heat light

slater1982 · March 20, 2012, 10:01:38 AM

Morning ppl
While on the way to work this morning \'playing\' with an impreza, as I hit about 6500 revs in 4th, the heat light came on. I lifted off an it went off, so carried on to work the next couple miles. Though when I pulled up, the tickover had gone really low an lumpy an the exhaust sounds like its blowing from somewhere in front of the cat. Would the exhaust abuse the light or maybe something bit more serious?
Any help appreciated cheers folks.

slater1982 · March 20, 2012, 10:02:56 AM

*cause* , am on my phone. Predictive text!!! :-D

mcon · March 20, 2012, 05:19:30 PM

the sensor for it is in the cat on the drivers side.

Do you have a PFC, if you do it will use the heat light to show engine warnings such as knock.

slater1982 · March 20, 2012, 06:50:46 PM

No haven\'t got a PFC. What factors could make this light up? And I\'m guessing its not good to drive it if it stays on?

m1tch · March 20, 2012, 10:02:32 PM

Are you still running an air pump? Do you have a decat? If you still have the OEM cat but are missing the air pump then there is no cooling air going into the cat which means it can get rather hot if you push it!

slater1982 · March 21, 2012, 07:40:12 AM

Yeah I\'m still running the air pump and no not got a decat cos I can\'t afford the apexi yet :-/ its actually sounding like the exhaust might be blocked so maybe its overheated and broken up. Noticed this morning I also got a burning smell after driving for a while :-( would you recommend keeping the air pump and standard cat? Or uprating the cat to a sports one, (though I no idea how much they are)? Or decat and apexi when I can afford it?

m1tch · March 21, 2012, 01:46:15 PM

On my FC here are the CO% for air pump vs no air pump:

Air pump + no cat = 0.8% CO
No air pump + no cat = 2.37% CO

As I have an FC im allowed up to 3.5% so im ok on emissions, it would depend on your emissions requirements (import and year etc) it could be a blocked cat though, I believe that \'cataclean\' sold by mazda rotary parts apparently helps although I havn\'t used it. Was it a burning smell from the engine end or a burning smell of plastic as the exhaust melts the bumper? :rollin

slater1982 · March 21, 2012, 03:40:45 PM

Definitely engine smell !! . Though I\'ve just been across to the local rotary specialist, was gonna get hold of a cat but no point now. Not good news. Has told me its droppin onto 1 rotor so its that dreaded bloody rebuild time :-( Gutted don\'t come close! And it won\'t start when hot either, proving compression has gone out the window :-(

slater1982 · March 21, 2012, 03:43:08 PM

How much can we expect to get for an FD that needs a rebuild nowadays if I was to sell it?

davehg · March 21, 2012, 03:55:13 PM

depends on upgrades/parts on it and condition, would be lucky to get 2k in this market.