I really appreciate you making these videos. I have watched a ton of them just for general learning and this one is specific to what my truck is doing. It's nice too see how you go out of your way to fully verify the problem instead of just throwing some parts at it and hoping it works. You also show us and explain the diagnostic process so that we can know what we are looking at. The comedy side is a huge bonus. Thank you sir. Now I can go dig into my truck
Thanks Eric for bringing Chemistry into an Auto repair channel. A catalytic converter consists of two sections: Front- Reduction catalyst (Rh) converts NO and CO into N2 and CO2 as follows: 2NO + 2CO = N2 + 2CO2: Rear - Oxidizing catalyst (Pd, Pt) converts unburnt hydrocarbon (CH2) into CO2 and H2O as well as CO into CO2 as shown below: CH2 + 3/2O2 = CO2 + H2O CO + 1/2O2 = CO2
When I performed road tests to set the monitors for smog testing, I would watch the upstream and downstream 02's to see what the downstream was showing. The vehicles with a higher value, generally .75 to .9 volts, would indicate 02 storage was not great due to age or a repair in the emissions control system. During the smog test, the low speed or 15 miles per hour load test would take longer for the machine to indicate the vehicle passed that test. Vehicles that went through that test quickly were able to have converters that stored oxygen easily. Some vehicles required extended freeway speeds of 65 to 70 which helped to clear the converters. Nice Diagnostic/repair/description!
My cat cost me $1,000 too ... at the VET! 🤪 The cats on my cars had some pipe fall through them. Hate when that happens ... Just like when tires fall in the bonfire. Things just happen randomly, without explanation around here ... 😁 Great explanation, Eric - much appreciated. 👍👍
Depends where you live. In Northern VA, if the money light doesn’t come on when they first start the car, they don’t even bother with the rest of the test and fail the car immediately.
Been doing it myself all my life learning the hard and expensive way. Then came SMA / Scanner Danner/ Pine hollow. I're seen the light. "money Light that is". Eric, I owe you brother. I never watch one of your videos and not learn something. This one is a Biggy. Thanks.
Well, I just learned something for sure! I've had a P0430 on my 06 Nissan Frontier since 2012 which was just fixed this month. I was under the impression, that the difference in values from the upstream and down stream O2 sensors would trigger fuel delivery changes or the ECU would run in a loop. Much obliged for the informative video Mr. O!!👍🏼🇺🇸
Makes me relive my old Dealership days over. Very good explanation of the diagnosis and follow up. I enjoy all of your videos. I will eventually make my way up to visit your shop, just to say "Hey" and spend some money with you. Keep up the good work.
One more factor that "eats" catalytic converters is mismatched fuel injectors. The average mix in the exhaust may be on target, but if one is running rich the others are running lean and the waste is combusted in the cat generating unnecessary heat. If one injector is running lean then a valve is also at risk, something I have suffered from once.
Yeah! A bad cat will blow valve guides spakplug tubes right of the cylinder head. Sometimes if car is parked on street while raining the exhaust is like a funnel collecting mud rocks etc.
Was a teenager in North Carolina... local exhaust guy replaced the guts of the converter with a straight pipe. Turned out the GM 3.1 V6 would rattle your teeth out without one.
You probably need the 5 gas analyzer for an OBD1 vehicle but I guess that analyzer is pretty expensive. When my '94 B3000 failed high NOx at low speed, I went to several mechanics and asked them if they owned a 5 gas analyzer and all of them laughed. Also, I found out that most mechanics where I live are merely parts changers and are not competent at fixing emissions issues on OBD1 or OBD2 vehicles. For a NOx issue, most mechanics will try to replace your oxygen sensors, the catalytic converter, and the mass air flow sensor. Since the truck was over 20 years old, I replaced the oxygen sensors myself and an "emissions" mechanic replaced the mass air flow sensor and the mechanic got my truck to pass the NOx test by racing the engine and feathering the clutch on the dyno. The following year, the truck failed high NOx again so I decided to fix it myself. After doing some research, I found that several things can cause high NOx in a vehicle including engine overheating (leaking hoses and/or leaking radiator), manifold leaks, and leaks in the air intake system. After inspecting the plastic air intake snorkel tube that is connected to the throttle body, I could see that heat from the throttle body had degraded the plastic tube and I found a rather large hole on the bottom of the tube. After I patched the hole in the air intake tube, the truck passed the low speed NOx test with flying colors. BTW, the mechanic also wanted to change the EGR valve but, surprise, there's no EGR valve on my truck. I found that out when somebody recommended that I clean the EGR valve.
Thank you so much for this video! This is THE best explanation I have ever seen or read on how a catalytic converter affects O2 sensor readings. I've had a vague understanding for a while but I feel very confident reading O2 sensor data now.
