I have a 98 Dakota with a v8 5 speed. Stock cataylic converter and a flowmaster muffler. It has a check engine light on.
I took it to OReilly's and they said it came up the cataylic converter or the o2 sensor were having issues. Cleared the code and the check engine light came on a couple days later.
I have noticed the fuel mileage has gotten a little worse, seems like it is cackling a lot and there is a bit of gassy smell coming out of the exhaust.
I am wondering if maybe the converter is getting a build up(plugged up). Thought about removing the converter and just putting a pipe in it's place. I know it's illegal but I want it to run better and get the little bit of mpgs back.

I guess my questions are:
What do you guys think the problem is?
Does anybody know how it'd affect the truck to remove the converter?
I would really like to eliminate the Cackling. Any Ideas?

Open to any suggestions.
Thanks in advance for the help.

Sean

First off you need to find out exactly which code it is setting. There are MANY codes that involve the o2 sensors and cat converter. All are diagnoised differently. If you eliminate the converter you will have a constant CEL. This is true with all 96 and up ODB-2 vehicles with a 02 sensor downstream of the cat. If I were guessing though, I would say the cat is coming apart. A simple test you can do is, thump on the outside of the cat with a mallet. If you hear crap rattling around inside while you hit it it is most likely junk. Of course, do this with the exhaust is not hot so you wont get burned.

Yep need P-code to start with. One of the worst things you can do is just blindly cancel a code,lots of data gets cancel with it.

You used to be able to buy a downstream O2 fooler, Summit Racing used to sell them, might still.