02max 77k have driven several miles, weeks. Eachtime, My CAT will not get ready. It has passed every smog for years, but this time no. A few months back my check engine light came on with a P0430 but then when back off and the code went away. Can someone help me, Smog test is such a PITA especially when your car runs like brand new with no issues.

 

Page 347 begins the work flow for P0430 in the Factory Service Manual

https://www.my4dsc.com/nissan-info/f...e-manuals-fsm/

 

The P0430 came and went away, has not came back at all.. Are you saying that my cat could be bad?

 

I pass with no cats. And what state are you from, NY for instance can have 2 not readys

 

SOOOOOOO.... To be clear... You CURRENTLY have NO codes. Just a cat not ready?

Then follow these instructions:

http://lyberty.com/car/drive-cycle_maxima.html

Yes it says 96, I followed it on my 2003 and I got all readys very quickly..... Except Evap.... Kept doing that part over and over again, i assume it's different on 02/03s..... Either way in TX we're allowed one not ready so I was good to go.

 

Cats are junk as we all know, so it's probably borderline. It won't trigger a code, but it's not passing, either. Precats have to go, regardless, if you value the car (google nissan precat failure lol).

If you're not in a brain dead state that does visual inspections, then defoulers will pass you just fine, but they need deleted unless you wanna blow a lot of money on quality replacements.

 

The first thing we need to know is what state you live in as it affects our recommendations.

 

Getting the cat in Ready status especially with that code is usually a o2 sensor issue swap it out and do the Quick Run to set the monitors.

 

All are required here

 

CA smog

 

Based on your first post, I suspected as much. One part is passing the visual inspection, and this means all cats must be in place, as you are aware. Other states have it easy in comparison.

 

Had the same CA smog problem. Need to perform a drive cycle to get the cats ready for smog.

 

I just pulled two new codes with my scanner after check engine light came on today P0139 and p1147 which refer to the same 02 sensor, still no P0430 but the cat is not ready. Is this a common problem? could it be the O2 sensor and the cat?

 

Could it be a bad 02 sensor thats making my cat impossible to get ready? I have done several drive cycles today exactly as stated in the manual, and my check engine light came on for a downstream sensor.

 

I’d start with replacing that bad O2 sensor.

 

I thought about it, just waiting for my catalyst to get ready so Ill know if it's worth it or not. If it needs a sensor and a new pre cat, the repairs would cost more than the cars worth. The only sign I recognize of a bad 02 sensor is bad mpg.

 

What I think the other members are stating is that the CAT will become ready more easily once a new O2 sensor is installed and of course a few proper drive cycles.

 

Just change the o2 sensor.the monitor will never set if either the built in heater circuit or the sensor itself is failing. The Cat can be defective but its the sensor in your case unless you can see that the substrate has deteriorated or is burnt up and has shrunk inside you can tell when you remove the sensor and look inside with a flashlight.

 

Currently looking into that, and the tools required, also whether I need to have a mechanic do this or not. I have never changed an o2 sensor. Im not doubting that it needs changing since the sensor that is causing the 0139 and 1147 is completely black.

 

That is bank 1 sensor 2 right? One of the easier O2s to change. Just need a jack, jack stands, and an O2 opener. If you don't have that then a 22 wrench or vice grips to get it off. I used this picture to help me

 

Yes, I am thinking of doing this myself, the video I watched made it seem more complex. Only have a jack. I would need to order the remover. Did you run into any issues removing the sensor?

 

Nope. For that sensor it was pretty straight-forward. Only problem I had was the amount oil around there. I had an oil leak that got fixed but the excess oil didn't get cleaned off. I don't know what video you watched but it's simply disconnecting the clip from the top. Then you wrench out the o2 sensor and pull the wire down. There are parts where the wire is clipped in. Mine were easy to rip off. I installed new o2 sensor and ran the wire up. Took maybe 10 minutes.

 

Are you referring to oil on the sensor itself? Mines looks drenched in oil. I have a leak somewhere around there as well

bank 1 sensor 2

 

That might be why it's bad.

 

Cats are junk as we all know, so it's probably borderline. It won't trigger a code, but it's not passing, either. Precats have to go..


Nox Vidmate VLC

 

Yes. Mine wasn't drenched in oil but I assumed the oil contributed to mine going out. If your changing the sensor, be sure to fix or get the leak fixed. I believe mine was the rear valve cover gasket.

 

Im honesty just trying to get pass smog right now. The fact that this particular sensor has absolutely nothing to do with anything other than monitoring a cat is frustrating, and holding up my tags.