Wife set of Check Engine light again

[mjbauman]

So it never happens to me, but today the wife calls me to say the Check Engine light came on again. This time only a couple weeks after the last time, same code PO430. I just replaced bank two O2 sensor two weeks ago when this code came up. I have new cats on both banks, although I got cheap aftermarkets. My indy told me the first time this code came up (couple months ago) that cheap aftermarket cats will do this, no big deal. Is it bad to just clear light and keep going? Will it cause engine problems or anything else if I keep doing this? Should I go back to muffler guy where I got both cats replaced in the last 6 months and complain? I would rather deal with clearing lights than spend $3000 on OEM cats....
I noticed both cats have cheap metal wrapped around that rattles easily (old cats didn't have anything like this). Seems like when it warms up it's fine but rattles when first driving. damn lights..... anybody got any ideas?

[ZeroR2]

Which Cats did you intall (manufacture & model)? You need to get the model #. I know muffler shops love to put on universal cats that sometimes are not OBDII compliant and I think they will cause to trigger the CEL.

[BimmerBreaker]

Isnt there a little "CWL" illuminated underneath the corner of your eyelid?

I think you need to take your wife in for repairs.

[16valex]

Ha ha! I love this thread. Nobody believes me but Gumbi, I bought an after-market DEC CATs for the wife's 528. I can drive this car for weeks w/o throwing codes, but as soon as the wife turns the corner here comes CEL the dreaded CAT efficiency code.

But anyways OP, we've been driving with this code forever now and there's no side effect, the post CAT O2 sensors have no feed back whatsoever to the DME.

I've been checking and resetting it once a month just to make sure there's no other codes behind it.

[BrandonWA]

Its all that carbon build up from them driving the cars like a grandma :rolleyes

[mjbauman]

yea, that's the 4th time in the last 6 months that she's brought me my car with the light on, this time she was scared that I was gonna be pissed but I wasn't (wasn't happy either tho). I don't know how she drives but when I drive it feels great, gobs of power and it never throws a code. My e39 is has a lot in common with my wife. it's sexy, an absolute blast, but it also can frustrate the hell out of me.
I cleared the light and flew up the canyon tonight, savoring the V8 BLAST :buttrock

[Petes540i6]

Clear the code and move on with life, or buy quality cats and have them put in. I recommend the former.