Hello. I just bought a 08 Nissan Maxima with 100k miles from a Dealer. Not two weeks have passed and the service engine light comes on. I took it to my mechanic and we got the code p0420. The catalytic converter by the Firewall went bad. So here is my question. When i bought the car it said smog ready. But two weeks later the cat goes out. Is it possible to pass smog with a bad Catalytic converter. Do i have any action in demanding they change out the cat for saying it was smog ready. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

 

This is a tough situation. The warranty on emissions/smog items is 8 years or 80,000 miles. That warranty has expired. So it depends on whether you bought the car "as is" or whether you got a warranty. Look at your sales papers. If you bought the car "as is", you are on your own. But go talk to the dealer and see.

If the check engine light is on for any reason, you will automatically fail the inspection in most states. As far as actually passing the emissions check, the main catalytic converter will (if it is OK) keep the emissions levels in check as long as the car has been driven several miles to heat it up.