My 1998 SW2 is on its last legs. It has about 290,000 miles on it. Lately it has been losing power and won't upshift until the RPMs are about 3500. Two local shops refused to work on it. I found a guy who did. He cleaned the throttle body and replaced a broken EGR valve. After he was done the car barely ran at all. His explanations ran from a clogged intake manifold to a bad catalytic converter. Finally, so I could at least drive home, he removed the O2 sensor completely. Now the car runs decently but it's very loud because the exhaust is venting out where the O2 sensor was. I realize I can't drive this much longer but need transportation until I can find something else. So my question is, can I drive short distances with the car in this condition? My concern, besides the excessive noise, is that the heat from the exhaust venting where the O2 sensor was may damage the radiator or other parts.

 

Just cut the cat off and have a pipe welded in? No aftermarket available?

 

Thanks for the reply. There's no pressure through the EGR valve because, apparently, the intake manifold is clogged. So he removed the O2 sensor and now the exhaust comes out there. So my question is can I drive it like that or will the heat from the exhaust damage the radiator?

 

Your intake is NOT the problem. Your cat is plugged.

 

Got it. Thanks!

 

What HE said.

Cat only replacement under 150
cat + flex pipe Plus down pipe closer to 200

Recommend option b as the parts will no longer be available for the rest of the system when you need them and it's not that much more money

 

The error code is P0401. Can you help me understand how P0401 code relates to catalytic converter?

 

derf has a procedure for cleaning out the EGR tube. I'm sure if you ask him nicely, he'll either explain it to you or post a link to it. It's not really complicated but it's kind of messy. Especially if you don't follow his directions.

 

I appreciate the replies to my thread. At the same time, my original question has gone unanswered: "So my question is, can I drive short distances [with the O2 sensor completely removed]? My concern, besides the excessive noise, is that the heat from the exhaust venting where the O2 sensor was may damage the radiator or other parts." Thanks again.

 

Drive it. You won't have fuel control but I'm thinking you don't care about that.