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Bound to happen. I finally got my first P0420 code!

Discussion in 'Technical Chat' started by BamaToy1997, Apr 25, 2014.

  1. May 1, 2014 at 1:31 AM
    #21
    robssol

    robssol If it ain't broke, leave it the eff alone!

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    Sub'd
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  2. May 1, 2014 at 10:37 PM
    #22
    fyremanpat

    fyremanpat Well-Known Member

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    long tubes eliminate the cats, not the y pipe. the y pipe has resonators.
     
  3. May 2, 2014 at 6:33 PM
    #23
    Mrogers33

    Mrogers33 The way is open, the time is now

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    Bill do you mind continuing about covering the process for diagnosing the components? I just had my muffler and pipe replaced up to the cat, but still throwing a p0420, so will have to get the multimeter and test sensors and maybe the cat. Also gonna disconnect the battery to reset and change spark plugs since it had been running way rich for quite some time, and clean the TB, IACV, and MAF while in there.
     
  4. May 2, 2014 at 6:40 PM
    #24
    Dusty taco

    Dusty taco Well-Known Member

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    What year was your truck that you dumped money into? Mines an 05 and really don't want to changeout the whole manifold, cats, etc.
     
  5. May 2, 2014 at 6:46 PM
    #25
    Mrogers33

    Mrogers33 The way is open, the time is now

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    I couldnt imagine an 05 to warrant a repair that extensive, even with my rotten frame and underbody they didnt try to sell me on sensors & cats up to the manifold. Not sure what year his truck was, mines an 03 so i guess 2 years isnt much time difference especially if you live in a rust prone area.
     
  6. May 3, 2014 at 11:22 AM
    #26
    BamaToy1997

    BamaToy1997 [OP] Wheel Bearing Master

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    best wheel bearings around! www.marionbumper2bumper.com
    I will update as I run the diagnostic. The shop has been really busy as of late and I just never seem to have time to work on my own sh!t! haha
     
  7. May 3, 2014 at 11:27 AM
    #27
    smmarine

    smmarine Well-Known Member

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    I would love to see it to cause I never diagnosed my 99s P0420 that I PM'd you about awhile back. Subbed for the long run :pccoffee:
     
  8. May 6, 2014 at 6:18 AM
    #28
    BamaToy1997

    BamaToy1997 [OP] Wheel Bearing Master

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    I haven't forgotten about this, just to let you all know. I am trying to get the time where I can diagnose it, and document everything.
     
  9. May 22, 2014 at 6:36 AM
    #29
    BamaToy1997

    BamaToy1997 [OP] Wheel Bearing Master

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    NOTE: I would have more information posted, but I have not had the code fail again since the starting of this post. All O2 data is normal, and everything checks out. Just thought I should update.
     
  10. Jul 14, 2014 at 1:18 PM
    #30
    netsomnia

    netsomnia Well-Known Member

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    I am attaching my waveforms. The graph appears to indicate that I have a bad cat because the 2nd waveform on mine somewhat follows the first, which is indicating that the expected O2 level does not meet Federal emissions specifications, correct? Is that why it is not a flat line as expected for normal emissions? If a sensor was consistently bad, I would not have these waveforms and good voltage output, correct? The pick on the left is 50MPH, the one in the middle was immediately after engine reached operating temperature and I reached a steady 45MPH. The pic on the right is at 70MPH.

    O2_55MPH.jpg
    O2-starting_at_engine_op_temp.jpg
    02-70MPH.jpg
     
  11. Jul 17, 2014 at 12:34 PM
    #31
    BamaToy1997

    BamaToy1997 [OP] Wheel Bearing Master

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    I clicked a wrong button and had about 3 nice paragraphs deleted on accident! Grrr. Well, cut to the nitty gritty, Those waveforms actually look pretty decent. You don't want to go by a reading anywhere except a steady throttle, with no recent acceleration or deceleration (Enrichment mode, and DFCO mode)
     
  12. Jul 17, 2014 at 5:00 PM
    #32
    netsomnia

    netsomnia Well-Known Member

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    Thank you. The CEL came on again and getting the infamous 'catalyst system error' again. How can I run like this before the O2 sensors or something related begins to fail too? I am shopping for a new cat because the voltage looks good on the O2's as you were saying. P0420 go away!
     
  13. Jul 17, 2014 at 7:15 PM
    #33
    BamaToy1997

    BamaToy1997 [OP] Wheel Bearing Master

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    What was the specific code? Was it P0420, or something else close?
     
  14. Jul 19, 2014 at 11:32 AM
    #34
    evile

    evile Well-Known Member

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    Ford technician here. My taco got the bank 2 drivers side code a few months ago and I mostly ignore it. I used our snap-on scanner and determined that it is indeed the cat and because it's part of the manifold from Toyota it's a grand for the part.

    Any one have aftermarket recommendations?
     
  15. Jul 19, 2014 at 11:40 AM
    #35
    evile

    evile Well-Known Member

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    You want to be at idle sensor one should be an up and down wave sensor two should be almost flat. If one and two match or close to it you have a bad cat like I do
     
  16. Jul 23, 2014 at 3:26 PM
    #36
    netsomnia

    netsomnia Well-Known Member

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    Thank you. CAT it is. I am thinking Maganflow aftermarket and keep replacing it as it needs it. Hopefuly it will last more than a couple few thousand miles. When I first bought the vehicle the gasket before the cat was leaking so I think this might have been how the CAT was damaged or contaminated in the first place.
     
  17. Jul 23, 2014 at 3:33 PM
    #37
    netsomnia

    netsomnia Well-Known Member

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    P0240. You said those wave forms looked good but after reviewing this doc: http://www.obd-codes.com/p0420 , second paragraph under "What does that mean?", I am leaning towards a CAT. Do you have something else in mind for troubleshooting or do you think I am diagnosing properly?

    Quote from obd-codes.com: "The catalytic converter has an oxygen sensor in front and behind it. When the vehicle is warm and running in closed loop mode, the upstream oxygen sensor waveform reading should fluctuate. The downstream O2 sensor reading should be fairly steady. Typically the P0420 code triggers the Check Engine Light if the readings of the two sensors are similar."

    NOTE: They appear to be normal like your example while idling but both fluctuate and nearly match when driving down the road and closely matching at high speed (60 MPH+). I'll pull the trigger on aftermarket CAT tomorrow unless you think I need to disconnect O2's and do more testing with volt/ohm meter.
     
  18. Jul 24, 2014 at 5:04 PM
    #38
    Ninja TRDle

    Ninja TRDle Well-Known Member

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    Sub'd. I have this code on both my wife's Jetta and the Taco now... Really helpful stuff here, I love this forum.....
     
  19. Jul 25, 2014 at 8:37 AM
    #39
    Funhog

    Funhog Active Member

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    This code just popped up on my 01 Taco up yesterday...grr
     
  20. Jul 25, 2014 at 3:58 PM
    #40
    netsomnia

    netsomnia Well-Known Member

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    tacoma_o2_ohms.jpg
    I think I overlooked this diagram and a related thread during my research before I ordered cat. My new CAT is on the way but this attachment might help you pinpoint better. I thought if my O2's were responding in ODBII graphs that would be enough diagnosis, but other 1st Gen. threads indicate that the downstream O2 is a more common solution for the P0420 code. Who knows? Looks like I will be testing Ohm's with my volt/ohm meter while my CAT is being shipped.

    Here is the other O2 reference thread that I am referencing for a PCV troubleshoot: http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/1st-gen-tacomas/275362-pvc-valve.html
     
    Last edited: Jul 25, 2014

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