FG Y33 Cat failure...

[Wiggler]

Hey guys,

I was was wondering if the use of 89 octane "mid grade" over a period of 70,000 miles might prematurely wear out the catalytic converter... I just got a P0430 and the previous owner claimed the car did well on 89 pump gas. I've only had it for 4,000 miles since last summer when I bought it at 96,400 and I've only been using premium. If I end up having to replace it, will an aftermarket CAT be sufficient? A new OEM one sets me back $1100. My Jap import mechanic tells me it really won't affect the car that much even if I don't replace it, and emissions testing isn't done where I live... but I'd like to get it done all the same. Can JOE BLOW muffler shop come through for me?
Maxwich old pal... have any thoughts?

[Q451990]

I think they normally fail due to running rich, but I'm sure there are other failure modes. A lower octane fuel might account for this, because the ECU will increase the fuel in the fuel mixture if spark knock is detected - which is what the higher octane fuel is supposed to prevent. If your knock sensors are bad, the ECU will go to "max protect" settings anyhow - so that's another place to check.

Heath

[Wiggler]

So the P0430 code is referring to which CAT? the driver or the passenger side? I did replace the downstream O2 sensor on passenger side with non-OEM... figured it might work... could that also be a culprit for the CAT reading bad if it is the passenger side??
Knock sensors are shot anyway... just been driving it because there's no CEL for that... just lose a little power. I definitely think the previous chump that owned it did that due to the lower octane gas he was putting in. Seems like an arduous task to replace them, but PJ has the thread with pictures, I might give it a shot since I got another daily driver. Probably might take me a month to get it right when everyone else gets it done in a few days.. I think the hardest part will be to keep all the hoses matched up to their ports properly... how much do OEM KS cost?

[Q451990]

So the P0430 code is referring to which CAT?

It's the right (passenger) side code. Check out your car's factory service manual (FSM) at www.nicoclub.com/FSM/

EC-285 is the page that shows the diagnostics for this code.

Bad gas won't cause knock sensor failure... they're just microphones that listen for certain frequency sounds (knock). OEM knock sensors cost about $100 each I think?

Heath