My buddy recently got a 93 Ford Probe GT for $350. Runs decent. He supposedly did new plugs and wires at midas but they look the same as when he got it (Dirty plugs and corroded wires...)

Anyways, when you really get on it in his car, it picks up very nice at around 4-5k RPM (VRIS kicking in?) but it seems like it has a bit of trouble pulling to 7k RPM. Everything is stock at the moment as well.

Also, after 160 miles of mostly city driving, his car was hot. Gauge read fine but his car just smelled hot and radiated heat. The "tranny tunnel" was hot too.

His coolant is straight coolant. Not 50/50... (He's a dumbass... i know") so I figure that may be part of it.

We have Sea Foamed his car and it helped. Needs done again because it blew a TON of carbon out. Anything else I should have him do?

From what little I've read, I might suspect the cat is clogged?

That could explain the dodgy CEL he gets off and on. Once she got real hot it stayed on. He's taking it to Midas because he's a hack with tools and daddy pays for it.

Even though Midas is *puke*

Oh well. I think he needs to do a few oil treatments too.

Don't let Midas put on something more restrictive than stock! They'll even tell you it's not more restrictive yet will be.

Do some homework online and find the right product. In Peoria? See Frank at Mytee Muffler on Hamilton for the install.

The 2.5l engine is really, ultimately, restricted at the throttle body, all things being equal.

A decent cat-back system would be the first, best step, it seems.

No matter what, drag him away from Midas, et. al. Get a decent aftermarket THEN get to Midas and alike for the actual install. Don't buy the exhaust parts there!

I've given up on him. He got a bad taste from having NAPA charge him $1200 last time he was there.


But he had to get new fuel injectors and plugs, wires, and other tune up goods, let alone the huge labor it took.

Oh well. I was just curious what was holding it from revving hard to 7k RPM.

Napa, if it is here in town, gives you what you ask for, and may make suggestions based on what you tell them. Ultimately, if you pay too much or buy the wrong part, it's your own fault. Ever try to diagnose a car that is "making a noise" or "hiccupping?"

Pull the code to find out what the "dodgy" DTC is, and diagnose accordingly.

If it's a cat, you can verify by dropping the exhaust and taking it for a spin. Or, drill a small hole in front of the cat and see how much exhaust gets pushed out the hole. Or, pop the front o2 sensor.

Check the air filter before you do any of these things.

Find someone that knows dookie from a good piece of chocolate to work on the car, if the cat is bad go see Ryan at Meineke on Adams near Bartonville. Internet diag can be helpful, but it can lead to far larger problems than necessary.

Lastly, if Daddy pays the bill, why buy a $350 car?

And change the frickin coolant. 50/50 would be fine, but you could cut it a bit more for the summer. Don't run straight water, as coolant is as much an anti-corrosive and lubricant as a medium for heat exchange.

And there is no "tranny tunnel" in a transverse drivetrain layout, unless you are referring to the firewall.