Just to confirm whether its a dead cat
 

Hi guys,

I think my cat is dying (at WOT rpm rise extremely slowly sometimes stays at 1 point especially after 7.5k). So i went hunting for the obvious signs of a glowing cat, the cat isn't red but the bung where the O2 sensor is a glowing circle in pitch dark, is that proof enough its a dead cat?

Can I drive it around for maybe a few weeks without hurting anything else? coz i'm still shopping around for a midpipe.

Thanks

do you smell a lot of sulfur (rotten egg) in your exhaust smell?

Any loss in mpg?

How about a loss of power, especially when your car is on an incline?

These are the common things on rotarys to look for if the cat is going. The stock cat is altered a bit, a small bit of glowing around the O2 sensor is common, cause of the bit rich mixture, its used to igniting that unused fuel.

The revs above 7.5k seem to climb harder like in chunks instead of smoothly and I wouldnt call it an obvious power loss. No rotten smell too. I couldn't catch any of the failed cat symptoms mentioned on forum aside from the glowing bung in total darkness.

Are ya getting a check engine light flashing or on solid. I figure you would have mentioned it if you were.
Glowing bung. I can't believe I just said that. A glowing bung could be a sign of a bad cat. Early stages.
But remember the O2 sensor is in the cat case. And directly in the line of fire one might say. So the bung getting hot enough to glow could be a sign,,,,,

Nope. no CELs whatsoever. Probably onset of a dying cat.

https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-trouble-shooting-95/coils-cats-question-199713/ < I was having a similar problem. My friend and I were going to replace the stock cat with a high flow, and ended up just gutting the original and putting it back. Runs fine now with no CELs but smells like a racetrack.

Just gutted the cat, it was collapsed and a piece was rattling inside there. I'm glad I didn't attempt it myself the front 3 bolts was rusted through, WD-40 didn't help at all. The workshop charged me 70 bucks for labors and 3 screws.

Car definitely pull stronger and no CEL yet ... :)