Broke down. Need advice

[JC316]

Now in my possession, we took it for a drive today. I don't know anything about Hyundai's to know how they behave. The car won't accelerate over 40 though and was a long struggle to even reach that. The engine does not rev beyond 3500 rpm even in neutral or park. In park it acts like its a rev limiter bouncing at 3500 when I floor it. Is this normal? Kinda has me thinking maybe a timing belt slipped or a plugged exhaust? The trans looks like it has been leaking for a while. He did have his mechanic supposedly "inspect" every thing last week before he left since he will be driving this in college. Doesn't sound like it was much of a mechanic.

The 3500 RPM thing sounds like it's in limp mode. If the TPS or crankshaft position sensor is fucking up on it, then it could be causing both the no shift and RPM trouble. If it were a plugged cat, then it would most likely run fine while cold, but lose power as it runs.

[Frank]

HAHA! It was a damn plugged catalytic converter. I unbolted the exhaust and it drives good now. It is the 2nd cat so I need to pull it out and gut it. Live and learn.

[mstng86]

Plugged cat? How does that happen?

[Frank]

Plugged cat? How does that happen?

They can get hot enough that the ceramic melts and closed up. I have seen it. Usually due to some emissions not working correctly causing the fuel mix to be off.