Hey guys... Let me bring you up to speed on my truck before I post the question...

I bought a 98 Rodeo with a Supercharger on it and various other performance upgrades (ECU Upgrade, Piggyback ECU, Borla Cat-back, etc). It's got ~50k on it...

Anyway, when I got it about two months ago, I found that laying on the throttle for extended bursts (as just about anyone would do when they first get a Supercharger <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />) caused a FLASHING, then steady check engine light. The code I got from this said something about random misfire, and I also got something about the MAF.

Anyway, I replaced the MAF, and did the plugs and PCV...

Still got the same light.

Still haven't replaced the fuel filter, but I have it in the back of the truck and I will one of these days. Anyway, checked for vacuum leaks, found none. Still the same light.

Doing something unrelated (replacing empty slot with 6-disc changer from 98 Amigo) I found that the piggyback ECU was installed very poorly. The engine harness wires were cut and the piggyback ECU was spliced in... 'Cept the wires weren't crimped on or soldered or anything. They were just twisted together with some loose electrical tape on there. What the hell kinda crap is that? Anyway... I didn't have the time or the tools to fix it the right way, but I did a better job of doing it the half-assed way anyway...

Now, this was three weeks ago. Since then, no flashing CEL, no CEL at all...

However, in the meantime, way back when I got the first flashing CEL, I also had some sputtering, wandering idle, and even stalling. Far more noticeable after a period of sitting idle. Now that I seem to have somehow solved my flashing-then-steady CEL, I still have the sputtering and stalling, the wandering idle, etc. It also seems like it lacks a bit of power. Not much, but enough that I feel it, or at least enough that I've convinced myself I feel it anyway. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

That being said, at this point, I'm thinking the cats (or at least one of them) are on their way out. Dunno if this was caused by the conditions present during the flashing CEL (Flashing CEL means "Catalyst Damaging Misfire") or if it's something that's just occurred over time, but in any event, it looks like that's what I'm looking at...

Side note, dunno if it's related or not, but I swear I caught a puff of black smoke out of the corner of my eye in the rearview tonight when I passed some idiot who didn't know where he was going... Related? Some unrelated gremlin? IIRC, black smoke means running rich... Result of a bad cat??

Anyone feel like backing up my theories? Or am I barking up the wrong tree?

How does one find out if their cats are shot? Is there a test for this? Does anyone do it for free? (AutoZone?)

If I'm looking at replacement cats anyway, what's out there that I can replace them with to at least get an upgrade out of my repair?

Thanks in advance guys,
Chris