Check Engine Code P0420... not cat or o2 sensor problem

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Old 03-17-2017, 08:21 AM
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Check Engine Code P0420... not cat or o2 sensor problem

Any input here would be much appreciated. The check engine light came on on my 2005 TL. Put the scanner on there and got the P0420 code (bank 1 catalyst below threshold). So I did some live scanning of the o2 sensors, and both front and rear were performing properly, which also showed that my catalytic converter was doing what it's supposed to as well.

If im getting the P0420 code and it's neither the o2 sensors or the catalytic converter throwing the code, does anyone have any other ideas as to what it could be? Or has anyone else experienced something similar to this?

Any information you guys have will be a huge help to me. Thank you in advance
Old 03-17-2017, 12:13 PM
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had this issue last month, turned out it was bad gas (i refilled while tanker was at station).

ran the tank to 1/4 empty and bought some royal purple octane booster to throw into my tank with my next fillup at a trusted BP station.

did not need to clear codes or anything it went away by itself

you use premium right?

https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-p...sensor-938841/
Old 03-17-2017, 07:26 PM
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i bet its the cat. how can you tell from a live stream of o2 sensor activity that the cat is "doing its job"? a very small change in efficiency is all it takes to throw the code on
Old 03-18-2017, 11:19 AM
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Originally Posted by Yvuru
had this issue last month, turned out it was bad gas (i refilled while tanker was at station).

ran the tank to 1/4 empty and bought some royal purple octane booster to throw into my tank with my next fillup at a trusted BP station.

did not need to clear codes or anything it went away by itself

you use premium right?

https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-p...sensor-938841/

yes, I always use premium and fill up at the same station almost every time. Maybe I'll try and use some royal purple or sea foam in the next tank and see if that helps at all
Old 03-18-2017, 11:21 AM
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Originally Posted by JDM96specCTR
i bet its the cat. how can you tell from a live stream of o2 sensor activity that the cat is "doing its job"? a very small change in efficiency is all it takes to throw the code on
the values I got for voltage on the o2 sensors were:

2.1 down to 0.1 for the first sensor
0.5 steady for the second sensor.

are these readings out of the ordinary?
Old 03-18-2017, 06:16 PM
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Rather than a write up, although for GM, here's a way to check:
Part 3 -How to Test Trouble Code P0420 (GM 3.8L)
Old 03-21-2017, 09:49 AM
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Bad cat cuuuh.
Old 03-21-2017, 12:50 PM
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Bad cat. Or lazy sensor. The code is thrown when driving at a constant speed on the highway so no way for you to be monitoring at that time. Even if you did, I still say it's the cats.
Old 03-21-2017, 12:57 PM
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Originally Posted by WDPanda
Bad cat. Or lazy sensor. The code is thrown when driving at a constant speed on the highway so no way for you to be monitoring at that time. Even if you did, I still say it's the cats.
I mean... i wouldn't say "NO way".. there are live data OBD2 scanners..
Old 03-30-2017, 09:54 PM
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Blow some weed smoke into the intake.




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