SES Light On with code P0403 (2000 I30)

[i30tguy]

The SES light came on about a year ago with 130K and the code read P0403, so I took it to my mechanic and he just simply erased it for me. Then i drove another 3K and the light came back on so I did the same thing again, I got it erased. Then I drove about 5K and light came back on and I did the same thing again and got it erased. But this time, after driving about 50 Miles or so light came back again and has the same code P0403 with reads "Catalytic Efficiency Low." What does that mean and what will I have to do in order to have it fixed?

Thanks.Car: 2000 Infiniti I30t with 139,000 Miles.

[MinisterofDOOM]

Actually, P0403 is "EGR colume control valve circuit." P0430 is the catalyst efficiency code.

Your EGR valve probably needs to be cleaned or replaced.

[i30tguy]

Hey Thanks a lot for the reply man and you were right the code is actaully P0430. So it says "Catalytic efficiency below threshold." I recently called my local Infiniti Dealer and the service advisor told me that it can be the catalytic converter or he can try reprogramming my ECU for $145 and that can probably fix the problem. Do you think I should go for this? Could it also be that one of my oxyzen sensors may be bad. He quoted me $1600 for the catalytic converter .

Another things that is really wierd is that I read online that if the converter is bad on the car then its supposed run like crap, but my car is running great man. The performance is still great and my fuel economy hasn't changed a bit I still get like 23MPG combined.

Thanks.

Modified by i30tguy at 3:27 AM 9/15/2009
Modified by i30tguy at 3:28 AM 9/15/2009

[MinisterofDOOM]

Yeah, the most likely culprit is a bad oxygen sensor. P0430 is specific to bank 2 (front) so I'd check those O2 sensors first.

[i30tguy]

SOLVED

So I took it to the dealer and first they tried reprogramming the ECU for no good reason and when it didn't work they were sure that it was a bad Catalytic Converter and wanted $1,800 to fix, so I told them to go F*** themselves and went to a muffler shop and got it done for $400. Drove the car almost 800 miles and everything seems ok.