Scott Kilmer would of poured a gallon of acetone in the tank n drove it 150 miles. He has a video out on this. Soooooooooooo glad your here ! He's beyond, hmm full of "ideas"
I`m currently fighting a clogged converter on my car... the cat is right after the turbo and the O2 is perfectly accessible from under the hood.. since 1 Week I daily remove the O2 1-2 times a day and use a squirt bottle to pour down some acetone, lacquer thinner or DPF cleaner down into the cat...let it soak and drive it... I confirm my efforts by looking inside with an endoscope....after 1 week I have 70-80% of the deposits removed... engine is much more responsive, more power, less knock retard and less consumption.. will continue that for a few days....saved me a cat for now... yes, oil consumption was fixed before, bad PCV valve. as cats are expensive as hell, it´s worth a try to me.. however I do not think that adding anything to the tank heals a clogged converter..acetone will burn to CO2, CO etc like fuel does, how should that clean a converter
@@bobl78 i very recently put one gallon of Home Depot thinner in a full tank of fuel in a 97 chevy 5.7 which had the codes left and right bank not reaching effiency. Two years ago I did the same thing but only bank one had code. Both times the truck was driven for two or three days and the mil. went out and scanner showed no codes and no pending codes. So scotty kilmers advice actually works and worked twice for me. Nobody wants to fork out the dough for new cats on a 97 pickup with close to 300g on the clock. I dont know where you get your cats but in California they have to have the right numbers on them or they wont pass. Also are more expensive by far compared to the rest of the country. Go figure.
interesting... maybe it depends on the type of clogging / poisoning...mine was clogged by engine oil depostits / ash and it did not help.... here during inspection they check for codes and readiness monitors and measure CO level at idle and 3000 rpm ... max is 0.3 % CO
Scotty Kilmer is such a hack and a disgrace to the car community. Lots of brainwashed people watch his channel religiously and actually believe the things he says. The guy doesn't even film videos on actual repairs anymore; all he does now are just pointless "Here's Why" and show and tell type videos.
I appreciate your presentation and explanations. I have a 2004 Toyota Sienna with a P0430. I am gathering various insights from explanations. Yours helped me a lot.
I tip my hat the work you do, your attention to detail, in your diagnostic process!! Love your videos, love your channel, I'm hooked!! That having been said however no one has been able to convince me that catalytic converters or actually needed part of the automotive design! To this day I'm a firm believer that the catalytic converters we're created and mandated in order to create an industry! Specifically the mining and oar processing industry. Because it takes such a large amount of oar to get the necessary rare earth metals which are used in the catalytic converters, a great deal of mining and extraction and processing has to take place in order to build a catalytic converters! Whenever I get a car that does not have a downstream oxygen sensor built into the catalytic converter, and I even suspect a damaged plugged clogged catalytic converter, I break out the sawzall and cut that pig off of there, then use some pipe clamps to install a straight pipe in its place!! I've seen a number of vehicles improve their performance, power ratio, MPG, torque, and throttle response by simply cutting out that useless converter and replacing it with a straight pipe!! I've also been known to use a piece of fence rod carod the guts out of a converter and leave the body is an empty shell, another trick is to cut a square panel out of the bottom of the converter in smash all the guts up and let it fall on the ground, then use some steel putty to put the patch panel back over the hole!! I've never experienced engine problems after removing a useless ridiculously expensive an unnecessary catalytic converter from the exhaust
Great info once again Eric O. Those Commanders have that Hemi crammed in there. I really dislike broken manifold bolts on the grand Cherokees with the Hemi.
Eric, can you throw us a bone by remembering to tell us which scanner you're using when you boot it up? The brightness of the screen often makes seeing any logo on the side of the tool difficult. I see this one is the Bosch, but only after we got a look at 8:00. Brilliant summary, by the way.
I bought a used 2013 GMC Sierra from a young kid and started having trouble and the thing was throwing 5 codes at me, ending up being intake manifold, exhaust leaks and cats, all I could see was big dollar signs. A week later a friend of mine who works for a tow service brought in a totaled 2016 Silverado with only 17,000 miles on it. I got the two cats and stock exhaust for $200!!! It's not what you know but who you know sometimes, I was so lucky.
So true, overheating kills the cats quickly. Some makes (especially Subaru) are disgustingly prone to frying cats from misfiring. Don't ignore misfires. With a blinking CEL for a misfire, your instinct may be to put your foot to the floor to attempt a rev tune-up . Big mistake, you're just adding more raw fuel to the hot fire. By the time you find a safe place to pull over and shut down the engine, it's probably too late, cat(s) already fried. It only takes one of these episodes especially when more than one cylinder is misfiring. The blinking CEL light is a good indicator things are going to get expensive if you ignore it.
Hey Eric, firstly I'm a huge fan of yours. You are the perfect example of a true mechanic. Secondly, my son has a 2003 Honda Accord EX and there were no check engine lights on.. The intake manifold house was cracked so I replaced. The next day the check engine light came on and the code is p0430. I don't know if I messed up the hose putting it on cuz I was rough, but can a intake manifold hose be a reason for the code p0430 coming on or is it a coincidence?
Won't repair the cat but will get rid of the code. I did it after having my my replaced cat cease to function. Remember, the spark plug anti foul bushings is not the correct way to "fix" a bad cat. (wink, wink)
Had an aries head gasket fail .cut a triangle hole at inlet top gave it a d&c with a chisel put backwards blew out junk put back on passed inspection 5 more yrs.😁 Was a 200$ sta wagon got 40mpg . neighbor had Prius 45mpg 29k$.
