hi guys i have a 1985 cougar 3.8L
the exhaust smells really bad and the check engine light comes on when i first start it but goes away after i drive it for a while. i replaced the O2sensor thinking it was that but it still smells??? i really need to fix it soon cuz a new baby will be ridding in it and i can barely stand it at a drive up window. any ideas what it could be or suggestions.
thanks mindy
Well, if it smells like gas, it may need a tune up. New plugs, wires, rotor, distributor cap, and such.
I don't know so much about the older 3.8 engines, but there'll be someone along sometime to chime in on what else could be done to it.
iv put new cap, rotor, plugs, and wires in so far.
its hard to explain the smell, it doesn't smell like raw gas just really strong exhaust fumes? it makes my eyes water.
My 87 used to smell the same way since it was new. very strong eye watering exhaust.
my vert also stinks to high hell.. started it yesterday in the garage, and almost choked on a lung. I'm thinking it might be the additive the put in the gas for winter, as the vert didn't smell that bad during summer.
fixed it!!!!!!
i smashed the catiliticonverter honeycomb out...lol
she doesn't stink anymore and she runs a little better.
Hope ya don't live in an area where they put vehicles on the sniffer.
Of course, your car is an 85...might be exempt...
well i did find in california the emissions law is 30 year's thank god i live in oregon no test here cept for two cities that i know of
when we did the emissions the guy said that was the last time, so i think its good.
My old 86 did better without cats then it did with. After 20 years or so they like to get plugged up and make it run shiznitty.
My car will never be exempt from emissions unless I move outside the county.
Correction. In April 2004 the law changed to everything mfg 1976 and newer gets smogged for life.
1975 and older is exempt.
That honeycomb is actually worth decent money.
Yep, it's platinum, for those that don't know...and usually commands a hella price. When I first started working at the junkyard in 2006, my first job, aside from pulling the good and running 3.4/3.8's from GM's and 3.0's from Taurus/Sables was to cut out gas tanks and catalytic converters from cars just brought in.
Once every 2 weeks or so, a guy would come with a truck and trailer, and load them up, and give the j/y owner wads of cash for 'em.
Always tempted me to go out in the yard and try to find a few cats to sell on my own :hick:
Also reminds me..last weekend, went and picked up some bolts, nuts, washers and the like to finish my exhaust, fan, and accessories, and was looking at my Stang (stocker) H-pipe...noticed the cats were gutted on it...man, I'm almost afraid of how loud the bitch will be with the exhausts...probably almost as loud as it is without. (gutted cats and glasspacks. yay. not)
I have a pair of Flowmaster 40's...I might take them to a shop after I get the car legal and have the pipes lengthened and the Flow's put on...the pipes are cut probably to right below the backseat area...I want 'em to go a little further than that, lol.