1998 Mazda 626 catalytic converter

Tiny
JOE JENNINGS
  • MEMBER
  • 1998 MAZDA 626
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • MANUAL
  • 165,000 MILES
For the third time in less than a year, the 'Check Engine' light on my Mazda 626 has indicated a problem with the catalytic converter. The first time, last September, I had my service shop (which specializes in Japanese cars) replace it, at a cost of about $350. By January, it had fouled out and the light went on again. The shop replaced it under warranty for free. Now (July) the light has come on again--the same shop is replacing it for free, under warranty, with the highest quality CC they can find, but they want me to sign a release for no more free replacements, only a refund. Before the first replacement, I drove the car (which I bought used) for 3 years with no apparent CC problems. What's wrong? Can I do anything to the fuel mix, etc, to prevent losing this CC as well?

Thanks.

Joe Jennings
Houston TX
Thursday, July 8th, 2010 AT 4:01 PM

1 Reply

Tiny
OBXAUTOMEDIC
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,711 POSTS
Hi Joe,

Thank you for the Donation.

A couple questions.

Does the shop have the ability of test the exhaust gases? If so did they do any tests to determine that it was the cat.

What, if you remember, were the codes?

Did they check to see if the vehicle is running rich. A rich running vehicle will kill a cat pretty quickly.

.
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Thursday, July 8th, 2010 AT 8:24 PM

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