How do I re-connect my tail pipes back to my catylatic converter. I had a freind to check and see if the catylatic converter was working properly and he wasunable to finish putting it back together. Is there a diagram of sorts?

Starting from the front, coming off the exhaust manifold should have, 1. Exhaust pipe, 2. Catalytic converter, 3. Exhaust pipe, 4. Resonator, 5. Tail pipe. Also, there should be an Oxygen sensor somewhere around the catalytic converter.

Check the trouble codes, and check that the catalytic converter is not plugging the exhaust up. If you bang on it and you hear rattling, it is probably bad. One way to verify is to run the engine with the converter disconnected from the exhaust. If it runs better, the converter is bad.

remove forward o2 sensor and start car if it seems ok have somebody
check back pressure or partial plugged catalytic converter

Have you check your fuel filter? How much pressure is coming out the tail pipe when you rev up the engine? Hold your hand about 10 inches from the tail pipe and have someone rev up the engine. If you do not feel alot of exhaust flow and it's real hot, he may be right. The proper way to check this is with a vacuum gauge or back pressure gauge. I would ck the fuel filter also. Hope this helps, TJ

At best, it probably won't run right with the cat off. Pretty sure there is a ten year warranty on the cat. If there is, there was no reason not to replace it.

replace the Catylatic Converter . They go bad after so many years and so many miles. Take car to muffler shop and let them do the work

Check the exhaust system first in the engine compartment area where the Manifold connects to the exhaust pipes then check under the vehicle just before the Catylatic converter and after. Some vehicles have 2 and upstream and down stream sensor. It is usually the upstream or the one closest to the engine that goes bad.

My first inclination is a bad MAF.

Your catylatic converter may be clogged if your loosing power or top speed is less than it was. You can check this when its running with a battery operated infared heat gauge. the temperature of the muffler should be around the same temp. as the catylatic converter.

Likely the O2 sensor wire. you will need to replace the sensor if you find that's what it is, and find the other end of the wire so you can plug the new unit back into the harness.