Cat delete IMHO... My old Z28 would chew thru the cats with its big cam, I ended up getting a bolt in cat and a bolt in "off road" pipe and just swapped them when I had to get tested here in IN, glad we don't even have testing here anymore, big waste of time. Looking to get a Supercharged 18+ Mustang soon and first exhaust mod is going to be a "free flowing exhaust".
Your videos are so nice and provide us with so much information. I have watched many of them. I have a question I was hoping someone would see this and be able to answer. I have a 2004 Nissan Sentra with the 1.8 engine. It has around 150k on it and my wife uses it every day. I have a persistent P0011 code, which is something about the timing to far advanced. This has been going on for about 3 years. I had it to the dealer and they told me it needed a timing chain. And they "have seen this problem before but not in no 150k" of course they wanted a fortune to fix it and I told them no. I have a friend I know that has been working on cars for years at house and he told me to order a Nissan chain and gears and a tensioner and he would do the work for me. He did the work and it is running like it did when it was new. However this code keeps coming back. He said to use Nissan cam and crank sensors and I have done that too. I ordered the factory parts off e bay. The car had cheap sensors in it from auto zone. Is there anything else I can check? What else can cause this issue? It doesn't use one drop of oil either and this car fits my wife so well and she loves it. She is a nurse who travels around the county to her patients homes to help them. Any ideas anyone? thank you so much Carl Jenkins
My Nissan Frontier rolled over 105k miles last year. Time to change the sparkplugs. When this was done, the ECU began to spit out P0420 and P0430 codes. Can changing plugs kill the cats? Does not make sense. Using the Method shown in this video, the cats were diagnosed as dead and were changed out at much cost. Immediately afterwards, the ECU began to spit out the P0300 (random misfire) code. Continual misfire can kill the cats so this needed to be fixed. Everything was looked at: fuel pressure and volume, manifold leaks, coils, injectors, all the sensors and valves connected to the engine. Nothing. My truck was in the shop for about a month with no resolution. Then I read a post on the web from another Frontier owner with the same problem. The problem was in the secondary cats. These are un-monitored but when they plug, they will add backpressure. These were changed out at much cost and the problem was solved.
Fellow 3 time Frontier owner: There is another non engine defect with that if the upper cat goes, it releases a fine powder into the engine that eats it. Your engine is probably the VQ40DE, check the issues on the VQ35DE mywikimotors.com/vq35de/
the exact quote in case people fear a link: "Why do VQ35DE burning oil? The problem is caused by catalytic converters. They are very sensitive to the quality of gasoline and may get out of order quickly. Once it happens, ceramic powder gets into the bottom catalytic converters. And then it gets into the engine and grinds off cylinder walls. As the result, compression diminishes and oil and fuel consumption increases. "
@@DasShaten I never had this problem. But other truck owners who do much off roading and vehicle gymnastics as in jumping with their truck have been known to damage the honeycomb. As you noted, if pieces of the honeycomb find their way upstream and into the cylinders, bad things can happen.
@@reecenewton3097 How does a salmon swim upriver to spawn? I am sure some PhD has done a study to figure out this phenomenon. My guess is that upon engine shutdown, the cats are much hotter than the engine. Some exhaust valves are always opened. As the engine cools down, there may be a convective flow from the hot cat into the engine. The powder would be conveyed with this flow.
the old chicken or the egg story. which came first the plugged converters or the oil burning causing the overheat and antifreeze use to plug the converters. we may never know!!!
How do you read the waveforms for a car with A/F ratio sensors? What is code setting criteria then? I cant find any resources and im so frustrated. Any links appreciated.
I have a 2008 tahoe ltz flex 5.3 po430 code it all started po420 430 running to rich before I did spark plugs the check engine would flash sometimes with stability control light then go off. Be good for a couple days then come up.but after spark plugs no flashing just stays on for po430. Did all o2 sensors too. The couple times before it would come on then flash..it was like a loss of power almost could hit the gas down and wouldn't wanna go anywhere but then would all of a sudden jump back to reality and start going. Idk what to try to do next. I also sometimes feel like when I refuel it will act up idk if a fuel pump could do anything like this.
I'd fix 'er right quick with a Dorman #42009. Drill one piece out with a 1/2" bit, screw it into the non-drilled piece, and screw it in between the downstream sensor and the bung. If the cat's empty, there are bung extenders that have a small catalyst biscuit built in. Is it legal? Nope. But Drive Clean has been scrapped in Ontario, and I'm quite tired of telling poor people they need $1000 worth of parts that don't save them fuel or give the engine any power.
Other Canadian and American jurisdictions require a yearly safety inspection as well as regular emission tests. With the end of Drive Clean in Ontario, we can all look forward to the return of filthy black and blue exhaust coming from unmaintained, unsafe clunkers that should have been off OUR roads years ago.
Shouldn't they name it just "operation" rather than "theory of operation." The latter seems to indicate we think this is how it works but we are't sure.
