I've got about 63,000km on my car. My engine light came on last month, so Mazda reset the computer, and it came on again a few days ago. When I took it in, they said they are ordering me a new Catalayic Convertor. Is this normal??

 

Yeah I figured it nice to get things replaced a few years later under warrenty.. =)

 

did they check the o2 sensor(s)?

 

Honestly? I'm not 100% sure. I took the car in the first time, and they just reset the computer, and said they'll wait for it to show again. They have to order it in, so once its in, I'll ask them.

 

good, as it seems kinda strange that a 99 model car would have a bad cat already.

 

My Co-workers 99 Beetle 1.8T had the same problem. He was having exhaust backfire and they replaced his O2 sensor but it was still doing it when they found out then that it was his Cat which was Clogged. Luckily for him that was still under warranty and it was replaced. Remember Prior to this past year VW's warranty was only 2 year/24k miles. but i assume the Cat falls under a different category such as Powertrain or

 

I have a 99 Pro 1.6L. In an attempt to find a header with no luck, I removed the first cat or precat and while missing around with it found out that the catalytic material inside the housing can be removed with just a few taps of a hammer and large wooden dowel rod. So I have a precat with no catalyst material inside. I've been driving around with the mod for about a week now with no check engine light problems. I did notice a little smother idle and better pickup will accelerating.

 

Yeah my friend did the same thing when he had a 95 Camaro he just took a hammer and banged out the material in the Cat and he said it was a definite improvement.

 

I too had my catalytic converter replaced under warranty about a year ago. I didn't get a check eng light though, I just bitched about poor acceleration (felt like a potatoe in the exhaust pipe). Be carful, I had a bad fuel pump replaced under warranty 3 mos. before the cat kaft out. The car felt fine for a while and I went back to the dealer with the eng light on...it ended up being the fuel pressure regulator. It f**ked up the pump, the fuel ran too lean which clogged my cat. I knew there was a problem when I got 800 kms from 1 tank of gas! The car is a '99 1.8L and the Pump went bad about 6 mos. after I bought the car so I wasn't sure if the engine was breaking in and that was the result of my excellent gas milage. The fuel pressure regulator they installed was an upgrade for the FS motors, I don't know the difference but obviously Mazda was having problems with the 1st ones.

Becareful of hogging out your cats, this is illegal (if you get caught) In BC, as well as Ontario, we have "Driveclean" like California. It sux but there are always high flow cat$!

 

I got the exact same ride as you.. maybe its the same problem, they mentioned something to do with the fuel line when the engine light went on the first time.