I threw a code....

**transamgirl89** · 07-26-2011, 04:41 PM

Lately I've noticed my car making a puttering/ticking noise when I put on the gas. I just had a new Jasper engine put in and new headers. The SES light came on today and gave me the P0420 code which can mean several things like clogged cat, 02 sensor gone bad exhaust leak ect. Could the noise be due to that or possibly a lifter needing to be tightened? New engine has 3,500 miles on it, new spark plugs and gasket seals. They reused the vacuum hoses so it may be from a vacuum leak but I'm not completely sure. I'm open for suggestions.

**cammed goat** · 07-26-2011, 05:53 PM

Have the car checked for an exhaust leak. Are you running cats?

**transamgirl89** · 07-26-2011, 06:26 PM

Originally Posted by cammed goat

Have the car checked for an exhaust leak. Are you running cats?

yep factory cats. I've always wanted to gut them so if that turns out to be the problem I'm hoping my mechanic will just gut them since I don't have emissions.

**cammed goat** · 07-26-2011, 07:41 PM

Most likely, you will need a tune or you will have a constant SES light.

**transamgirl89** · 07-26-2011, 07:44 PM

how much is a tune?

**cammed goat** · 07-26-2011, 08:20 PM

Depends on the shop. Do you have any tuners near you?

**transamgirl89** · 07-27-2011, 10:25 AM

It was an exhaust leak coming from the down pipe. Fixed and good to go! Now all
I have to do is put on my new slotted rotors next week and I'm set.

**cammed goat** · 07-27-2011, 02:10 PM

Good to hear. You'll enjoy those rotors. Just make sure you bed those pads in real good.

**transamgirl89** · 07-27-2011, 03:14 PM

oh I know. Got new pads to go with them. Last time I reused my pads on new rotors they squealed and took a while to seat good.

**cammed goat** · 07-27-2011, 04:17 PM

Yikes!!! Like nails on a chalkboard.

**transamgirl89** · 07-28-2011, 03:11 PM

UGGGHHHH exhaust leak is back!! Back to the shop I go! Why is it that every time I have an off day I end up spending it working on the car? Anyone found the "easy" button on these cars yet? lol

**cammed goat** · 07-28-2011, 04:35 PM

Loose clamp?

**transamgirl89** · 07-28-2011, 07:25 PM

That's what they just tightened. Where the headers connect to the down pipe is clamped and the dpipe to the cat is welded. I jacked it up when I got home from work and the clamp is super tight but it's still leaking from there. You can't move it around much so I'm not sure what to do. Can you weld it? It's just annoying me cause if this keeps up it can ruin my 02 sensors and I don't have that kind o money to replace them. BTW the recall they made on the cats, does that apply to the V6 cats or only LS1 cats and is the recall still in affect?

**cammed goat** · 07-29-2011, 02:14 PM

Sounds like engine vibration is rattling the pipes loose. You could try to weld the pipes, but if you have to drop the headers for any other work, you won't be able to. I don't know about the V6 cats. What headers are you running. Are you running the stock cats with the headers?

**speedfreak1** · 07-29-2011, 02:58 PM

P0420 Code which is defined as "Catalyst System,Bank1 Efficiency Below Threshold"

**black2kSS** · 07-29-2011, 05:28 PM

sounds like your cat could be clogged causing alot of back pressure in front of it. which would explain any leaks at the headers or flanges in front of the cat. i would hollow that sucker

**transamgirl89** · 07-29-2011, 09:54 PM

Well we took the cat off and it was fine no clogs. I want to just gut it but the shop won't do it cause the county I'm in has emissions even though I have a bama tag he can't do it by law. We did take the clamp off and weld it and it still made the noise. Only thing we could think of is the leak is coming from where all the pipes meet and there is a small hole there. I have pacesetter headset btw.