ok so can anyone really tell me what my code is P0420(catalyst system efficincy below threshold(bank 1) Thanks!
Help!! Code P0420
99dingo
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but couldn't that allso be just a O2 sensor???
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O2 sensor is working...it's ranging the same as the front O2, it's telling you that the cat has degraded enough so it cannot do it's job efficiently, your cat is dead and now you will have to find out why and correct it before you put another cat on. If you don't find the problem, you will destroy another cat
Cats aren't meant to last a lifetime. WHile it is good advice to have the vehicle checked to make sure that it is in fuel control so a new cat doesn't get burnt up it by no means means that the old cat failed due to a running issue.
I read this on another board and it doesn't cost much and may get you through for awhile. Get a bottle of HEET or similar, it's all alcohol anyways, and take off one of the vacuum hoses. Insert that hose into the bottle and with the engine running let the vacuum pull suck the bottle dry. You regulate the flow with a pair of pliers to avoid some extreme detonation. Go and clear the code and drive it.
The alcohol is supposed to break up whatever is causing the clog in the cat.
The alcohol is supposed to break up whatever is causing the clog in the cat.
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:bs2:
:waiting::jester:
G
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·If by chance you have less than 80K on your truck, take it to the dealer and get it replaced for free under the Federal Emmission Warranty. If it's over 80K then the cost comes out of your pocket.
He is already out by time not mileage, if he is under the 80k. You only get 8 years OR 80k on emissions. It really depends on the in service date, but back then vehicles were not sitting for 6-12 mo on the lot like they are now, unless it was poorly optioned.
Maybe I had a poor choice in words by saying "clog", but in terms of how the cat works it is correct. The catalyst inside the converter has a coating of excess carbon covering the precious metal converting the exhaust to something more eco-friendly. So in the enviromental terms, I would call it a clog, as it ain't converting bad gases to good. Given Mopar engineers can't seem to figure out power, mileage, and emissions, this coating is very common. I have replaced way too many converters for this code. Also, lots of short trip city driving just aggravates the problem, the cats never come up to temp to burn off the carbon. Using the alcohol raises the exhaust gas temp just enough to burn this coating off and restore the efficiency temporarily. Aww phuck it, if you want to spend $400 or more for cats, go for it. I need the money.
Brian
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