M-W website Two Related, Yet Distinct, Meanings of Theory There are many shades of meaning to the word theory. Most of these are used without difficulty, and we understand, based on the context in which they are found, what the intended meaning is. For instance, when we speak of music theory we understand it to be in reference to the underlying principles of the composition of music, and not in reference to some speculation about those principles. However, there are two senses of theory which are sometimes troublesome. These are the senses which are defined as “a plausible or scientifically acceptable general principle or body of principles offered to explain phenomena” and “an unproven assumption; conjecture.” The second of these is occasionally misapplied in cases where the former is meant, as when a particular scientific theory is derided as "just a theory," implying that it is no more than speculation or conjecture. One may certainly disagree with scientists regarding their theories, but it is an inaccurate interpretation of language to regard their use of the word as implying a tentative hypothesis; the scientific use of theory is quite different than the speculative use of the word.
Bit of exaggeration on the damaging temps front: true values - optimal catalyst operating temp 800°F and Palladium melting 2800°F. Not couple of hundred difference - more like 2000°F difference. That is why Platinum is better in catalytic converters melts at 3200°F. The problem in the converters are typically not precious metals anyway - those made from steel internally - melt point of steel 2750°F. That is why primary cats in exhaust manifolds are ceramic structures coated with platinum.
I watched your video about the P0430 code but I have a question about getting that code because my bank 1 and bank 2 have different max thresholds. I'm thinking if bank 2 had the same max as bank 1 I would not be getting the P0430 code because bank 2 reading is always less than what the bank 1 max is when I get the code. I have a 06 F150 5.4 3v. Is it normal to have 2 different max thresholds? Thanks
Yea, I 'think" I get the idea. That auto-ranging "wrench" is just a little -Me la complico- with the "down stream reading a relatively steady signal" hard to get the old gray matter around the concept!! But I kind like it,in a masochistic sort of way. 😒
My 07 Grand Caravan has the P0420 and when I did my oil change, less than a quart came out.. you think that has to do something with that? It also vibrates where my exhaust is, I did change it with some GTX and MMO with a Mopar filter
I'm so glad we don't have vehicle inspections here in Florida. When the money light comes on, I'll always fix whatever's wrong....unless it's for an efficiency code. My current car has had one for 3 years now....I'm not a tree hugger, I don't care if the converter has lost efficiency
I really appreciate you making these videos. I have watched a ton of them just for general learning and this one is specific to what my truck is doing. It's nice too see how you go out of your way to fully verify the problem instead of just throwing some parts at it and hoping it works. You also show us and explain the diagnostic process so that we can know what we are looking at. The comedy side is a huge bonus. Thank you sir. Now I can go dig into my truck
Thanks Eric for bringing Chemistry into an Auto repair channel.
A catalytic converter consists of two sections:
Front- Reduction catalyst (Rh) converts NO and CO into N2 and CO2 as follows:
2NO + 2CO = N2 + 2CO2:
Rear - Oxidizing catalyst (Pd, Pt) converts unburnt hydrocarbon (CH2) into CO2 and H2O as well as CO into CO2 as shown below:
CH2 + 3/2O2 = CO2 + H2O
CO + 1/2O2 = CO2
Played the game for 40 years (now retired) but good to see a real deal mechanic . Good luck.
When I performed road tests to set the monitors for smog testing, I would watch the upstream and downstream 02's to see what the downstream was showing. The vehicles with a higher value, generally .75 to .9 volts, would indicate 02 storage was not great due to age or a repair in the emissions control system. During the smog test, the low speed or 15 miles per hour load test would take longer for the machine to indicate the vehicle passed that test. Vehicles that went through that test quickly were able to have converters that stored oxygen easily. Some vehicles required extended freeway speeds of 65 to 70 which helped to clear the converters. Nice Diagnostic/repair/description!
Well, most things you can do...I cannot. But I still like to watch for general education.
Aah, you left out the heatin' and beatin'. That's the best part! But at least one less Hemi is putting out smog in Upstate NY.
My cat cost me $1,000 too ... at the VET! 🤪
The cats on my cars had some pipe fall through them. Hate when that happens ... Just like when tires fall in the bonfire. Things just happen randomly, without explanation around here ... 😁
Great explanation, Eric - much appreciated. 👍👍
I've had a p0420 for months and my inspection is due next month what a coincidence. Thanks.
Time to remove the bulb from the check engine light lol
Depends where you live. In Northern VA, if the money light doesn’t come on when they first start the car, they don’t even bother with the rest of the test and fail the car immediately.
Been doing it myself all my life learning the hard and expensive way.
Then came SMA / Scanner Danner/ Pine hollow.
I're seen the light. "money Light that is".
Eric, I owe you brother. I never watch one of your videos and not learn something.
This one is a Biggy.
Thanks.
Well, I just learned something for sure! I've had a P0430 on my 06 Nissan Frontier since 2012 which was just fixed this month. I was under the impression, that the difference in values from the upstream and down stream O2 sensors would trigger fuel delivery changes or the ECU would run in a loop. Much obliged for the informative video Mr. O!!👍🏼🇺🇸
SMA come for the automotive expertise stay for the commentary. Another great video thank you Eric!
Makes me relive my old Dealership days over. Very good explanation of the diagnosis and follow up. I enjoy all of your videos. I will eventually make my way up to visit your shop, just to say "Hey" and spend some money with you. Keep up the good work.
How Catalytic Converters Work: auto.howstuffworks.com/catalytic-converter.htm
** www.amazon.com/shop/southmainautorepairavoca **
I used the spark plug anti foulers to space out my downstream O² sensors. It worked.
