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  1. #1
    Junior Member
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    black
    01 pontiac transam ws6 m6

    service engine light code

    someone please help and tell me what is wrong with my car od2 code is
    PO420 it shows up ywice... it says catalyst low flow restricted or sumthing like that does that mean my damn catalytic converter is out? also i have the flowmaster 80 series crossflow could this have caused this?

  2. #2
    Senior Member SeVeReDiStOrTiOn's Avatar
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    05 Wrangler
    00 Z28 sold :-(

    cat efficiency below threshold....your driverside cat isn't working as good as it should. I had that code and I replaced the cats and haven't had the code in 4 months...before that it would pop up within a day of being cleared. Make sure the cat went bad on it's own though....because other conditions can cause a cat to go bad...like a blown headgasket or running rich. You want to fix the cause...not the effect, otherwise you'll be buying more then just 2 cats

  3. #3
    Veteran 0rion's Avatar
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    98 Formula
    06 duramax

    First I would swap the rear O2 sensors to see if the code follows that sensor before changing cats. May just be a bad sensor but that's one way to find out. If it's the sensor it'll throw p0430 for the passenger side and if you still get 420 then it's time for new cats.

  4. #4
    pontiac_god
    Guest
    Quote Originally Posted by RYDER661
    does that mean my damn catalytic converter is out?
    Yep...for that bank. If it were an O2 sensor then you would throw a code PO13*.

  5. #5
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    Don't forget about the federal emissions warranty on the cats - most of them get replaced free.

  6. #6
    Member keliente's Avatar
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    99 Firebird Formula

    Quote Originally Posted by 2001NBMZ28
    Don't forget about the federal emissions warranty on the cats - most of them get replaced free.
    8 years/80k miles. Some dealers will make exceptions, but don't expect it.

  7. #7
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    black
    01 pontiac transam ws6 m6

    i bought my car used at 58,000 miles has 63k now does it still have the federal emissions warranty?

  8. #8
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    Yep, the 8/80 is for the cats and PCM - don't have to be the original owner. Leave the light on and see what the dealer says - most will tell you over the phone diag fee, could be an 02, exhaust leak, physical damage to cat etc. - but I have a couple friends that had the same code and they replaced it free - only issue they had was P0420 illuminated.

  9. #9
    BAD ASS everett's Avatar
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    black
    02 CAMARO SS

    o2

    yeh i'd change the o2's first

  10. #10
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    6.93 at 100.3 mph
    1992 Camaro RS

    p0420 does mean the converters need to be replaced

  11. #11
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    2002 Trans Am WS6 M6

    I've had this code a few times and have thought nothing of it because I knew what the code meant. Is there any reason to replace my cats besides emissions compliance?

  12. #12
    Senior Member SeVeReDiStOrTiOn's Avatar
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    05 Wrangler
    00 Z28 sold :-(

    Quote Originally Posted by GLUMAKER
    I've had this code a few times and have thought nothing of it because I knew what the code meant. Is there any reason to replace my cats besides emissions compliance?
    If you don't want to replace them...either gut them or remove them....last thing that you want is a clogged cat.

  13. #13
    pontiac_god
    Guest
    Quote Originally Posted by SeVeReDiStOrTiOn
    If you don't want to replace them...either gut them or remove them....last thing that you want is a clogged cat.
    He doesn't have a clogged cat. You'll throw a PO420 for much less a problem than a clogged catalytic converter. It is an effeciency monitoring system that compares the voltage waveform of the upstream O2 sensor to the downstream O2 sensor. If you gut or remove the cat, you'd best not live where you are going to need to emission test because you will be driving with the SES light.

    Just take it to the dealership and have them replace it. It's convered under warranty. They might be relanctant to do it...but still to your guns about it and you'll get a new one.

  14. #14
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    Maroon & Silver
    2000 Chevy 2500HD 6.0 V8

    I have a 2000 Chevy 6.0. It has dual exhaust straightpipes. My O2 sensor burns out when i put a new one in it. Where can I get the dummy sensor to put in for it?

  15. #15
    Senior Member SeVeReDiStOrTiOn's Avatar
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    05 Wrangler
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    Quote Originally Posted by pontiac_god
    He doesn't have a clogged cat. You'll throw a PO420 for much less a problem than a clogged catalytic converter. It is an effeciency monitoring system that compares the voltage waveform of the upstream O2 sensor to the downstream O2 sensor. If you gut or remove the cat, you'd best not live where you are going to need to emission test because you will be driving with the SES light.

    Just take it to the dealership and have them replace it. It's convered under warranty. They might be relanctant to do it...but still to your guns about it and you'll get a new one.
    Yes I know it'll throw a code just for low efficency...like I said I had the same code and passed cali smog only a month before the p0420 started popping up. Also I never said he has a clogged cat...I said the last thing he wants is one....since it sounds like he planning on just leaving the cat the way it is.

    And yes you can gut or remove the cats without having the ses on all the time....either get rear o2 sims or have the rear o2's tuned out.

  16. #16
    Senior Member SeVeReDiStOrTiOn's Avatar
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    05 Wrangler
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    Quote Originally Posted by pontiac_god
    .
    Just take it to the dealership and have them replace it. It's convered under warranty. They might be relanctant to do it...but still to your guns about it and you'll get a new one.
    Also he lives in cali....so the cat warranty is only good for 7yrs/70,000miles....rest of the states it's 8yrs/80,000

  17. #17
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    2002 Trans Am WS6 M6

    Yes, I do plan on leaving the cat the way it is. I'll change it when I have to deal with smog.

  18. #18
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    Quote Originally Posted by jimbo4069
    I have a 2000 Chevy 6.0. It has dual exhaust straightpipes. My O2 sensor burns out when i put a new one in it. Where can I get the dummy sensor to put in for it?
    Assuming you have precat and post cat 02's like we do stock, 02 sims will work for the post cat sensors - if it's a front one something else is going on and sims won't work.

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