Heat Warning Lamp

Michael Cooper · Post by **Michael Cooper** » Mon Feb 26, 2001 9:28 am

Hi,
Just wondering if anyone knows what the heat warning lamp on the
dash is for. Mine has just started coming on after the car has been driven
on the open road for a while. I have had a look at the Enthusiasts Manual
and it is not mentioned in there at all. Is this serious? and how can I fix
it?

regards
Michael Cooper

Gary Morrison · Post by **Gary Morrison** » Mon Feb 26, 2001 10:22 am

I have a sneaking suspicion that the light you refer to is a catalytic
converter indicator, and it either indicates the cat is not up to temp, or
is, ... or something.

Gary

Charles Lynch · Post by **Charles Lynch** » Mon Feb 26, 2001 10:35 am

I'm not sure but I'll take a guess.
I think it might be a calalytic converter heat warning light. As far as I
know these were only fitted to Roadsters originally sold in Japan, which
would explain it not being in the manual. I'm not sure what it means, but
since it's only on the Japanese cars it might be a legal requirement (so you
don't set the grass on fire or something).

If you look under your car there should be able to see a connector near the
Cat.

Sorry, that's all I know!

Colin · Post by **Colin** » Mon Feb 26, 2001 2:15 pm

The light is an overheating lamp.
It suggests that the cat may have reduced flow. ie some tubes may be blocked.
have it removed and checked as soon as you can. They fill up with carbon and
other products of combustion.
Moist warm air helps them solidify when you stop driving.
I don't think it is a problem to leave them off and have a spool piece made
instead.
On a slightly scary note. The converters normally operate at a high
temperature, caused by the exhaust gas temp (of course) and by the reaction
they are there to produce itself. This means that they are very good at
burning oil smoke from the engine again and making it almost invisible.
Until of course it blocks.
There is lots more to them and I think that is one of the more likely
scenarios.
Hope that helps

colin

Robin Thomas · Post by **Robin Thomas** » Mon Feb 26, 2001 6:01 pm

A friend from Japan recently roughly translated the info in the clear
plastic casing on the back of the drivers sunvisor on my import MX5. That
info specifically refers to the "overheating light" which I think you are
referring to. He is not fluent in English - I am most certainly not fluent
in Japanese - but from what I could gather the warning light most definitely
should be heeded. It does relate to the catalytic converter and advises
that when it comes on the car should be stopped immediately, allowed to cool
down, and then driven at low speed to the nearest garage for immediate
attention.

I had always wondered what the message on the visor was about and a couple
of our local group enquired of him when he was over here on holiday and had
joined our group for the Xmas bar-b-que.

Cheers
Robin T

Clive Granger · Post by **Clive Granger** » Mon Feb 26, 2001 9:11 pm

Do yourself a favour and ditch the cat as soon as you can. While you are at
it, replace the restrictive stock muffler (if still fitted to the car) with
a more free flowing one. That will brighten up the performance noticeably.