Some days ago I made a question about raising the rpm of my mercury cougar, the problem is still there.?

Question

Suddenly while moving in reverse the rpm went up to 2000 rpm instead of 700-800 as usual. I got good answers, most of them relating the problem with vacum cause, or IAC dirty. I checked possible vacum leaks and cleaned the IAC. When I started the engine noticed the maniflow (headers) turned RED. I asked a good mechanic in Mexico (as my car is mexican made) and told me to check the cathalitic convertors. (I live in the Houston area) WHat´s wrong with my car?

Answer 1

If your exhaust manifold is turning red, as in cherry red from high heat, it leads me to think of possibly two things:

Exhaust blockage (catalytic convertor or muffler or kinked exhaust pipe).

or

You have fuel flashing off (burning) in your exhaust manifold. This WOULD damage your catalytic convertor as well as your O2 sensor. The cause of this would be a sparkplug not firing (for whatever reason) and during the exhaust cycle (intake valve closing and exhaust valve opening) the raw fuel not combusted in the compression cylinder is forced out into the exhaust manifold where the normally hot exhaust gases from the properly running cylinders are causing that raw fuel to ignite. That is why your exhaust manifold is glowing cherry red.

Answer 2

Not only can the catalitic converter cause problems such as the red glowing you describe. It will also cause too much back pressure on your engine and possibly cause it to suck a valve...THASHING the engine.

Since one of your complaints is about rpm the Throttle Positioning Sensor could very well all ready be toasted!!! Have it replaced!

Overheating the engine will fry your fuel injectors causing a drastic loss of mpg AND a condition where the engine will continuously surge and lower. This will also cause the engine to suck a valve.

While having the TPS tested/replaced have the TFI module tested/replaced.

What can I say except that you are among a lot of us that suffer from Ford's "Better Ideas"!!!

Answer 3

could you tell me why you want to raise the rpms in your cougar? If you have a problem with power you could have your catalytic converters plugged and may need replacing,the converters could be plugging your engine power like a bad case of gas that can,t get by because of a case of constipation,the redness that you have seen may be from the accumilation of exaust gases being backed up in your system,if they cannot flow freely you will experience loss of power and the redness you see on your exausts, the next thing that you can do that may cause the redness on your exaust is your timing on your engine,get a spraybottle with some water ,start your engine and in a dark area in your garage spray the water on your spark plugwires ,water conducts electricity so if you have bad spark plug wires,when you spray the water on your plugwires you will see the spark run across the wire s which needs replacing,this method also similate certain driving conditions and shows a loss in power in your vehicle ,this also will cause the redness in your exaust due to your engine timing being retarded ,hope that I was helpful,good luck delmy d

Answer 4

These Cars are NOTORIOUS for catalytic convertor failures!!! Take it to a dealer to have the problem diagnosed properly. You may have warranty coverage for this, if it falls within the year mileage parameters. But take it in at once before you grenade your engine!!!! Good luck.

Answer 5

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