Och

iTrader: (3)

Straight pipes, and I know a shop in Brooklyn that will get u passed inspection sticker

Rock-a-Lex

iTrader: (4)

Cliff, since it is a PO430 code which has to do with the catalytic converter is it "safe" to say that if it is an O2 sensor it is an O2 sensor on the exhaust side (rear; post cat)?

Doesn't our car have a total of four O2 sensors; 2 up front and 2 on the exhaust side?

Och

iTrader: (3)

Its could be that one of your cats is blown, and one of your secondary oxygen sensors is triggering the CEL because it is detecting excessive emissions, or the sensor itself is malfunctioning and triggers the CEL. Most likely its the sensor.

And since its the secondary sensor, I wouldn't spend ~$150 for OEM, you can buy a cheap generic one for $50 at oxygensensors.com, and it will be easier to replace too, because instead of trying to disconnect the plug you will just cut and splice the wires. If I am correct, the plug for these O2 sensors is somewhere under the carpet on the interior of the car, so its difficult to access.

Rock-a-Lex

iTrader: (4)

Och...thanks for your replies. Is their an OEM direct replacement "with" the connectors so it's just a plug 'n' play? I'd like to find a place on the inernet where I can purchase this O2 sensor for a reasonable price and then just hand it over to my local mechanic and have them install it for me. I'm not into ripping up the carpet on my car...somthing tells me that if I do it, it will never look the same. lol

GSteg

iTrader: (15)

Buy OEM o2 sensors. Those aftermarket ones will tend to fail after 2-3 years. it's expensive, but it sure beats replacing them continuously. I tried going the cheap route with some of the cars I have and in the end, it end up costing more because I had to buy OEM plugs.

Rock-a-Lex

iTrader: (4)

Well...I went to the website; alloxygensensors.com and I'm about to pull the trigger on buying all new (4) oxygen sensors; the Denso OEM ones. The total comes to $422. Is it overkill to buy all of them brand new? I keep hearing from people that it is the 2 fronts that effect the performance and gas mileage of the car (which I think has been my problem for a LONG time) but I think my current PO430 code might have something to do with one or both of my after-cat O2 sensors. So I was thinking of just having all of them replaced. I am keeping the car for at least another 2-3 years...is it worth it?

GSteg

iTrader: (15)

if your local shop has one of those snap on analyzers, they're able to tell which o2 sensor is failing. Most failing sensors will read lean when its failing, so that way the engine can run rich. Better rich than lean.

GSoup

^^^ +1
I would only replace the bad O2 sensor(s).

You may want to check here for better pricing on the Denso 02 sensors.

http://www.sparkplugs.com

Och

iTrader: (3)

If your primary sensors were bad, you would get a performance decreace, not just a CEL. I hear from many people that O2 sensors get "lazy" with time, and its a good idea to replace them every 100k regardles of whether they throw a CEL. I dont know if thats true, but I'm about to do that on my GS.

Rock-a-Lex

iTrader: (4)

...man, you are the BEST! You just saved me $112 bucks!!! I found all four OEM Denso's for $310! I think I might say the hell with it and get all four brand new..thanks again C.