Hi all first time here and Im hoping the experts here can help
Recently purchased a used 2011 Element ex. LOve it! A week after puchasing it from a Nissan dealer the engine light came on. Been back twice for the light and both times its the 02 sensor. They replaced it once and the have to do it again. In the process of buying the element, my father in law who had been an auto mechanic for 30 plus years noticed the cat had been replaced with an aftermarket. We asked and were told that it was stolen along with several others on the lot. They assured me there would be no problem with it. They contracted out the work to a local shop. Well here I am with a problem and they insist its the sensors, not the cat. The gave me no information on who did the work and no paperwork regarding the cat. honda will not cover the cat since its no longer a honda part. I have a 5 year warranty from honda but only a 60 day warranty from the dealer. Now had my father inlaw not noticed the aftermarket cat Im sure they wouldnt have said a word. Kinda shady I think. Is there anything I can do at this pointabout the cat? Im convinced this cat is causing the 02 sensor problem. Im trying to get them to put a honda cat on but they are refusing at this point. What should I do?
Thanks

 

whats the code? Catalyst inefficiency ?

 

Dont know they tell me its the 02 sensor not sure if its upstream or downstream. Seeing as how the made 18000 off of myself and 22000 off my wife a week later when she bought he car at the same place Id think they could atleast replace it wit original equipment. they are using bosch sensors which I hear are crap. id like to resolve this befor the dealer warranty runs out and im replacing a sensor on myown in another two weeks. So far this will be sensor number three.

 

bosche sensors are quite good actually. the problem is likely a shotty cat and not the sensors. if they get a catalyst inefficiency code often they will change the post cat o2 thinking that it reading the exhaust wrong and the cat is fine.

 

Thanks for the info. Im going back next week and they are yet again going to replace the sensor. I will find out which one it is and exactly what the code is. This will be sensor number three. How many will it take before they realize something else is wrong here. It all revolves arond the cat I believe. I feel like they are not giving me a straight answer and as soon as the dealer warranty runs out Im on my own. Im really starting to get angry with this I havent even made my first payment yet. Im gonna talk to the GM at the dealership and demand that it gets fixed and fixed right.

 

check your purchase contract and there might be somewhere that you can back out of buying the vehicle if for some reason they refuse to fix it or whatever. Best of luck.

 

My guess is its P0420 and they keep putting it off because of the expense of a quality catalytic converter. Ask them next time or get the code checked yourself with a scanner or the paper clip method. What state are you in by the way?

 

I live in new jersey. Whats the paper clip method? Has anyone ever had a similar issue with an aftermarket cat?

 

aftermarket cats are notorious for being junk. dont bother with the paper clip method, just go to your nearest automotive store like napa or carquest or whatever and they will scan your car for free.

 

hi Went to auto zone and advanced auto parts and had it tested. Got the code P2A00
aaAF sensor range 11 and possible causes.
0pen or short circuit condition
failed injector or regulator
engine vacuum leak
failed af ratio sensor 11
Could this all be related to the aftermarket cat?

Also sensor 1 bank 1? is this before the cat

 

sensor 1 bank 1 is indeed pre cat. cat has nothing to do with it.

 

That's quite a bit of codes considering you just made the purchase. That dealer should be taking care of you. I would be polite but tell them you don't have time to keep going back there. If they can't take care of it, then tell them to pay another shop to do it.
Last resort, contact a Nissan dealer rep.

 

Im really getting sick of taking it back. Im going to tell them its illegal to with hold info about the catalytic converter and that I want the car fixed or I will contact the BBB and I will call Nissan if its not fixed right.

 

they dont care about the bbb, no one does. lol.

 

Ive been reading about aftermarket cats and the warranty is usually 5 years or 50,000 miles. the dealer is not very forthcoming about any information on the converter such as who made it who installed it and I do not have any warranty info. Honda wont warranty it because its not a factory part. Also there is only a 60 day warranty from the dealer which is fast approaching the end. Any suggestions? Also what makes an air fuel sensor go bad? It was just replaced two weeks ago. Could it be a false reading? Should I have my emissions tested and see if it fails? If it does should I get the dealer to replace the converter?