In Denial - Catalytic Converter Problem

In Denial - Catalytic Converter Problem

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MazdaSue

Original Poster:

24 posts

56 months

Friday 22nd November 2019
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yeh, it was definitely the cat in the end - both cats were replaced because the second one was choked up by the debris from the first one (kerching frown ). The engine ran OK after that - it could accelerate with power but the engine warning light refused to stay out and the revs were a bit erratic. The code was P2096, which roughly means the fuel ratio was too lean. There was some talk about changing the two O2 sensors that go in and out of the first cat in the manifold (roughly another 700 GBP) with no guarantee that the light would stay out. There was another suggestion that the replacement manifold cat could need calibrating because it wasn't a genuine spare part. At that point I took it to M-tech and they were pretty adamant that the manifold cat was rubbish and calibrating it was a waste of time because the car would not perform that well with it there - so it had a transplant with the genuine part and now it's good as new - no engine warning lights - no strange vacuum noises - stable revs - great acceleration - quiet engine smile

drgoatboy

1,611 posts

206 months

Saturday 23rd November 2019
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MazdaSue said:
yeh, it was definitely the cat in the end - both cats were replaced because the second one was choked up by the debris from the first one (kerching frown ). The engine ran OK after that - it could accelerate with power but the engine warning light refused to stay out and the revs were a bit erratic. The code was P2096, which roughly means the fuel ratio was too lean. There was some talk about changing the two O2 sensors that go in and out of the first cat in the manifold (roughly another 700 GBP) with no guarantee that the light would stay out. There was another suggestion that the replacement manifold cat could need calibrating because it wasn't a genuine spare part. At that point I took it to M-tech and they were pretty adamant that the manifold cat was rubbish and calibrating it was a waste of time because the car would not perform that well with it there - so it had a transplant with the genuine part and now it's good as new - no engine warning lights - no strange vacuum noises - stable revs - great acceleration - quiet engine smile
Sounds like an unfortunate turn of events, expensive too!
Glad you got it sorted cool

rovermorris999

5,195 posts

188 months

Wednesday 27th November 2019
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With things like sensors and cats I think it's always best to stick to OEM.

Revisitph

983 posts

186 months

Friday 29th November 2019
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Good to know about M-tech and your positive experiences with them.

Main dealer said they'd never heard of my scuttle grommets issue (lucky I'd researched on the web beforehand and so was able to give them the likely diagnosis and solution which was correct in that case - obviously going on the web doesn't always give the answer). May well go to Westbury for servicing etc instead, especially if I have FI fitted next year as is the plan.

MazdaSue

Original Poster:

24 posts

56 months

Friday 29th November 2019
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Yeh, it certainly is useful looking through the internet beforehand - knowledge is power smile I found quite a few Mazda posts (not necessarily MX5s) with new cats and the same error code - I shall definitely stick with genuine if available from now on.

Really wish I'd known about M-tech when I first broke down - the main dealer in Bath is not so bad though but I guess they are more used to servicing newer cars, etc smile