The Random Question Thread

I went to my local car care center.. first time going.
I wanted to get to the bottom of this little rattle I'm getting from under the motor.
This isn't the rattle from under the middle of the car (exhaust heat shield).
It happens under the motor or at least near it.. whenever the car is warmed up.
I was thinking maybe it is the catalytic converter heat shields.

So I explain to them and let them inspect it ($35)
The final verdict is that both my catalytic converters are cracked and they need to be replaced.
I asked him 'Are you sure it isn't the cat heat shields?' and he said "Nope. They're definitely shot and need to be replaced ASAP.'

I told him I will be back maybe next week.
and he let me know that... because the catalytic converters are shot.. your engine may burn over and ruin itself (????)
To be honest, I don't understand how that makes sense lol, cause I thought cats were used to reduce smog?

Anyway, he told me the cost would be $1895.75

Should I get a second opinion... probably a brand new true dual exhaust? lol
Your answers are appreciated. Btw, I'm at 205K miles

---------- Post added at 10:29 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:07 PM ----------

Also.. wouldn't a cracked catalytic converter throw a check engine code?
 
g0ldm4g3 said:
I went to my local car care center.. first time going.
I wanted to get to the bottom of this little rattle I'm getting from under the motor.
This isn't the rattle from under the middle of the car (exhaust heat shield).
It happens under the motor or at least near it.. whenever the car is warmed up.
I was thinking maybe it is the catalytic converter heat shields.

So I explain to them and let them inspect it ($35)
The final verdict is that both my catalytic converters are cracked and they need to be replaced.
I asked him 'Are you sure it isn't the cat heat shields?' and he said "Nope. They're definitely shot and need to be replaced ASAP.'

I told him I will be back maybe next week.
and he let me know that... because the catalytic converters are shot.. your engine may burn over and ruin itself (????)
To be honest, I don't understand how that makes sense lol, cause I thought cats were used to reduce smog?

Anyway, he told me the cost would be $1895.75

Should I get a second opinion... probably a brand new true dual exhaust? lol
Your answers are appreciated. Btw, I'm at 205K miles

---------- Post added at 10:29 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:07 PM ----------

Also.. wouldn't a cracked catalytic converter throw a check engine code?
Click to expand...

definitely go somewhere else
 
^^ A clogged catalytic converter can damage the engine, not the cracked one, as far as I know. It may throw the CEL code, if there is something wrong. I'm pretty sure it's your heat shield that makes the rattle. I need to remove mine as well, i'm getting a very annoying metallic rattle at start up.
 
2009 FX50 manual says to rotate tires from front to rear and rear to back without any crossing.

2009 FX50 comes standard with Bridgestone Dueler H/L 400 which I believe are nondirectional unless I'm missing something.

So why is Infiniti recommending not rotating tires how a rear/awd car would be rotated: Rears to front, then fronts crossing to the back? My wife's Mazda owner manual says to rotate Front to rear, then backs crossing to the front because it's awd front wheel biased and that makes sense with nondirectional tires.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...iti&autoYear=2009&autoModel=FX50&autoModClar=
 
Good question Jonas, I just went out and checked my Bridgestones and there is no directional arrow on them, so it does look like they can be cross rotated also.
Anyone else want to comment on this?
 
TurTLeG said:
If u wanted to cross rotate tires, a shop can always flip directional tires.
Click to expand...
We realize that, we are just saying these look like they are non-directional tires and that would not be necessary.
 
J3FF3R$0N said:
My Bridgestone Blizzaks are directional
Click to expand...
Jeff we are talking about the OEM FX50 all season tires, the Bridgestone Dueler H/L 400 tires. I know my Blizzaks are directional but these duellers have no markings on them that they are.
If you have a FX50 around the shop with these, check it out and see what you think. Thanks.
 
GEE50FX said:
Jeff we are talking about the OEM FX50 all season tires, the Bridgestone Dueler H/L 400 tires. I know my Blizzaks are directional but these duellers have no markings on them that they are.
If you have a FX50 around the shop with these, check it out and see what you think. Thanks.
Click to expand...

Ahhh I guess that's what I get for skimming, Also I have talked to soooo many people about winter tires in the last month or so.
I believe the duelers are not directional but I will look in to that
 
Yep, so the question is if the OEM tires are non-directional, why is the Infiniti manual recommending to not cross them while other manuals recommend doing so.
 
I think Zee is right. They just put the safest option down. For example the tires that come on the 50S are Dunlop Sport summer performance tires that are directional and the tires that come on the FX50 are All Season Bridgestones that are non-directional.
 
good point. I didn't know the dunlop was directional. So I will put rears to front and then cross the front to the back in every rotation and then rotate the snow tires from front to back and back to front.

I'm going to torque at 85.

PSI should always be what the door recommends on the car right? Regardless of if snow tires, or dun laps, or all seasons, should be all based on what the door says for the car, which for our case is 36psi for every tire at cold?

All my tires right now are at 31 which seems fine and I think when it was love 35 it was balding a bit more in the center....this is why I ask.
 
I torque to recommended torque of 80 ft/lbs, then after I put on another 100 miles or so I recheck the torque. There is no need to over torque them.

I believe the OEM recommended pressure is 33psi.
I always run about 2 or 3 psi higher then spec on my tires and on my last set of 20's I put over 35,000 miles on them and there is still good even tread wear left. So if the door says 33psi I run at 35 psi. That is what I'm running on my 21's also.
 
Last edited:
Just got news from another mechanic and he told me the catalytic converters are bad lol, so I might go test pipes and get a full exhaust atm.

This may be a stupid question.. but do the length of long tube headers replace the catalytic converters?
 
Yes, but they cost a fortune:smile (2):. HFC's are really loud. If you can stand the constant drone then go for it, personally I couldn't stand it and removed the HFC next day. I can't even imagine how the test pipes will sound inside, great for a weekend car, but not for a daily luxury SUV IMO.

[video=youtube_share;WLS4j-MVAEQ]http://youtu.be/WLS4j-MVAEQ[/video]

---------- Post added at 01:47 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:44 PM ----------

We also have Magnaflow aftermarket catalytic converters available, if you are interested. Direct fit.
 
ahh crap. i think the markings on my snow tires wore off. how do i figure out which to put where
 
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