P0420 and P0430 Code

My tacoma is throwing code P0420 and P0430. truck has 230k. think it’s a sensor?

 

Do you have access to a live data scan tool? If so then you should view the data from the O2 sensors, there are two O2 sensors per side of the engine so four O2 sensors total, if everything is working correctly then the voltage reading from the 1st sensor will look like a ac current but the reading from the 2nd sensor will be a mostly flat line. If the 2nd sensor is a mirror image of the 1st sensor then the catalytic converter is bad.

 

I attached a picture of my readings. it seems like it is doing what you described to be normal.

 

If you have no exhaust leaks it looks like your converters are no longer working effectively, the reason it doesn't look like the upstream sensors (B1 S1 & B2 S1) are oscillating is because they are wideband sensors but you can see the downstreams (B1 S2 & B2 S2) are oscillating meaning the converters are no longer working.

 

I have the same…. Bad cats /:

 

So I gotta either replace the cats or get it dirty smogged?

 

Yep, those are specifically cat codes. Needs new cats on both banks.

 

if I clear the code, it doesn’t come back for a while. Would I be able to clear the code then go get it smogged right after?

 

It's been almost a decade since I lived in California, I don't know what the smog tests consist of anymore. I'm guessing you could give it a try, but there's a strong chance you'll fail. Also, unless you're using manufacturer diagnostics, you can't actually clear the codes from stored memory.

 

Yeah, once the code are present, they are stored. You can clear them for a short time, but each time they usually reappear sooner than the last.

 

should I give cat cleaner a try?

 

I'd be checking your o2 sensors first.

 

i thought we rulled out that it wasn’t the sensor at the top

 

Haha, I don't even know what that is but it sounds like bullshit. Unfortunately, you're kinda up a creek. For example, Ford put out a recall on a large portion of their cars that cover from 2014-2019 for these exact codes. They replace them at no cost to the owner, I this case the police department I wrench for. There's usually no work around when it comes to cats gone bad.

 

should I buy these? https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2015-oem-exhaust-manifolds-cats.800377/

 

Your o2 sensors have different codes. P codes are regulated by federal mandates to mean specific things regardless of manufacturer. P0420 and 0430 is bad cats.

 

That's a 500 dollar gamble in my opinion. But, if you do I'd check and see how much you can get for scrapping them first just in case they are smoked as well. That way you can consider what the loss might actually be.

 

Not if you live in CA. When you clear the codes you reset the emissions monitors and they will read as "not ready" via a scan tool. The smog shop will see that and tell you to come back when the monitors are cycled and ready. But when that happens the codes will most likely come back too

You can try to run a can of CatAClean through the tank and if there's enough life left in the cats it will fool the system long enough to think they're good enough to pass. Worked for me last time when I had a similar issue

 

damn I need a joint after this…