First off I have to say this is a great forum and I've picked up a lot of tips. This is the first time I haven't managed to find info on a problem using search.

I have a 1992 VE30DE JDM Maxima here in New Zealand. On 2 occasions recently the light for the catalytic converter has come on for around 10 seconds after the car has been running for approx 15 minutes. It then goes off and does not return.

Maintenance is all up to date in terms of air/fuel filters, sparkplugs etc

Unplugging each coil pack one by one suggests all cylinders are firing as you here it drop a cylinder with each disconnect.

When the light comes on there is no rough running and nothing smells hot. Car is driving great with strong acceleration and no hesitation.

No fault codes have been logged.

I've not done much in terms of diagnostics but was looking for ideas of where to start.

I was thinking along the lines of - an injector sticking open, O2 sensor, or....

Any help appreciated

Thanks

 

do you mean the check engine light? never heard of a catalytic converter light

sounds like its maybe an o2 sensor, 3rd gens throw whacky CEL sometimes. if it immediately goes off and doesnt return i wouldnt worry about it

 

Definitely the cat light not the CEL. It's purely a temp sensor indicating the cat got too hot either from restriction or unburnt fuel getting in there.

 

Do you have a muffler temp sensor as well?

 

Not as far as i know.

 

You sure your not talking about a 02 sensor?

 

As in the arrowed light in the pic

 

That's for the optional rotisserie that bolts up to the engine. It blinks to let you know when the engine temperature is sufficient to roast a small pig.

 

thats absolute news to me, ive been in lots of foreign vehicles and ive never heard of a converter light before

 

I can imagine DMad immediately calling his JDM buddies

I couldn't get much info on it. So it could be a catalytic temp sensor or the car running rich due to an slow O2 sensor. Look under the car if there's actually a sensor attached to the catalytic. If not, then changing the O2 sensor would be a start.

 

Both times it has happened it was when ambient temp was lower than usual.

I will get on and change the O2 sensor but sourcing locally at a reasonable price is not an option so will order via ebay.

Any other sensors to look at? Could the coolant temp sensor be a contender?

 

coolant temp sensor would probably be a CEL

 

Not if there's continuity. A bad coolant temp sensor can give a bad temperature reading that the cooling fans may not turn on when the engine is overheating. Happened to me before, so it can also be a possibility.