...engine light came on today.
I checked it with a scanner and got this:
P0420 - Catalyst System Low Efficiency.
Im thinking of driving it a bit to see if its actually a computer error, or a actual code.
Is it wize to assume that its the 'less expensive' O2 sensor? Cause Im kicking myself, thatI didnt install
a new sensor in bank 1, when I replaced the sensor in bank 2.
Im just trying to get ahead of the computer on this one, it doesnt state that the sensor is
faulty, its just a hunch..
what do you think?
my car has given me that same fault for some time now, i've changed both sensors to no avail.........haven't replaced that coolant temp sensor, could that be a wise thing to do?
like stated i've replaced both o2 sensors, all 4 fuel injectors, couple of different sets of plugs, a set of wires, a few fuel filters but not recently, gas treatment every other tank, and recently the IAT sensor
the IAT sensor helped for a week or two but it went back to its ways of acting up......
oddly enough its always around the time the weather turns a little cold, if its spring, summer or fall its great, no problems, but winter is a whole different story, if i start it up and go when its cold, not a single problem, if i let it idle, if your barely on the gas no problems, if you push it down a little more to go it sputters around, blows it out and runs fine..........
also my low coolant light has been flashing today, the level was good, is it time to change that coolant temp sensor or could it be something else.........
i've battled this for the past 2years its starting to get old
any help is great
thanks
Justin Phillips wrote:my car has given me that same fault for some time now, i've changed both sensors to no avail.........haven't replaced that coolant temp sensor, could that be a wise thing to do?
like stated i've replaced both o2 sensors, all 4 fuel injectors, couple of different sets of plugs, a set of wires, a few fuel filters but not recently, gas treatment every other tank, and recently the IAT sensor
wow... unless it was for unrelated issues, sounds like you threw a lot of unnecessary parts at a simple problem. a catalyst efficiency low code is exactly what it means. either the cat is not doing its job well enough, or the rear o2 sensor isn't reading it right.
Quote:
the IAT sensor helped for a week or two but it went back to its ways of acting up......
sounds unrelated, but may have cause the problem, if the iat was faulty, it would have dumped more fuel into the system, clogging the cat, causing the p0420.
Quote:
oddly enough its always around the time the weather turns a little cold, if its spring, summer or fall its great, no problems, but winter is a whole different story, if i start it up and go when its cold, not a single problem, if i let it idle, if your barely on the gas no problems, if you push it down a little more to go it sputters around, blows it out and runs fine..........
this is what really makes me think its the cat. if its warm out, the cat can reach operating temp and burn things the way it should. if its cold out and you're getting a code you didn't while it was warm, that to me says that the cat is not getting hot enough to do its job, therefore giving you the p0420.
Quote:
also my low coolant light has been flashing today, the level was good, is it time to change that coolant temp sensor or could it be something else.........
thats something completely different. if your low coolant light is flashing, it means the low coolant sensor needs to be cleaned. it gets a buildup on it, and once it cant read that there's liquid coolant touching it, it turns the light on. simple fix, drain the reservoir, pull the sensor at the front of the reservoir, and clean it. replace and refill.
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catalyst system low effeceincy means the catalitic converter is going bad. Its a federal law that the cat is warrantied on every car for 8 year 80,000 miles, if your under that go to a dealership, if not, start looking for a new cat.
at one time i did get a code about one of the cylinders misfiring, and it was building gas up so i replaced the injectors.......
i did replace my cat. about 3 years ago, could it be possible that i just need a new cat. and my problem get better
sometimes its starts fine and some times is hard, and then sometimes i can drive it, it will be fine, go 5min later and try to start it again and nada if i do get it started its always a bad gasy smell comin out of the exhaust, wpuldnt have any luck with the warranty thing, 9 years old and 120,000miles
if it is the cat, i jump on it and get it over with, just embarassing having it build up and blow it out in smoke
i'm looking into the magnaflow cat. part # 53004, its a universal one but it shows hi-flow rating
would it work or should i look in another direction
thanks
It could just be that the O2 sensor is not far enough into the exhaust stream. Try grinding down the O2 boss by a sixteenth to an eigth of an inch. this will help get the sensor into the stream better and allow a more accurate reading. Good Luck.
http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j130/mykeln/mysig.jpg
well, i beat on the cat. on almost every square inch before i started it, let warm up like normal, idled fine, drove it down the road and back, not a single sputter or puff of smoke coming out of it where it builds up when it idles..........
i'm guessing my cat. is clogged, getting clogged or is already there and i loosened some up when i tapped around on it, would it be a wise thing to go ahead and get another one and get it put on
thanks
also, would that magnaflow 53004 be a decent cat, its a universal fit but would it still be fine
alright, i got off of work at 2 this morning its cold, snowing, etc. and i figured, hey i'll let my car warm up so i dont freeze on the way home...........
well i let it warm up for about 10min. go out to leave and it did its puttering thing again until i mashed it down to go on and blow everything out........always a fun thing to do when the roads are white...........
so can anybody please tell me for sure if it is the cat.
i can go order 1 tomorrow and get it friday and get it put on if i know enough ahead of time
thanks
alright, thanks
i'll get one put on and see what kind of power i've been missing out of it
P0420 is the cat, for sure. No doubt about it...
BUT...
That code will show up in two instances...
1. Your cat is actually dead... not working anymore.
2. Your new high-flow cat you just installed flows TOO well for the stock sensors to realize that it's actually working just fine. This is usually the case when you install a cat that isn't meant for your car... ie. you put a 3" high flow cat on an otherwise stock J-body...