One more factor that "eats" catalytic converters is mismatched fuel injectors. The average mix in the exhaust may be on target, but if one is running rich the others are running lean and the waste is combusted in the cat generating unnecessary heat. If one injector is running lean then a valve is also at risk, something I have suffered from once.
Just went through this with my 2004 JGC 4.7. Replaced both converters and all 4 o2 sensors.
Yeah! A bad cat will blow valve guides spakplug tubes right of the cylinder head. Sometimes if car is parked on street while raining the exhaust is like a funnel collecting mud rocks etc.
Here in Illinois we fix catalytic converters with a sawzall
slowride55 what part of Illinois are you at?over here my the city everyone gets tested.
I fixed mine poking rebar through it. No codes yet after several years...
Was a teenager in North Carolina... local exhaust guy replaced the guts of the converter with a straight pipe. Turned out the GM 3.1 V6 would rattle your teeth out without one.
Yup. Thankfully out here in Kendall County there's no emissions testing yet.
slowride55 Then you can enjoy the "service engine" light burning your eyeballs out.
What in the world? Eric you didn't bust out the 5 gas analyzer like I would have done but I'm still proud of you man. Haha
You probably need the 5 gas analyzer for an OBD1 vehicle but I guess that analyzer is pretty expensive. When my '94 B3000 failed high NOx at low speed, I went to several mechanics and asked them if they owned a 5 gas analyzer and all of them laughed. Also, I found out that most mechanics where I live are merely parts changers and are not competent at fixing emissions issues on OBD1 or OBD2 vehicles. For a NOx issue, most mechanics will try to replace your oxygen sensors, the catalytic converter, and the mass air flow sensor. Since the truck was over 20 years old, I replaced the oxygen sensors myself and an "emissions" mechanic replaced the mass air flow sensor and the mechanic got my truck to pass the NOx test by racing the engine and feathering the clutch on the dyno. The following year, the truck failed high NOx again so I decided to fix it myself. After doing some research, I found that several things can cause high NOx in a vehicle including engine overheating (leaking hoses and/or leaking radiator), manifold leaks, and leaks in the air intake system. After inspecting the plastic air intake snorkel tube that is connected to the throttle body, I could see that heat from the throttle body had degraded the plastic tube and I found a rather large hole on the bottom of the tube. After I patched the hole in the air intake tube, the truck passed the low speed NOx test with flying colors. BTW, the mechanic also wanted to change the EGR valve but, surprise, there's no EGR valve on my truck. I found that out when somebody recommended that I clean the EGR valve.
Not everyone buys a 5-Gas Analyzer to check their farts Glen 😎
@@haywardsautomotive6156the human nose is very accurate. The hydrocarbon numbers around my house are off the charts! 🤣
@@ozzstars_cars It lets you know how flammable they are...heard it from a friend 🤣
Gotta love the guys for their banter.. lol! Just too funny! 😂😂
Thank you so much for this video! This is THE best explanation I have ever seen or read on how a catalytic converter affects O2 sensor readings. I've had a vague understanding for a while but I feel very confident reading O2 sensor data now.
Scott Kilmer would of poured a gallon of acetone in the tank n drove it 150 miles.
He has a video out on this.
Soooooooooooo glad your here !
He's beyond, hmm full of "ideas"
I`m currently fighting a clogged converter on my car... the cat is right after the turbo and the O2 is perfectly accessible from under the hood.. since 1 Week I daily remove the O2 1-2 times a day and use a squirt bottle to pour down some acetone, lacquer thinner or DPF cleaner down into the cat...let it soak and drive it... I confirm my efforts by looking inside with an endoscope....after 1 week I have 70-80% of the deposits removed... engine is much more responsive, more power, less knock retard and less consumption.. will continue that for a few days....saved me a cat for now... yes, oil consumption was fixed before, bad PCV valve.
as cats are expensive as hell, it´s worth a try to me.. however I do not think that adding anything to the tank heals a clogged converter..acetone will burn to CO2, CO etc like fuel does, how should that clean a converter
he also said wash the cat with soap and water too!!! now that will work right? NOT!
@@bobl78 i very recently put one gallon of Home Depot thinner in a full tank of fuel in a 97 chevy 5.7 which had the codes left and right bank not reaching effiency. Two years ago I did the same thing but only bank one had code. Both times the truck was driven for two or three days and the mil. went out and scanner showed no codes and no pending codes. So scotty kilmers advice actually works and worked twice for me. Nobody wants to fork out the dough for new cats on a 97 pickup with close to 300g on the clock. I dont know where you get your cats but in California they have to have the right numbers on them or they wont pass. Also are more expensive by far compared to the rest of the country. Go figure.
interesting... maybe it depends on the type of clogging / poisoning...mine was clogged by engine oil depostits / ash and it did not help.... here during inspection they check for codes and readiness monitors and measure CO level at idle and 3000 rpm ... max is 0.3 % CO
Scotty Kilmer is such a hack and a disgrace to the car community. Lots of brainwashed people watch his channel religiously and actually believe the things he says. The guy doesn't even film videos on actual repairs anymore; all he does now are just pointless "Here's Why" and show and tell type videos.
Hi Eric and family have been away for awhile nice to see you doing a great job as usual.
