Ford Bronco Hesitation When Accelerating

Can a clogged catalytic converter unclog itself?

Well, it can happen that they will de-clog on their own, but usually need a helping hand.  If it is utterly blocked, then dismantling and manually cleaning is the only solution.If the ceramic material inside is melted, then change it.Most modern Cats are stuffed with a ceramic honeycomb structure, unlike the older ones that had complex filters with platinum wool amongst other stuff inside them.One of the reasons they get clogged is people lugging around in fifth gear making lots of soot which clogs the honeycomb.A faulty EGR valve (gas recirculation) will do the trick as well.Faulty injection, allowing to much fuel to come through the exhaust can cause the honeycomb to melt when it starts burning the fuel... (replacement)But you can clear a blocked (not 100% blocked) converter by getting it hot enough to make it finish what it is supposed to do.The garages here in France have a naughty technique, they hoist the car up on lift with the motor going flat out, and stand underneath it holding a fire extuinguisher, just in case it sets fire to the car, or any flames from the now burning soot comes blasting out of the rear.It is a dangerous technique in my opinion, and not good for the engine, but it works.  I don't suppose it works everytime either.So if you have a CAT that is partially blocked because you mooch around in fifth gear or have bad driving habits, you could try driving the vehicle hard enough to heat the CAT as it should be, where usually it can clear itself.So , if it is soot build up, there is hope for you, to unclog it without taking it off the vehicle and or changing it, if it is hard blocked with mineral deposits, unlikely. If it is melted, its got to be changed.

What are some symptoms of a bad idle air control sensor?

Idle air control valves open to allow more air to "leak" into the intake, raising the engine rpms, or close when not needed. When your AC compressor kicks in or power steering is activated as you suddenly turn the steering wheel, the sudden drag on the drive belt will bog down the engine. These systems send a signal to the engine computer telling it they are active and it then signals the IAC valve to open, which increases the engine speed. Without this occurring,  the engine could struggle, or die. The IAC valve can cause weird idle issues, mess with throttle functionality or cause the car to die. Sometimes they fail, get stuck or just get all carboned up. Sometimes people have success at cleaning them, but generally it is best to replace them when bad. Idle issues and even problems with the IAC valve may not be due to the IAC valve being bad itself. An idle issue does not mean the IAC valve is bad. It is best to pay close attention to how the vehicle is acting, and then communicate that clearly and as completely as possible to your mechanic. Intermittent problems can be very hard to diagnose. Details will help. Knowing more about the vehicle in question and its symptoms (in detail) will also help in understanding more about what it is doing.

I had new speaker and amp installed and now car won't start! Can this be caused by bad installation?

Oh these are always fun. Though I can't give you a diagnosis over email, I can tell you it is 100% possible to kill a car with a stereo installation.  Your amplifier needs a signal to turn on or it will stay on always and kill your battery. Stereo install guys turn on the car and stab a test light into random wires looking for one powered only when the car is turned on. Unfortunately they have been known to splice into a CAN data bus. The CAN network in charge of communication for your security and locking could be disabled keeping your key from being authorized. Or the CAN network for your chassis systems can be shut down that deals with communication for your engine, transmission, and typically traction control. A CAN network is typically a 5 volt system but it suplies power in micro amps as it is only used for communication and not supplying a load such as switching a relay, lighting a bulb, or spinning a motor. Splicing into these to supply the relay to turn on the amp effectively grounds the circuit and does not allow for the digital signal to propogate. Sometimes it easier and they just blew a fuse while poking around with a test light, or shorted a harness by running a screw through it while mounting components. Had a lowjack installer put a screw through a floorboard and into a fuel tank once, cause a check engine light due to an emissions test, luckily it didn't burn down the car first. I have fixed at least a dozen of these problems on Benz's in the shop after a car got towed in from the stereo shop.

What will happen if I drive with a very low transmission fluid?

It depends on whether your car is an automatic or manual transmission.Automatic: Automatic transmission fluid has multiple jobs in an automatic transmission. First, it is used for cooling the transmission. So, with low transmission fluid, your transmission will not be cooled properly. Second, it used to make the torque converter operate, and provide pressure to ensure proper operation of the various clutches and components within the transmission. Third, it is used to lubricate your transmission. If your transmission fluid is very low, the transmission will almost certainly be slipping. So it will feel like the vehicle is in neutral, with the engine revving, but no power being applied to the wheels. The shifts will be rough, if they occur at all, as the clutches are not getting proper pressure to perform shifts smoothly. If the transmission fluid is very low for a long period of time, the clutches will burn up from not being able to lock up properly, and the torque converter will likely fail due to improper fluid pressure. If you drive your automatic transmission vehicle with low transmission fluid, at some point, you will be looking at a bare minimum $2,000+ repair bill unless you are able to do the work yourself, in which case it will still be $1,000 plus.Manual: In a manual transmission, low transmission fluid will cause the gears, synchronizers, shift forks, and other components to wear quickly. The bearings within the transmission will also not be lubricated properly, and the transmission will begin to overheat. It will likely be quite difficult to shift the transmission between gears, if not impossible. A manual transmission with low fluid may last longer than an automatic transmission with low fluid, but the prognosis is still the same. Transmission failure will occur, at some point, sooner or later.If your transmission fluid is low, it is much cheaper and safer to fill it, rather than face the expensive repair bill. Fill the transmission fluid and keep an eye on your vehicle, as it is likely that you have a leak, especially if your transmission fluid is frequently low.