oh crap... P0430 code
 

drove to chicago from floriduh. Looks like i am now getting a P0430 code... no prior codes or ces lights prior to this trip.
so i swapped out the right side O2 sensors, the rear one was blackity black... the front looked normal. stupid code comes back. truck runs great, no noticable misses, no noticeable head gasket water leaks, no noticable problems. no vacuum leaks that i can tell...

for 1300 highway miles she ran strong... tool around chicago bam code....
at highway speeds i notice i get no codes... but if i run the cook county forest preserve roads at 45-50 bam get a code...

florida no codes... chicago codes...

im swapping out the plugs and wires in the morning... and air filter.
already cleaned the throttle body/butteryfly, ran it empty and put premium mobil gas in it.

anything else i should look at before i have to pony up 800 bucks to replace the cats?

i do have a cheapy hand held scanner with me, but i see nothing noticable out of spec.

a p0430 is a right bank(passenger side) issue... so that eliminates anything in common with the left bank...

thanx

ed

Re: oh crap... P0430 code
 

First step is to change the plugs and run fuel injection cleaner. Fuel injection cleaner will also clean some of the crud out of the cat if there is any. Chevron with techron is the best stuff on the shelf. City driving is harder on the engine than anything else and constant stops and starts will produce more emissions. The systems are sensitive and sometimes there will be no indication of the problem other than the code. Depending on mileage changing out the cat might NOT take care of the light. I see it a lot at work. Some vehicles also have an issue when they get a bit older that the computer actually needs reflashed. Standard procedure at most stealerships is to replace the cats and reflash the computer when most likely the reflash was all that was needed.

Re: oh crap... P0430 code
 

i violated my number one rule...

2005 chevy suburban z71 factory(no mods) 202,000 miles

any recommendations on a cleaner? or just any of the top dollar stuff available at any part store? i thought chevron was a gas station...lol

Re: oh crap... P0430 code
 

Does Florida require emissions ? If not cut them out and tune them out

Re: oh crap... P0430 code
 

i would rather fix it properly....

Re: oh crap... P0430 code
 

I had the same codes on mine and replaced all the o2 sensors and the fuse that blew when the code was set off ran great same 21-22 mpg on the highway

back in September I installed a 212/218 cam longtube headers and off-road y-pipe no cats tuned them out and still get the 21-22 mpg it's just harder to keep my foot out of it now point being there is more than one way to skin a cat

Is the code coming off and on intermittently or are you clearing it with the scanner soon as it pops up?

Re: oh crap... P0430 code
 

i clear , it comes back... a while later...


it will be fixed come hell or high water by friday =)

if this was a project truck i would not worry about it and just tune them out.

Re: oh crap... P0430 code
 

Check your fuses it's a long shot but maybe yours was like mine their is a fuse that can blow when the o2 sensor goes bad after I replaced my o2 sensors the light kept coming back on finally got on all data found that fuse checked it and it was blown bad thing is I can't remember where it was believe it was in the fuse box under the hood been 3 or 4 years now soon as I replaced fuse no more light worth a look atleast

Re: oh crap... P0430 code
 

that might be the o2 heater fuse?

Re: oh crap... P0430 code
 

It's possible it's been so long since mine went bad I'll try and get on all data today sometime and look it up for you

Re: oh crap... P0430 code
 

I put in a double dose of the chevron stuff... its raining in chicago and i dont have a garage here so plugs and wires will wait another day.

oh well i got blackhawks games to be at... it can wait til monday...

Re: oh crap... P0430 code
 

IMO the only thing that is going to fix a catalyst low efficiency code is to replace the cats, unfortunately.

Re: oh crap... P0430 code
 

These spark plugs have 110k miles on them

Re: oh crap... P0430 code
 

Original o2

202k miles. The dirty one is the secondary.

Re: oh crap... P0430 code
 

I know it sounds odd, but take a few min to hook up a voltmeter and test your MAF (google the procedure). If the MAF is going bad it can create a rich condition and clog a cat. I replaced 2 cats before I found out it was my MAF.