I appreciate your presentation and explanations. I have a 2004 Toyota Sienna with a P0430. I am gathering various insights from explanations. Yours helped me a lot.
What a badass channel. Good work, sir.
Perfect example Eric!
I tip my hat the work you do, your attention to detail, in your diagnostic process!! Love your videos, love your channel, I'm hooked!! That having been said however no one has been able to convince me that catalytic converters or actually needed part of the automotive design! To this day I'm a firm believer that the catalytic converters we're created and mandated in order to create an industry! Specifically the mining and oar processing industry. Because it takes such a large amount of oar to get the necessary rare earth metals which are used in the catalytic converters, a great deal of mining and extraction and processing has to take place in order to build a catalytic converters! Whenever I get a car that does not have a downstream oxygen sensor built into the catalytic converter, and I even suspect a damaged plugged clogged catalytic converter, I break out the sawzall and cut that pig off of there, then use some pipe clamps to install a straight pipe in its place!! I've seen a number of vehicles improve their performance, power ratio, MPG, torque, and throttle response by simply cutting out that useless converter and replacing it with a straight pipe!! I've also been known to use a piece of fence rod carod the guts out of a converter and leave the body is an empty shell, another trick is to cut a square panel out of the bottom of the converter in smash all the guts up and let it fall on the ground, then use some steel putty to put the patch panel back over the hole!! I've never experienced engine problems after removing a useless ridiculously expensive an unnecessary catalytic converter from the exhaust
Great info once again Eric O. Those Commanders have that Hemi crammed in there. I really dislike broken manifold bolts on the grand Cherokees with the Hemi.
Eric, can you throw us a bone by remembering to tell us which scanner you're using when you boot it up? The brightness of the screen often makes seeing any logo on the side of the tool difficult. I see this one is the Bosch, but only after we got a look at 8:00. Brilliant summary, by the way.
Do you go OEM or aftermarket for catalytic converters? If aftermarket do you have a preferred brand?
Wait no lacquer thinner. But Scotty Kilmer says..😂🤣😂🤣. Good information here. I enjoyed the video!!
Theres a bell ringing guy that has a great video on cleaning your cat
In my youth, I baptized a lot of cats and I can tell you they don't much like it.
@@JMassengill Yeah but you have to do it in Acetone! That keeps them from whining about it!
@@frugalprepper AH! the foolishness of youth. I never knew that!
Great explanation Eric!💪👍
Great summary. I have the same prob. Was a bad coil/ misfire. Thx for the in depth info.
Hey Eric. I'm pretty sure the Autel has Catalyst replace function.
Thanks for the video Eric O. Lots of useful information as always.Thanks much❤️️
I bought a used 2013 GMC Sierra from a young kid and started having trouble and the thing was throwing 5 codes at me, ending up being intake manifold, exhaust leaks and cats, all I could see was big dollar signs. A week later a friend of mine who works for a tow service brought in a totaled 2016 Silverado with only 17,000 miles on it. I got the two cats and stock exhaust for $200!!! It's not what you know but who you know sometimes, I was so lucky.
Stoichiometric is just so much fun to say!!!
Great explanation and info. Thanks Dr. O!
So true, overheating kills the cats quickly. Some makes (especially Subaru) are disgustingly prone to frying cats from misfiring. Don't ignore misfires. With a blinking CEL for a misfire, your instinct may be to put your foot to the floor to attempt a rev tune-up . Big mistake, you're just adding more raw fuel to the hot fire. By the time you find a safe place to pull over and shut down the engine, it's probably too late, cat(s) already fried. It only takes one of these episodes especially when more than one cylinder is misfiring. The blinking CEL light is a good indicator things are going to get expensive if you ignore it.
good info eric! if that was a oem cat its fixed like forever you forgot the tec tip about the plug antifouler or the resistor
those are tampering devices.... ugly fines ;)
not that I wouldn't in the "backyard"
Eatin antifreeze and oil like it was its job... Lol. Good one 😂
What’s your experience/ results with using an infrared thermometer to diag a bad cat?
excellent diagnosing. I just aquired a Jeep Liberty 3.7 with p0430 and everybody else threw 02 sensors at me to replace. Didnt fix it.
Wow Thank You Eric very informative. Good Job
sir, direct explanation to the point well explained thanks
You must be earning a fortune to afford Bosch diagnostics here in the UK the updates alone are really expensive!
Well done Eric
I have this code on my 2011 Tahoe. Probably gonna cost a ton to fix knowing my luck.
What's your experience with durability of aftermarket catalyst ?
I love the vids. I get excited for new ones lol.
Hey Eric, firstly I'm a huge fan of yours. You are the perfect example of a true mechanic.
Secondly, my son has a 2003 Honda Accord EX and there were no check engine lights on.. The intake manifold house was cracked so I replaced. The next day the check engine light came on and the code is p0430. I don't know if I messed up the hose putting it on cuz I was rough, but can a intake manifold hose be a reason for the code p0430 coming on or is it a coincidence?
Sounds like it was an expensive repair with 2 cats on the line.
"And they write" how i miss what's up Wednesday! Awesome video I'm having the same issue with my 98 caravan with the "big" 3.3liter lol
Whats up wensday is only from January to april...eric says way to buzy to do year around..
