In Denial - Catalytic Converter Problem
Discussion
Hi Guys
I have an MX-5 Venture hard-top 2012 - which has been running like a dream until....
...after being driven from a nearby town - engine sounded loud and rough passenger-side (left) when revvng and hissing noise from the rear - by the time I reached my place a couple of miles further it was chugging along at 20 mph. It drove OK for the roadside recovery guy for a while but then happened again - plus the amber engine light came on. At first he thought it was the exhaust but he said it was blowing fine ... took it to the closest garage at 20 mph and they diagnosed that the catalytic converter was a right off.
So.. double whammy.. the spare part is 650 GBP (over 800 USD) and second it is currently not available from Japan.
...but the car has a full Mazda service (last done in November 2018) and in the MOT emision test a couple of months ago the HC was 19 ppm (pass rate is 200).
I have just filled it up with super unleaded - 100% certain the right fuel - it states it on the receipt. I thought at first he cap might be crooked but the garage says it was fine.
Any ideas why this could have happened?
I have an MX-5 Venture hard-top 2012 - which has been running like a dream until....
...after being driven from a nearby town - engine sounded loud and rough passenger-side (left) when revvng and hissing noise from the rear - by the time I reached my place a couple of miles further it was chugging along at 20 mph. It drove OK for the roadside recovery guy for a while but then happened again - plus the amber engine light came on. At first he thought it was the exhaust but he said it was blowing fine ... took it to the closest garage at 20 mph and they diagnosed that the catalytic converter was a right off.
So.. double whammy.. the spare part is 650 GBP (over 800 USD) and second it is currently not available from Japan.
...but the car has a full Mazda service (last done in November 2018) and in the MOT emision test a couple of months ago the HC was 19 ppm (pass rate is 200).
I have just filled it up with super unleaded - 100% certain the right fuel - it states it on the receipt. I thought at first he cap might be crooked but the garage says it was fine.
Any ideas why this could have happened?
Thanks - Yeh, I was going to suggest that they track down a used one until the cause is figured out. They still cost a bit but the materials will be the same.
The engine has been getting quite hot lately - it has only done 40 K so the sparkplugs were not replaced at the last service just checked. Mazda recommends they are changed at the 5 year service - perhaps this could have sparked off (scuse pun) the problem? I read that if they are not firing properly the fuel is not burned and remains sitting on top of the cat and this causes it to overheat and eventually disintegrate.
The engine has been getting quite hot lately - it has only done 40 K so the sparkplugs were not replaced at the last service just checked. Mazda recommends they are changed at the 5 year service - perhaps this could have sparked off (scuse pun) the problem? I read that if they are not firing properly the fuel is not burned and remains sitting on top of the cat and this causes it to overheat and eventually disintegrate.
so... my 2012 MX5 2.0 is back with its new catalytic converter AND the same fault
Seems it was not the catalytic converter after all
Any ideas? overheating engine - amber engine warning light - not revving at high speeds - loud engine left-hand side - occasional strange whishing noise. It drove OK at low speeds when I first got it back (although the exhaust has a new gurgling sound) but as soon as you go up the speedometer - hissy fit.
Spark plugs maybe? Could it be a problem with the fuel - I filled up just before it started but 100% sure I used super unleaded.
Any Mazda mechanics near Frome, Somerset? Mazda garages seem to be a rare species round here.
Seems it was not the catalytic converter after all
Any ideas? overheating engine - amber engine warning light - not revving at high speeds - loud engine left-hand side - occasional strange whishing noise. It drove OK at low speeds when I first got it back (although the exhaust has a new gurgling sound) but as soon as you go up the speedometer - hissy fit.
Spark plugs maybe? Could it be a problem with the fuel - I filled up just before it started but 100% sure I used super unleaded.
Any Mazda mechanics near Frome, Somerset? Mazda garages seem to be a rare species round here.
Thanks, yeh, I need those codes read I guess - it starts OK so that probably eliminates quite a few things but it seems quite a complex car and its just a load of speculation otherwise but it has been reliable as hell up until now.
There was a bit of a heatwave on the day it started - I had the top down but the air-con fan was on without the light being lit - never noticed that before but suppose that didn't help - thought it only worked if you pressed it and the light was lit.
I will figure out how to get it to the nearest Mazda garage for the code reading somehow - even if I have to push it
There was a bit of a heatwave on the day it started - I had the top down but the air-con fan was on without the light being lit - never noticed that before but suppose that didn't help - thought it only worked if you pressed it and the light was lit.
I will figure out how to get it to the nearest Mazda garage for the code reading somehow - even if I have to push it
Hi, thanks - I will definitely do that - probably would be wise to eliminate all the less expensive causes first - it is difficult when you are in a situation where you do not know what the problem is - risk local garage or an expensive haul to closest Mazda dealer. So probably wise to check all the obvious stuff first before the expensive haul/repair. Thanks, that sounds like a possibility
Hi, thanks for asking - after taking it for a run, the local garage wasn't sure what it was but was pretty confident that it would make it to the Mazda dealer 17 miles away in Bath without any further damage - anyway I chugged it down there the other day. The cat is OK but not fitted properly so they are going to take it apart and put it back together again next week. They said the engine warning light was for the blowback on the exhaust - the engine still sounds loud and awful on the passenger side with no power - just like before the cat was fitted but there is now an occasional moo from the exhaust. The guy in the Mazda garage was certain there was nothing major wrong with the engine though and said it was OK to drive - he thought that once the cat was fitted properly it might be OK but he couldn't say for certain.
Hi guys - sorry to resurrect this post but I just wanted to thank you for your help.
My MX5 was only fixed properly a couple of weeks ago after taking it to M-tech as suggested by you guys - had I not done that I am pretty certain I would have still have had problems and spent piles more cash on it.
Now the engine sounds beautiful and no engine warning lights - so a big thanks to all the people that responded to this post.
My MX5 was only fixed properly a couple of weeks ago after taking it to M-tech as suggested by you guys - had I not done that I am pretty certain I would have still have had problems and spent piles more cash on it.
Now the engine sounds beautiful and no engine warning lights - so a big thanks to all the people that responded to this post.
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 
). 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
). 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 Yeh, it certainly is useful looking through the internet beforehand - knowledge is power 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
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
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