Engine "skips/sputters" after long trips, heat. Bad cats?

[es.biggs]

So I sat in a traffic jam for about an hour last weekend, and the engine started running rough after maybe 30-45 minutes of moving about 500 feet, so idling mostly. It was breaking up, "skip" seems to be the right word here. It wasn't a typical misfire, not as violent as a misfire usually feels. But it would skip every second or so, bouncing the RPM up and down around 600-1000. It has done this once before, after a long cruise around town for maybe an hour to two.

Seems like this is a problem related to the heat resulting from the engine running for a long time. It never happens during my normal commuting, always than 15 miles one way.

I have noticed my armrest, shifter, and transmission tunnel get pretty hot, almost to the point where it's uncomfortable to rest my right leg on the tunnel next to it. It's always been getting warm, since I've gotten the car, but it feels like it is hotter than I remember.

Does this sound like a catalytic converter problem? Maybe it's finally an excuse to get test pipes haha

Also, should be noted that the coolant isn't hotter than normal, my car is definitely not overheating. Fan clutch is fine as well. Compression was great a couple of months ago, spark plugs are 1 year old, injectors are 1.5 years old. Coils are factory as far as I know. The rest of the fuel system is also factory, besides the filter.

[nissanfreak12]

I vote cats are bad. Test pipes FTW!!!!!!






Honestly with it sitting that long idleing, it may honestly be the CTS, but its hard to say. Have you checked for codes?

With the tunnel getting hot, it very well could be the fact there was no airflow to push out the temp the engine and exhaust makes.

[es.biggs]

Is it normal for the tunnel to heat up like that? I wonder if I'm the only one thats feels the heat lol. I need to check for codes, I keep putting it off

[nissanfreak12]

Mine heats up, but I also live in az with no ac(as of yet). But I only drive the car when its below 90 degress. I have a friend that has a 92 as well, and his heats up to not where its unbearable, but it does get quite warm. He also just replaced his cats, and he said his is very noticeable when sitting in traffic. You just have to remember, exhaust gets quite hot, especially when its already hot out. If they are the original, its possible they may retain more heat and not flow as good as when they were new.

FWIW, if you really want to get the test pipes, and you have the money for it, I would do it. just keep the cats so if you do have an inspection for emissions, just pop them back on before you go.

[DCaff300ZX]

Mine did the same with the shifter, and the trans tunnel too hot to put your leg against- all gone with new exhaust and cats, no heat issue at all even in hot weather.
Don't know about your other issue, but the heat is most likely the cats...

[nissanfreak12]

E.S., get test pipes and be done with it.

Im with DCaff, not sure about the other issue. Have you checked your PTU connection for corrosion?