1998 Pathfinder Red Cats

[CTAINE]

We have a 1998 Nissan Pathfinder 4x4 that we have replaced many parts on here is a list of the parts:

Spark plugs and wires
Distributor
camshaft sensor
crankshaft sensor
2 new catylatic converters
Idle Air Control valve
Evap canister
Evap canister valve
Cleaned out the black charcoal from the hoses

So, now I need to know what is causing the cats to get RED HOT and you have to still push down hard for the Pathfinder to accelerate. Please help!!!

Ctaine

[Towncivilian]

Is your service engine soon light on or blinking? Misfiring will cause excess fuel to enter the cats and will damage them greatly.

How many miles are on your Pathfinder?

Welcome to NICO.

[CTAINE]

Thank you for responding;

Yes the engine light has been on for some time we taken it to the shop several times (different shops including the Nissan dealer) They had no idea why the light is on and said some cars it will just stay on???

It's not misfiring that we know of anyways. There are 168,000 miles on this pathfinder.

[Towncivilian]

Can you get codes pulled at an auto parts store and post them here?

Was the timing belt replaced around 105k miles?

[CTAINE]

No we can not drive it to auto parts store. I did rent a coding machine last week and it coded P0505 Idle air control system and we already replaced the Idle Air Control Valve. The timing was done already!!

[Buzzman]

Yes the engine light has been on for some time we taken it to the shop several times (different shops including the Nissan dealer) They had no idea why the light is on and said some cars it will just stay on???

"some cars it just stays on"? What a cop-out by the shop/dealership.
There's always a reason why the light is on. Maybe it's time to seek out a different shop.

[Chuck Tribolet]

Red hot cats is a bad misfire. Let's say that one plug isn't firing for some reason. The gas and O2 for that cylinder are burned by the cat, which is designed for a very little bit of unburned hydrocarbons, not 1/6 of the fuel. I'd run your truck just
a minute or so, then quickly pull the plugs and sniff them for a gas odor or one that looks different.

Zora Arkus-Duntov burned a prototype Corvette at Pike's Peak this way. He thought he was out of gas, so he coasted down the mountain on engine braking. He wasn't out of gas, and all the fuel was combusting in the the hot cats. When he stopped, the vette caught fire.