Well, the CEL came on. I went to autozone and got the P0420 code indicating an O2 sensor problem. The diagnostic gave 4 reasons as to the cause but wasn't definitive. I ended up going to the dealership and they found out that the Right cat converter is bad. They told me it was warranted to up to 80,800 miles. I bought this car about a month ago with 88K miles. The part cost like $900 and labor was quoted at $675. Needless to say, I left and didn't get it done. What are my options guys? I thought of replacing the y-pipe anyway with a cattman, but wouldn't I still need the the precats or does the y-pipe eliminate them? I've been searching for for better views of the y pipe and information on this cat. I also included a picture from courtesyparts.com with the converter circled.

 

I thought dealers usually covered most items on used car purchases in such a short time, the pre-cat did not go bad in the month you had it, maybe you should call Nissan, or see the head guy of sales or the general manager, thats just an F-up way to treat someone that just bought a car.

 

I'll try that. Thanks.

 

car-part.com?

I'm not 100% sure, but i think that Cattman offers his 6th gen Y-pipes w/ and w/o precats. Maybe i'm wrong

 

Is the Nissan emissions warranty not 7 yrs 100K miles or some **** like that? Either way if you just bought the car they should fix it, don't back down.

 

My understanding is the same as Taz'. Try calling another dealership to discuss. I recently noticed a rubber brake line starting to leak. One dealership said no way it was covered, another said sure bring it in we'll replace it under warranty.

CM

 

I called four dealerships two in town and two out of town. All of the said it's covered up to 80K miles. Looks like I'll be giving Brian at Cattman a call. Since the right precat was bad but the O2 sensor is good, I shouldn't have any issues with the y-pipe if it replaces the pre-cat. I need to discuss that setup with him.

 

From this thread: http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=408579

Looks like a replacement for OEM #SEC200, which is definately not the precats.

 

Did they tell you in what manner the precat failed? Also the pre-cat is not the cat in the Y-pipe, there are two pre-cats. Our cars have a total of 3 catalytic converters. The precats are on the exhaust manifolds that come off the engine.

I've seen where they have melted, and clog up the exhaust. You don't need them for the car to run but you definitely don't want them clogging up your exhaust output. As far as warrant goes, I also understood it to be 80k. I would push to get them to replace it anyway. What mileage did you buy it at?

Okay, I see you bought it at 88k and what are you at now for mileage?

 

Yeah at 88k I see why they'd say no to warranty. Maybe scrapyard time? Have it put in at the same time the Y pipe is getting installed, so you should save a bit of labour there.

CM

 

I might have to go to car-parts. I tried pushing them but to no avail. I'll call the dealer that did the diagnostic to see how it failed before I order one from car-parts. The car's performance hasn't been hindered in anyway during all of ths. I did notice the light a few days after I got an oil change, so I don't know if that played a role into it. I'm thinking of resetting the ECU and seeing if it comes back as well.

Diagnostic from Nissan:
P0420 Right TW Catalyst Failed
Consult Test Needs TW Catalyst Right Side

 

How much are they asking at car parts.com?

 

One place I called by accident was in canada and said $325 shipped. However, I'll have to call more U.S. places tomorrow since it memorial day today and no one was picking up at the various auto parts locations.

 

I'd still ***** like crazy to the dealership you bought the car from, no way in hell am I going to pay for a repair like that 30 days into vehicle ownership unless I bought the car privately.

And to the discussion about getting the Y pipe...... the y pipe only deletes the down stream cat, NOT the precat

 

Wow $325 shipped is pretty good for a brand new pre-cat. Keep us posted.

 

Thats probably not brand new as most things on that site are from used autos.

 

Update: I was able to get one from a place in KY for $88 shipped! I'm thinking I should take the plunge and get the y pipe as well. Cattman is the only option from what I've been seeing?

 

Cattman Y-pipe is a very good option. I just got one about a month ago. Love it.

 

Spoke to soon. The placed I ordered it from called me back to say they didn't have it. The search continues. I talked to Brian at Cattman and he said the new headers he's working on would replace the 2 precats

 

Replace them or omit them? You could always just punch out the cat material so it doesn't get sucked back up into the engine for now. Then wait for the headers, maybe your car can pass emissions with one pre-cat and the Y pipe cat.

