Hey maxima gods & gurus...I got a problem. Today my SES light came on so I went down to this econo lube place to get it checked out (free as opposed to the dealers $85 diagnostic fee) The guy read it off to me on his little Mac tools OBD-II scanner. It said P0430 Catalyst Low Efficiency. I already got my car "re-flashed" so I know it's not that P0420. However, on my maxima trouble code sheet it lists both PO420 and P0430 under Three way catalyst. It can't be the re-flash again? Right? The econo lube tech reset the code so I'm hoping it won't come back but with 149,993 miles I think the clog cat thing might be a reality. Please tell me what you guys think and if it's worth it to buy a random technology cat.

 

Oh please don't tell me to get a Test pipe or straight pipe. I live in California so the authorities would castrate me, then as I lay there bleeding with no ***** they would go ahead and classify me as a "gross polluter"

 

p0430 isnt for a clogged cat, its for cat efficiency.

its bank 2, where p0420 is bank 1.


what was the software number they updated with?

he should be able to see with a scanner how bad the rear o2 is cycling, regardless of program... with 143K or whatever, i wouldnt doubt it.

 

430 is for the front manifold/pre cat. TW Catalyst-B2.
Test pipe wouldn't help at all.
Reflash was only for 420.
430 = replacement of front pre cat with oxygen sensors, "as necessary."

 

I have a Y-pipe could this be the cause? Or is it just a bad pre cat due to age? I might or will need a new 02 sensor?

 

Just got off the phone with Nissan they said the front pre cat (in the manifold) is $651 and the two 02 sensors (one by radiator and the other by the firewall) are $137 a piece...OUCH! This is horrible

 

o2 sensors have to be functioning properly to set a cat efficiency fault, as long as everything else is in order.

 

$30 dollars for o2 simulator slove the problem!! i got the same problem with u!!

 

So bottom line is if I have a smog check I'll be screwed cuz of the damn pre cat is not filtering enough exhaust? Or could it become a problem in the engine if I don't get this pre cat replaced i.e. gases won't pass thru the pre cat and are pushed back up into the cylinder head

 

bump cuz I'm a little concerned

 

depends on the smog test type, wether its a readiness check or a sniffer. you can pass a readiness test with a sim, ive heard. the proper fix is to replace the cat if its been condemned.

 

What are the potential problems beside the inability to pass the smog test? Are there any long term problems that could lead to loss of power or gas mileage or even detonation? I'm asking this cuz the price to replace the precat and 02 sensor is well out of my budget. I can't afford it now and maybe not for a while.

 

I drove my car for over 10k miles before I tracked down my P0420 code in a ford truck with zero issues. It was a dirty IAC valve. I know its not a nissan but the codes are universal for all OBDII vehicles

 

I had a P0430 code. I ran about 15 or 20,000 miles with it before it went off, and it went off BY ITSELF. There is a real sensitivity in the computer requirements for the setpoints on the exhaust limits. Apparently as the pre-cat ages it can get outside those limits. Not sure what happened with mine, but I can tell you I really didn't see any harmful effects of running with the code for that long.

Everytime I tried to clear the code it would come back about 500 miles later. Then after a tank of ARCO gas it went off and has since stayed off. I don't stick to ARCO gas any longer, but have yet to see it come back.

As what was said earlier the true fix is to replace the pre-cat and oxygen sensors. However you can get by with an O2 simulator, and yes even pass the smog test. The only thing is you have to ensure your car is warm prior to the test as that is what the pre-cats are designed for.

In case you want, I do have an O2 sensor for the front back. I purchased it thinking I would try replacing it to see if it would help my code issue. My code went off prior to me installing it. It is brand new in the box and I'll give it to you for a good price...shoot me a PM if you are interested.

 

where exactly is this front pre-cat? before the cat is the flex section, before that is the pre-cat which is part of the ypipe?

 

Yes..you are correct. If you have a cali spec car you actually have two pre-cats, one for each bank.

 

i have the same issue ! was this ever resolved ? i need to find a cat bank 2 i am 90% sure that's the issue just hoping for a little reasurance and possibly a after market parts tip off because i don't feel like paying the dealer sh!tloads for it

 

Replace the cat between the engine and the radiator and you're set.

 

lol thats not the bank 2 cat !

 

 

Yes it is.

 

explain !

 

 

mine is a 2000 and i already replaced 02 s2 b1 (white) the problem code is p0430 ! i don't think i need oxygen sensors!

 

Doesn't matter, Bank has been bank 2 since probably before my 4th gen.

And I was just showing you that Bank 2 is indeed what OhOh stated it was, never said you needed O2 sensors, just making the point that Bank 2 is indeed in between your engine and radiator. mmmk?


Search the term Bosal or Eastern on here. Those are 2 viable non-OEM (read: affordable) pre-cat options.

 

About half the (stupidly high) price of OEM, but with questionable fitment... or so went my research before deciding to just gut the OEM precats.

 

Also check the FS are. I sold mine many moons ago, but if I'm not mistaken I saw some. Although it would be rare to find someone putting headers on an 00. Either way, there are options.

Wow, I didn't know they were that much less than OEM.


I'd get headers and be done with it.

 

OK now I'm confused as hell ... my car has 2 pre-cats one really close to exhaust manifold and one close to the oil pan ... then it has a cat right underneath were the shifter column i was just about to order the cat didn't think i needed pre-cat

 

Pre cats = near manifold, main cat (as is referred to around here) = under car, where you said.

P0430 = pre-cat.

 

:/ OK gotcha now that sucks that part is way more expensive ... do you know of any way to get a y-pipe (excluding pre-cats) that wont trow off codes ?

 

Why would you want a y-pipe that doesn't include the pre-cats if pre-cats are your problem?

 

ooo I'm thinking 4th gen ... so headers is the way to go ? or

 

If you only want to get rid of the CEL, the cheapest and easiest... 'fix...' I can think of will cost you around 5 dollars. Buy a pair of spark plug non-foulers and throw them on your secondaries after drilling them with a 1/2 inch drill bit.

If you want to actually fix the problem, the cheapest would be getting headers or replacement cats, definitely not OEM unless used.

 

i just called a local catalytic store specialized in selling cats. he has one for the my i30 he said the fed. emissions doesn't have the precat by the radiator. is this true and can i buy the pre-cat that most of these companies sell that is not allowed to be sold in California and have it work properly like no check engine light ?

 

i have a Cali and fed emissions i30 if i put in a non-carb complaint cat is it going to trow a SES light ?

 

 

lol Cali has stricter emissions so it is going to pass both Cali and fed. that what it says under my hood !
I'm not trying to argue if u don't know if i will trow a light why would u reply

 

man i gave up on this damn code honestly,

gone one week back the next. car has full power fk it cant be bothered