Hi guys. My wife drives a 98 Accord LX (4-cyl 5-spd).
Last June, while moving to California, the check engine light came on. It first happened at 11,000' up in the rockies, so I figured it was some altitude related problem. I did, however, pull the trouble code, which told me "catalyst system efficiency below threshold" (this being just miles after my cat warranty was up)
I reset the light, and didn't see it again for a month. Same code, reset it again. Then the light would come on every 2-3 weeks. During this time, I had to go through the California emissions test. It passed with flying colors. Not even a little close to failing. Hydrocarbons barely registered (98 Accord is a "low emissions vehicle").
Eventually, the light started coming on every week, then a couple times per week, and now it is coming on pretty much every 2 or 3 drive cycles! It is driving me crazy to have to pull the fuse to reset the light every 2 or 3 times I drive it.
I called the local Honda dealer. They said they'd put it on their computer and charge me $70 to tell me what I already know (catalyst system efficiency below threshold), and that it would cost $1000 to replace the cat! What a ripoff! I'm not going to pay $1k to replace a cat that already gets me past emissions! Of course, the dealership isn't interested in finding any other cause for this problem when they can sell me a part for $1k and spend 20 minutes installing it. There is sort of a conflict of interests there.
Also, since I live in California now, I can only legally purchase an OEM cat (if that is even the problem).
Now, my first inclination would be to say it is a sensor problem, like one of the O2 sensors. However, they have their OWN trouble codes, so one of those codes would probably come up if the sensor was the problem. Are there any sensors that DON'T generate trouble codes (MAF?)???
I appreciate any advice. I basically have no options right now other than ignoring the problem or throwing money at it that probably won't even fix it.
Last June, while moving to California, the check engine light came on. It first happened at 11,000' up in the rockies, so I figured it was some altitude related problem. I did, however, pull the trouble code, which told me "catalyst system efficiency below threshold" (this being just miles after my cat warranty was up)
I reset the light, and didn't see it again for a month. Same code, reset it again. Then the light would come on every 2-3 weeks. During this time, I had to go through the California emissions test. It passed with flying colors. Not even a little close to failing. Hydrocarbons barely registered (98 Accord is a "low emissions vehicle").
Eventually, the light started coming on every week, then a couple times per week, and now it is coming on pretty much every 2 or 3 drive cycles! It is driving me crazy to have to pull the fuse to reset the light every 2 or 3 times I drive it.
I called the local Honda dealer. They said they'd put it on their computer and charge me $70 to tell me what I already know (catalyst system efficiency below threshold), and that it would cost $1000 to replace the cat! What a ripoff! I'm not going to pay $1k to replace a cat that already gets me past emissions! Of course, the dealership isn't interested in finding any other cause for this problem when they can sell me a part for $1k and spend 20 minutes installing it. There is sort of a conflict of interests there.
Also, since I live in California now, I can only legally purchase an OEM cat (if that is even the problem).
Now, my first inclination would be to say it is a sensor problem, like one of the O2 sensors. However, they have their OWN trouble codes, so one of those codes would probably come up if the sensor was the problem. Are there any sensors that DON'T generate trouble codes (MAF?)???
I appreciate any advice. I basically have no options right now other than ignoring the problem or throwing money at it that probably won't even fix it.