 

Funny thing though is the CEL disappeared yesterday after getting my spark plugs changed along with a oil change using the AMSOIL 10w30 and OEM oil filter (I did this primarily to get rid of that notorious tapping noise on startup due to oil primer pump). The mechanic said drive around and see if the CEL comes back before ordering a pre-cat off of car-parts. Brian said the header and y pipe combo would be around $800. My thing is that the install for headers would be in the hundreds. My mechanic said he'd install a y-pipe and replace the pre-cat for $100. I wish this CEL would make up it's mind already.

 

If you punched it out, you would need to remove it, not too easy, but it would still pass emissions depending on if you still had a main cat in place.

Replacing it and adding a y-pipe for 100$ =

Brian's system = X10e^2

 

Just wait for the headers. They may be coming sooner than ya think . . . .

 

Seems like with the headers, one would need anO2 sensor simulator anyway since they eliminate both pre cats.

 

Can the car pass emissions without pre-cats and the with the cat in Y-pipe?

 

Depending on how your area tests. As long as the main cat is in place and the car is warmed up.

This might help:
http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=562608

You should be fine without simming your secondaries. And you do not want to sim your primaries.

 

True. Just curious as to how the sensors would pick up the gases from the engine without the two pre cats there. Brian did mention something about relocating them to the B-pipe. Hopefully, my O2 sensor behaves until the headers come out I hate that sinking feeling when I get in and it reappears. I'll have to way the financial costs of these options.

 

Okay, I was typing too fast, I meant to say: Can the car pass emissions without pre-cats and the without the cat in Y-pipe?

 

I don't think it's possible. Brian was telling me that the header and y-pipe combo would have a high performance cat in the y-pipe. As of right now, the y-pipe with a cat that he sells costs $200 more than the regular y pipe.

 

No cats = no pass.

 

Here's a quick, dirt cheap remedy:
Port out a spark plug antifouler with a drill and screw it between the O2 sensor and the insertion point on the y-pipe. What this does is it causes the O2 sensor to run a tad cooler, which in turn fools it into thinking your cat is functional. I did this trick on my Eclipse that is running catless and no light in 10k miles!

 

I got my right precat replaced with a used one. The P0420 code is gone. However, as soon as my y-pipe and precat installed I got a P1283 A/F sensor code on the Front(Left Precat). I changed the part out with one from Nissan, cost me $160 plus $40 install at a local mechanic. The CEL went away and came back with the same code. I'm tired of dealing with CELs for the past month since I got this car. The mechanic ended up taking the car to Nissan since he knew the guy their who programs the ECUs. He reprogrammed it and the light went away. The mechanic told me to ride for a little while after the light came on since the ECU might take some time to relearn and the CEL may eventually go away. If that doesn't work then I should replace the used precat with a brand new one instead of the one I got from car-parts with an unknown number of miles. It's weird since the code is for Sensor 1 bank 2 on the front precat. The Nissan tech noted that this problem with A/F sensors and precat issues is very common on 3.5L engine, especially the maxima.

 

Sorry to hear about these issues. How much was the used pre-cat vs new? Will the give you your money back?

 

Nissan federal emissions warranty is 8year 80k miles... not a mile or minute more.

 

I feel your pain, man

However, have you checked out any of these TSB's regarding DTC P1283?

http://x.nissanhelp.com/forums/Knowl...p=10&keyid=307

 

The used precat was $150 and came with the stock rear header and O2 sensor. I used my old one which was good since I didn't know how this cat converter was stored. I signed up for that website yesterday; I'm still awaiting their registration confirmation email. The consensus from the nissan tech and the mechanic was that any A/F sensor can cause a sensor at another location to go off.

 

i know this is 4 months after the last post.. but you might want to check out partstrain.com for a new pre cat.. i just ordered one.. (bank 1 or right precat for my 2000 maxima) and it's $298 shipped.. brand new eastern cataliyic pre cat...

hope this helps