Cat Temp Light

[Sherrybaby]

Hey guys,

I have just recently purchased my 89 GTR.....

I've had it for a couple of weeks & now i'm having starting issues - when i start it, its sometimes a little rough but fine when i drive, but if i try and start it while its warm or leave it idling the cat light comes on & the car shuts itself off- mind you its only idling for 30 seconds tops, battery light comes on & also the oil pressure goes right down & light comes on also.

I have absolutely not a clue whats causing it..

Any ideas?!

[XKLABA]

The cat light is just a sensor at the back of the cat that lights up if it gets to hot and nothing else, it's a sign the cat is dead

[Sherrybaby]

But would that cause the car to just not turn on?

i am a bit confused as to why the battery light & oil pressure lights are coming on too & would it normally completely shut the car off?

[GH05T]

battery/ alternator dead? grounding issues?

[XKLABA]

It sounds like the car has a few issues which is a given given the car is 25 years old now so it is going to be a case of one thing at a time, the cat light is there to indicate the cat is dead so change it and go from there, cat convertor a are a service item and need to be changed periodicly, even worse if it still has the compliance cat

The oil pressure problem is a common one with 32s unfortunately which requires a seperate oil pressure test and then new sender unit

As for battery I had an issue like this year and years ago and it turned out to be the fusible link connection at the battery had corroded, I cut it off and put an eyelet back on and no more issue

[Sherrybaby]

Yeah, it does have a few issues......

I think i might take it to a specialist.....

Anyone know any good ones in/around Wollongong

it would make sense though if the altenator was going dead - that wld explain the battery light & also the Cat/engine light - but oil pressure... not so sure...

The gentleman who i bought it from said he has recently replaced the battery... so it could be a start point

[niZmO_Man]

I can't remember now (it's been a while), but a flashing cat temp warning light means something is wrong with the ECU?

[blind_elk]

Hey guys,

... the oil pressure goes right down & light comes on also.

I have absolutely not a clue whats causing it..

Any ideas?!

Have you checked the oil level in the sump? Have you changed the oil recently? (if not, maybe you should).

My experience is that the oil pressure light is usually not caused by a fault in the sender; it genuinely means that there is no oil pressure.

[XKLABA]

I can't remember now (it's been a while), but a flashing cat temp warning light means something is wrong with the ECU?

I haven't had a factory ECU since 2006 but iirc the cat light isn't connected to the ECU and it's the engine light flashing is an ECU fault but could be wrong

Have you checked the oil level in the sump? Have you changed the oil recently? (if not, maybe you should).

My experience is that the oil pressure light is usually not caused by a fault in the sender; it genuinely means that there is no oil pressure.

The oil pressure gauge in the RB26 in R32s playing up is realitively common, especially in the earlier ones, but is something that should be takin on the side of caution and tested properly before moving on

[GTRPSI]

I also had low oil pressure readings, changed the oil pressure sender with a new one and issue fixed.

Cat probe is a temperature sensor, when i first got my GTR the probe was not in, just coiled up under the car and the bunge plugged off.

[blind_elk]

XKLABA,

You are talking about the gauge, and, yes, they are problematic in that the sender sometimes fails or gives erratic signals.

I'm talking about the "Oh $HIT" light. I can't recall ever having the light come on even if the gauge is reading 0. Only time is when I genuinely have low oil, and therefore low, ie 0, oil pressure.

[niZmO_Man]

I haven't had a factory ECU since 2006 but iirc the cat light isn't connected to the ECU and it's the engine light flashing is an ECU fault but could be wrong

I can't remember, but last year when I put in a spare Nistune'd ECU in my car, a light was flashing (to indicate faulty ECU, sigh).

From Nistune:

Nistune Installation and Communications Diagnostics

Guide Page 18 of 28

6.2 Type 2 boards

Check section 4 if you can’t connect to your ECU.

Signs of limp mode on common ECUs:

1) R32 RB20DET, BNR32 RB26DETT

• ECU red LED and Exhaust Warning Light on dash will flash on / off

• Will not be able to connect to the ECU using consult

• Vehicle may start in limp mode but will not rev above 2000rpm without leaning out

[Sherrybaby]

I just checked the oil level - just to see....

Its on high, but it smells a bit like fuel (not sure if thats normal or not)

But the cat light/engine light doesnt flash - it stays on & the car wont start .... when it cut out on me whilst idling the other day it came on & the car turned off within a second... it was weird...

Im pretty sure ive got two issues going on atm...

Im going to do an oil pressure test & gut the cat at this stage... see whats going on...

Because mine is an earlier GTR im not sure if it has two sensors for the cat or just the one... a mate was saying if there is two i think you can disconnect it & bridge it somewhere ( i cant quite remember)

Ive got an Apexi Power FC here ready to go in if need be

[GTR_JOEY]

I assume we are talking about the little light in the dash that lights up red and looks like a Catalytic converter?

that's an engine warning light yes?

[Sherrybaby]

From what ive read it doubles as the engine light/cat temp warning light

[GTR_JOEY]

It can be multiple things that cause that light to go off

Some examples are

If the car is over boosted

Temp gets too high.

They aren't your problems by the sound of it, just look at all possibilities

[Sherrybaby]

Yeah i think at this stage im just going to gut the cat..... Ive got the boost pretty low so i doubt thats it.....

i honestly think ive got a few dramas atm.. which isnt unexpected, its an old car

But she is still my girl no less!

[blind_elk]

If you have fuel diluting the engine oil, you have a problem. I would strongly recommend an oil change immediately, then investigate why the oil is being contaminated by petrol (possibly a blowby problem).

And gutting the cat can be highly expensive - if you get caught with a gutted cat. Replace it if you think it's contributing to the problem.

[Sherrybaby]

So, i have an update....

I was driving it to the place i was getting it looked at.... the light came on while i was driving & i lost all power... I changed down gears & pumped the accelorator, until i finally regained power & it made a bang sound... then i regained power & it hasnt boosted so hard since i have had it. ANDDD the light hasnt come back on since :)

Im de-gutting my cat this weekend, so i will see how it goes again....