I have gone through 4 catalytic converters in a year? 2 warm-up cats and 2 mid-pipe cats.

Stock 1999 miata, 5speed.

Cheap cats (first 2 were oem)? Engine running rich (but temp gauge reads normal)? Somebody out to get me?

 

If the engine's running rich you can blow cats. Figure out why you're rich.

 

My car is covering up for me being poor... Any likely causes I should check into first?

 

o2 sensors, and coolant sensor would be my first check. I've never owned a stock miata so I'm not an authority on what typically goes wrong, just speaking from general car knowledge. I'll let someone else go in depth.

 

I wasn't aware that apostrophes showed plurals.

Find out why you're rich, running rich will **** cats. Solution? Buy an MS

 

Live in a state that doesn't have emissions testing.

 

It doesn't. I was only talking about 1 engine. Get it: "If THE." Granted my usage in that case was incorrect, but, 's in addition to showing ownership can also imply "is" such as in the word "it's" which actually means, "it is"

As I said, it was a bastardization on my part, but try and keep up. And holy ****, really? On my nuts for apostrophe usage on a car forum? i wUd UnDeRsTanD iF i tAlK'd LiEk tHiZ, but seriously, I use capitalization and punctuation and you get me on a misplaced apostrophe? At least get my intended usage right. Context son!

/rant

 

Any rough running? 99s have been known to blow the coils and start dumping fuel into the cat.

--Ian

 

In cold start engine idling in high rpms and it's very rich.If you try to warm your car static it will harm your cat.

 

I would look at ignition problems first.
Misfires, worn insulation on plug wires, etc..

 

When you're on a site, any site, that requires the use of communication, specifically through the wirtten word, it is courteous to have some sort of respect for language arts.

To maunder around in such a opprobriuos manner opens you up for raillery.

 

Maunder?

opprobriuos?


Someone's been reading the dictionary

 

No, my car hasn't been running rough, misfiring or showing any other signs I've noticed. It hasn't thrown any engine codes except for the ones related to failing catalytic converters, but I'm aware running rich could damage the cats, I just wish there was some other sign before I have to spend $99 on an engine diagnostic with my repair shop.

 

ms?

 

maunder /MON�dur/
v. to talk incoherently; to ramble

opprobrium /uh�PRO�bree�um/
n. disgrace, infamy, or reproach; the cause of shame or infamy

raillery /RAY·luh·ree/
n. good-humored banter or teasing

 

codrus has it right, weak ignition coils in the 99's are a very common problem. I picked up my car really cheap because it would barely move under it's own power. I told the dealer I'd buy it if they'd let me work on it in the back for an hour. Jacked the thing up, busted the cat out, drove it home and replaced the coils.

Post in the WTB section, enough of us that have converted to coil on plugs that there should be plenty of extra stock 99 coilpacks laying around that someone is willing to sell you.

 

The funniest part of you over-reacting is that I'm pretty sure he was referring to the misused apostrophe in the OP's thread title, and not the "engine's" in your post.

Way to freak out, though.

 

Reason is why.

 

I wasn't going to say anything...

 

Was talking to OP