The other day on the highway my 245 started to sputter and died. It started up and ran fine for a few more miles, until started to make a rattling noise that was sensitive to the throttle pressure, but still ran fine.

I believe the noise was the guts of the cat rattling around. I drove for a couple of days hoping all would be well until I got around to fixing it. No such luck.

On my way home today it started to sputter badly and died. Looked under the car and the cat was cherry hot, So hot that the undercoating was smoking.

I figured the cat guts had twisted up and had a meltdown. I went back to it tonight and removed the plug in the headpipe hoping that would relieve enough pressure for the car to start.

No go, it will not start. Engine rocks and spits, sounds like it's bound up.
If the the cat is plugged, and the test plug is removed, do you think I still have to much backpressure for the engine to start? Or do I have a more serious problem?

Thanks,


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Bruce S. near D.C.