Great repair! Enjoyed the diagnostic process learned lots about Cats. I did miss the Heat & Beat though. Keep up the great work!
Great video man i get it so much more now I wouldn't have figured that out
Great video Eric but I'm listening to you over my Bluetooth in my 200 and I keep looking at my dash everytime I hear that chime lmao
we don't have inspections here so last time mine went out we just cut it out and left it out
In tennesee a 29 dollar saw can fix all your clogged exhaust issues
2 spark plug anti foul bushings will repair the catalytic converter, right?
lol
Won't repair the cat but will get rid of the code. I did it after having my my replaced cat cease to function. Remember, the spark plug anti foul bushings is not the correct way to "fix" a bad cat. (wink, wink)
Great job again like always
I have seen oxygen fouler put in on downstreams helped and resolved p0420 p0430 code issue right away...
Had an aries head gasket fail .cut a triangle hole at inlet top gave it a d&c with a chisel put backwards blew out junk put back on passed inspection 5 more yrs.😁 Was a 200$ sta wagon got 40mpg . neighbor had Prius 45mpg 29k$.
THANKS WHAT ABOUT USING INFRARED THERMOMETER TO CHECK INLET OUTLET TEMP OF CATS TO CONFIRM WAVE FORM ON SCANNER TOOL
Thanks for the video.
ruh-roh-raggy,,,, I feel someone's pocket book and bank account emptying out :))
Great info thanks Eric!
Cat delete IMHO... My old Z28 would chew thru the cats with its big cam, I ended up getting a bolt in cat and a bolt in "off road" pipe and just swapped them when I had to get tested here in IN, glad we don't even have testing here anymore, big waste of time. Looking to get a Supercharged 18+ Mustang soon and first exhaust mod is going to be a "free flowing exhaust".
Your videos are so nice and provide us with so much information. I have watched many of them. I have a question I was hoping someone would see this and be able to answer. I have a 2004 Nissan Sentra with the 1.8 engine. It has around 150k on it and my wife uses it every day. I have a persistent P0011 code, which is something about the timing to far advanced. This has been going on for about 3 years. I had it to the dealer and they told me it needed a timing chain. And they "have seen this problem before but not in no 150k" of course they wanted a fortune to fix it and I told them no. I have a friend I know that has been working on cars for years at house and he told me to order a Nissan chain and gears and a tensioner and he would do the work for me. He did the work and it is running like it did when it was new. However this code keeps coming back. He said to use Nissan cam and crank sensors and I have done that too. I ordered the factory parts off e bay. The car had cheap sensors in it from auto zone. Is there anything else I can check? What else can cause this issue? It doesn't use one drop of oil either and this car fits my wife so well and she loves it. She is a nurse who travels around the county to her patients homes to help them. Any ideas anyone? thank you so much Carl Jenkins
Great video. Very useful information. Thanks.
My Nissan Frontier rolled over 105k miles last year. Time to change the sparkplugs. When this was done, the ECU began to spit out P0420 and P0430 codes. Can changing plugs kill the cats? Does not make sense. Using the Method shown in this video, the cats were diagnosed as dead and were changed out at much cost. Immediately afterwards, the ECU began to spit out the P0300 (random misfire) code. Continual misfire can kill the cats so this needed to be fixed. Everything was looked at: fuel pressure and volume, manifold leaks, coils, injectors, all the sensors and valves connected to the engine. Nothing. My truck was in the shop for about a month with no resolution. Then I read a post on the web from another Frontier owner with the same problem. The problem was in the secondary cats. These are un-monitored but when they plug, they will add backpressure. These were changed out at much cost and the problem was solved.
Fellow 3 time Frontier owner: There is another non engine defect with that if the upper cat goes, it releases a fine powder into the engine that eats it. Your engine is probably the VQ40DE, check the issues on the VQ35DE mywikimotors.com/vq35de/
the exact quote in case people fear a link: "Why do VQ35DE burning oil? The problem is caused by catalytic converters. They are very sensitive to the quality of gasoline and may get out of order quickly. Once it happens, ceramic powder gets into the bottom catalytic converters. And then it gets into the engine and grinds off cylinder walls. As the result, compression diminishes and oil and fuel consumption increases. "
@@DasShaten I never had this problem. But other truck owners who do much off roading and vehicle gymnastics as in jumping with their truck have been known to damage the honeycomb. As you noted, if pieces of the honeycomb find their way upstream and into the cylinders, bad things can happen.
@@titaniumsandwedge Educate me: how does material in the cat make its way backwards, against gas flow, into the engine?
@@reecenewton3097 How does a salmon swim upriver to spawn? I am sure some PhD has done a study to figure out this phenomenon. My guess is that upon engine shutdown, the cats are much hotter than the engine. Some exhaust valves are always opened. As the engine cools down, there may be a convective flow from the hot cat into the engine. The powder would be conveyed with this flow.
We've come a long way from...plugs, points and condenser. I liked the easy days.
the old chicken or the egg story. which came first the plugged converters or the oil burning causing the overheat and antifreeze use to plug the converters. we may never know!!!
How do you read the waveforms for a car with A/F ratio sensors? What is code setting criteria then? I cant find any resources and im so frustrated. Any links appreciated.
