bright red exhaust around the sensor and to the tailpipe
 

Hi guys,

I started up my car this evening and right away I could tell something was wrong. Idling very rough, and the exhaust sounded very weird.

I could smell something burning, and after a couple minutes, I saw some white smoke. The engine temp was normal, coolant full, didnt notice anything under the hood.

Looked under the car and as it turns out, the exhaust was bright red. I noticed it around the o2 sensor, and then down toward the tailpipe.

I did some googling, and searching on the forum, and my best guess is that the catalytic converter is responsible.

Just wanted to hear some opinions from other owners. This is the first issue I've had with the car after owning it for almost 2 years.

Thanks for any info you can give me.

it is always better to post in an existing thread than to start a new one

You've got the #1 engine killing condition going on.

The 8 has weak coils that eventually fail, and allow unburned gas to overheat the cat.

Replace all 4 coils and plugs, and cross your fingers the cat isn't fried.

I like the BHR ign coil upgrade.

^most likely already fried, hence the glowing...

^^^ Correct.

Info about your car? i.e...year, mileage, mods, etc.

Anyway, you still may have warranty on your catalytic converter.

im having the exact problem right now?
does anyone know exactly how long the cat is under warranty and how much a new one would run me?

New cat is approximately $1,300. Federal warranty is 8 years or 80,000 miles, whichever comes first. Info easily found through searching.

Driving with a clogged cat will continue to pile cost on top of that due to fried O2 sensors stressing the engine, and eventually set fire to your car. Yes, it's happened several times to members.

thank you very much

turns out the problem was just plugs/coils. After those two were replaced, I had the cat flow tested and inspected at a muffler shop and it checked out just fine.

One of the coils must have died because the engine was throwing a misfire code.

I've been reading a lot lately about glowing cats, so I looked under my car last night fro the driver's side, and just around the sensor is red. Not the shielding or any other piping. Since this is the first time I have looked and all the other posts I've read, they write it like the entire cat/catback is red. Is my situation normal or is it time to take it in?

No any part of the cat glowing is not normal. The heat shield should not glow, it's a heat shield and there is an air gap. Get it fixed before your engine is next.

Thank you!