2005 Altima pre-cat
 

I bought a 2005 Pathfinder this time last year, and loved it so much, I recently purchased an Altima. Now I am sitting here, filled with dread, reading all these horror stories of the 02-03 Altimas crapping the pre-cat into the engine, and dropping throttle plate screws as well.
Burnout, did the pre-cat get a better design, prior to 05? If not, since I am at 84K, I know I will have to purchase a new pre-cat. what is the approximate cost to have one replaced?

Brad Fornal

RE: 2005 Altima pre-cat
 

Im guessing your warranty ran out?

RE: 2005 Altima pre-cat
 

This is a former fleet car, with 86K on it. It runs fine, but if the cat is about to crap sand down into the engine, because Nissan is not willing to correct a KNOWN problem, I would like to know, so that I can put another part in BEFORE it takes a crap.

RE: 2005 Altima pre-cat
 

Nope, they have the same problem. Have you checked the recalls currently available on the car ? Lot's of people neglect to get the recall work done and there is a few on that car.

RE: 2005 Altima pre-cat
 

Burnout, I just contacted Thornhill Nissan in Fort Worth, to ask them about the problem. Both the Service Dept, and Parts Dept are both playing ignorant of this issue. I can't tell if they are truly stupid, or wanting to sell an engine.
Would you be so kind as to tell me the name, and part # of this failing item. I have a 2005 Altima, with the 2.5.
I HAVE asked about other recalls, and I have to take it in Thursday for the ECM to be reprogramed. While it is there, I would love to have the failing part replaced as well. I know that Nissan will not cover it, but I DO NOT want to buy another engine, because they refuse to answer my questions.
Also, is this failing part on the 2005 Pathfinder 4.0?

Thank you Burnout.

Brad

RE: 2005 Altima pre-cat
 

Nah ... it really depends on what you're referring to though. If you are just talking about the cat problem, the failure lies in the cat itself. 14002-9J310 .... The 04+ did not have as many issues as the 02-03.... so it's prob. not worth the nearly $500 to replace it. Most of the issues by 05 were corrected.... the ecm reprogram is important.

RE: 2005 Altima pre-cat
 

Please, pardon my ignorance, as I am not well versed on the newer cars. The newest thing I am currently working on, is a 68 Austin Healey Sprite. No Cats on it!!!
From what I know of cars and cats (catalytic, not the 4 legged wheel chocks) the cat is downstream of the engine exhaust. HOW does the cat failing on the Altima, get particulates into the engine?
Since the factory cat is $500, and my warranty is invalid; due to milage, would I be better off to purchase an aftermarket cat? If nothing else, to at least remove the risk of engine damage, but still maintain emmissions integrity?

RE: 2005 Altima pre-cat
 

I'm guessing when you start the vehicle, as that is the only time the exhaust sucks in to my knowledge.... the other engine failure was due to the butterfly screws on the throttle body butteryfly valve falling off. Your aftermarket cat idea is not really a possibility to my knowledge.... this cat comes as part of the manifold.... unless you can get a muffler shop to weld it or something.

RE: 2005 Altima pre-cat
 

I guess that explains the $500 price on the cat. I know performance parts are made for many cars, I am doubtful that any headers, or some such, are made for the Altima. I may just have to ask around. If I am going to spend that kind of money, I want to spend it on a quality product, not another Nissan part, just biding it's time to "F" up.
My lil' 310 took me almost 200K, before I let it go, I'd like to get somewhere close with this one. But if Nissan is up to what I think it is, I won't come anywhere close.

RE: 2005 Altima pre-cat
 

The 2.5 altimas have def. had some realiability issues, but most are an easy fix. http://www.stillen.com/product.asp?i...p;model=ALTIMA

^^^ For 2.5 headers.

RE: 2005 Altima pre-cat
 

Thank you for the link, if this will extend the life of my car, it would be worth it. Has anyone at your shop installed one of these, or are you just familiar with the product. If it has been installed by you or one of your coworkers, is there room for a cat, farther back in the system?

RE: 2005 Altima pre-cat
 

We have installed a few here in our shop.... really to get a cat you would have to have it fabricated together by a muffler shop... i'm not sure how they would do it...but it would def. need to be close to the stock location , or the o2 sensor would give you a check engine light. I'll talk to my buddy with the turbo spec v and see how he got around the light.

RE: 2005 Altima pre-cat
 

Ok, I'm told if you run no cat and put the o2 sensor at far back as possible, near the resinator, you will not get a check engine light. Any muffler shop can make you an o2 bung there.

RE: 2005 Altima pre-cat
 

Won't the computer know that the cat is missing, and thus the car will fail it's emmissions testing?
Also, I am seeing that the 2007 Altimas are now getting 35 mpg. Mine is doing good to get 26 - 27 mpg. What did they change to increase the milage so? Is it something that could be retrofitted to the older cars? I know that often, changing the programming can help, is this the case here?

RE: 2005 Altima pre-cat
 

Nope you won't be getting 35mpg... and the 07's won't either... that is a false number. Maybe that's what they were expecting with the HEV Altimas...but they aren't going to make it to production I hear. If you have emissions testing in your state... then you cannot remove the cat. Some laws require it to be OEM but most won't even look at it.An aftermarket cat would pass the actual emmision test though.

RE: 2005 Altima pre-cat
 

From what I can tell, my cat has failed. The car is using lots of oil now, so it will need to be fixed. How hard can I expect to be raped on a new engine? Should I seek help outside the dealer realm? I understand that many Japanese engines are imported due to stricter emissions laws there. Should I seek out one of these? Obviously, going back with the stock exhaust is NOT an option.

Brad