I just had a bit of work done, and looks like i'll need more, no surprise there haha. code p0430 looks like bad catalytic converter? I'm not ready to spend more right now, and want to get a new radiator installed though. can I put a few thousand miles on it? or am I going to hurt something? or ruin fuel economy? with this code is it usually necessary to replace the whole Y pipe/cat assembly as well as the post cat O2 sensors?
trying to hold off a few months on this if it's not a bad idea

thanks!

 

The CAT convertor may have gotten wrecked due to too much unburned gas getting into it.

Or antifreeze is getting into it from a bad head gasket.

You can look at my adventures I had replacing the CATS on a D1

1997 Land Rover replace catalytic converter and head gaskets

 

You can run around with a bad Cat convertor. You will just not be able to pass emissions. So, if your plate is due to be renewed - you are in a pickle.

 

It still works, just not enough to satisfy the ECU, which monitors the CATS with the O2 sensors. So you are not likely to make things worse. But if one dies, the other may not be far from it. Here's some pages from the Bosch manual that cover it.

Note: the code is "disabled" when the transfer case is in low. That points to a question - could that sensor lead for the TC be jumpered at the ECU and prevent this code from being generated, and allow one to pass inspection (purely an academic discussion, I certainly would not suggest you do anything that would place you at the tender mercies of the government regulators). Not sure if you could clear codes, and drive into inspection shop in low range, they might catch that.

 

Drive it as long as you do not get a flashing CEL, if that happens then stop.
You do not need to replace the entire "Y" Pipe, you can buy a good after market cat and have it installed if you need to save money.

 

Thanks guys.... yeah, I'm good with DMV inspection for another year. is 105,000 miles low for this issue? maybe i should check into them getting crudded up early before putting new ones on?

thanks again