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2000 Infiniti I30 trouble code OBDII P0430 service engine soon light is on

In my Infinity I30 this car had the warning light "Service Engine Soon" light stays on for a few days then goes off for another few, then back on and off again. I had it diagnosed and it turned out the problem was trouble code P0430 Bank 2. I was told it may need a new catalytic converter. The technician is asking too much money to fix it. How complicated is it to replace the catalytic converter? Is it a job that I can do myself? Any special tools or skills required? Also I've been looking for catalytic converters on the Internet but most of them do not ship to California. Why is that?
Answer:

OBD II Trouble P0430 indicates your Infinity I30 has detected the Catalyst System Efficiency Below Threshold (Bank 2). P0430 is fairly common on Infinity and indicates a defective Catalytic Converter; more so when the vehicle has high mileage. At times P0430 could also be falsely triggered due to a defective rear oxygen sensor. The rear oxygen sensor is installed to monitor the Catalytic Converter efficiency. The process which triggers this trouble code is a simple internal test which measures emissions input and output through the Catalytic Converter. If the system notices there is no or little reduction of emissions after the CAT (in Bank 2), it will set trouble code P0430. Replacing the CAT will require heavy tools. We recommend this job be left to a professional, whether that be a smog check repair technician or muffler shop (working under the direction of a smog technician). California law allows a CAT replacement only after all other faults have been explored and repaired. And as for shipping CATs to California... Most inexpensive catalytic converter you'll find online are not authorized for sale in California. CAT manufactures have to pay additional taxes and undergo California specific testing in order to be allowed to sell and ship their products to California. The inexpensive CAT manufacturers will not pay the additional expense. posted by SmogTips Support

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