On a system with air fuel ratio sensors in the front the rear sensors are ordinary oxygen sensors.
Bill Moore Yes, but how do you read the waveforms? Would you look for a rich/lean switching in the rear O2?
Great video as usual! By the way. what brand is your whizzy wheel tool?
Thank you
well I've watched enough of these car repair channels to realize you either buy a scan tool or a parts canon.
So, how did the original cat get ruined.... ahh heard it at the end, heads replaced for oil consumption.
Nice! That was a good one.
Great info. As always
Would the graphing on the scan device change if the new converter was put on without resetting the ECM?
I know you are a busy guy but could i possibly get some advice from you on my personal vehicle?
I have a 2008 tahoe ltz flex 5.3 po430 code it all started po420 430 running to rich before I did spark plugs the check engine would flash sometimes with stability control light then go off. Be good for a couple days then come up.but after spark plugs no flashing just stays on for po430. Did all o2 sensors too. The couple times before it would come on then flash..it was like a loss of power almost could hit the gas down and wouldn't wanna go anywhere but then would all of a sudden jump back to reality and start going. Idk what to try to do next. I also sometimes feel like when I refuel it will act up idk if a fuel pump could do anything like this.
I'd fix 'er right quick with a Dorman #42009. Drill one piece out with a 1/2" bit, screw it into the non-drilled piece, and screw it in between the downstream sensor and the bung. If the cat's empty, there are bung extenders that have a small catalyst biscuit built in.
Is it legal? Nope. But Drive Clean has been scrapped in Ontario, and I'm quite tired of telling poor people they need $1000 worth of parts that don't save them fuel or give the engine any power.
Other Canadian and American jurisdictions require a yearly safety inspection as well as regular emission tests. With the end of Drive Clean in Ontario, we can all look forward to the return of filthy black and blue exhaust coming from unmaintained, unsafe clunkers that should have been off OUR roads years ago.
Thanks!
I have one of my fuel injector missing the plastic tip ! Would that trigger p0420 ? 2007 frontier 2.5 L
Shouldn't they name it just "operation" rather than "theory of operation." The latter seems to indicate we think this is how it works but we are't sure.
no, "theory" is correct, because the junk is lucky to work right anyway :))
M-W website
Two Related, Yet Distinct, Meanings of Theory
There are many shades of meaning to the word theory. Most of these are used without difficulty, and we understand, based on the context in which they are found, what the intended meaning is. For instance, when we speak of music theory we understand it to be in reference to the underlying principles of the composition of music, and not in reference to some speculation about those principles.
However, there are two senses of theory which are sometimes troublesome. These are the senses which are defined as “a plausible or scientifically acceptable general principle or body of principles offered to explain phenomena” and “an unproven assumption; conjecture.” The second of these is occasionally misapplied in cases where the former is meant, as when a particular scientific theory is derided as "just a theory," implying that it is no more than speculation or conjecture. One may certainly disagree with scientists regarding their theories, but it is an inaccurate interpretation of language to regard their use of the word as implying a tentative hypothesis; the scientific use of theory is quite different than the speculative use of the word.
I smelled strong egg smell thought oh here we go catalytic converter. turns out it was an ignition coil. a relief.
Bit of exaggeration on the damaging temps front: true values - optimal catalyst operating temp 800°F and Palladium melting 2800°F. Not couple of hundred difference - more like 2000°F difference. That is why Platinum is better in catalytic converters melts at 3200°F. The problem in the converters are typically not precious metals anyway - those made from steel internally - melt point of steel 2750°F. That is why primary cats in exhaust manifolds are ceramic structures coated with platinum.
Great knowledge
I watched your video about the P0430 code but I have a question about getting that code
because my bank 1 and bank 2 have different max thresholds. I'm thinking if bank 2 had the same max as bank 1 I would not be getting the P0430 code because bank 2 reading is always less than what the bank 1 max is when I get the code. I have a 06 F150 5.4 3v. Is it normal to have 2 different max thresholds? Thanks
When are you going to post another brake job video?
I had to replace a catalytic converter on my 94 Capri XR2. It was pricey
Would like to see more videos for Dodge Ram 2008 1500 SLT 4.7 p0153, p0456, p0430
Yea, I 'think" I get the idea. That auto-ranging "wrench" is just a little -Me la complico- with the "down stream reading a relatively steady signal" hard to get the old gray matter around the concept!!
But I kind like it,in a masochistic sort of way. 😒
I have a 2011 xc 60 Volvo and Iam getting a Po171, po174- po430 code . Would like your opinion on it, thanks.
From where did you get the new cats?
But my Question is, If Bank 1 is fine, Why it should throw the error P0420, Since this code is related to Bank 1
Expensive repair, but got the job done. Wo betide the backfire !
My 07 Grand Caravan has the P0420 and when I did my oil change, less than a quart came out.. you think that has to do something with that? It also vibrates where my exhaust is, I did change it with some GTX and MMO with a Mopar filter
You're burning oil or have a leak. Check your oil every morning with the engine cold.
That was good.
I'm so glad we don't have vehicle inspections here in Florida. When the money light comes on, I'll always fix whatever's wrong....unless it's for an efficiency code. My current car has had one for 3 years now....I'm not a tree hugger, I don't care if the converter has lost efficiency