Catalytic converter crisis

[brad sweet]

I've driven around for 6 months with an engine service idiot light on my dash that I'm told is catalytic converter failure. Ford wants $1500 to replace it. Firestone wants a grand. I'm told that it can be replaced for a whole lot less. Anybody on here capable of replacing a catalytic converter on a 2005 Ford Explorer? Replacing brakes and A/C on my wife's (Chrysler product) car has eaten my lunch but I have till September before the emissions inspection is due.

First of all did you replace the gas cap and check the mass air flow sensor for broken wire inside and signal to it, other is does it lack power or heavy hesitation...if so its possible to have a cat failure ..if you are blowing blackish smoke out the pipe mass air flow has the fuel system in closed loop thinking its at WOT[ wide open throttle] the other codes that pop up during this are cat failure, o2 sensor and sometimes egr valve after all that is checked then go for the cat...save some money get the Haynes manual and do sensor checks for poping for 500/700 dollars Firestone will replace your verter and then tell you that the sensors need to be replaced do to damaged converter when all along it was a sensor causing the code.be smart ck around ask more questions..also a stuck thermostat or coolant temp sensor will do that same thing..good luck

 

[polaris30144]

My wife's car failed emissions test and the codes were showing bad o2 sensor and bad cat. Had a mechanic change out the sensor and it still showed bad. Thought about it for awhile and realized when we changed the radiator we didn't change the thermostat. The engine was running cool because the thermostat was stuck open. The engine never got up to proper operating temp and the computer was throwing codes out for bad cat and sensor when all it needed was a new thermostat. Changed the thermostat and drove it for a day, took it back and passed emissions test with flying colors. Apparently running cold caused the engine to run very rich and the computer saw it as a bad sensor and cat.

 

[polaris30144]

As far as Fords go, I have a 1989 F150 with 5.0 and it still has original cat on it. It never failed emissions test and now it doesn't need one ever again because of it's age. I have put two new exhaust on it from cat back over the years, but the cat never failed.

 

[Lockout]

First of all did you replace the gas cap and check the mass air flow sensor for broken wire inside and signal to it, other is does it lack power or heavy hesitation...if so its possible to have a cat failure ..if you are blowing blackish smoke out the pipe mass air flow has the fuel system in closed loop thinking its at WOT[ wide open throttle] the other codes that pop up during this are cat failure, o2 sensor and sometimes egr valve after all that is checked then go for the cat...save some money get the Haynes manual and do sensor checks for poping for 500/700 dollars Firestone will replace your verter and then tell you that the sensors need to be replaced do to damaged converter when all along it was a sensor causing the code.be smart ck around ask more questions..also a stuck thermostat or coolant temp sensor will do that same thing..good luck

nothing you stayed would kick cat Code but the o2 sensors not working correctly no need to go thru all wasted time
all you do is get the cat at operating temp take a laser temp reader and check temp before cat and after. If the temp is same then cat is burned up has hole and bad


If cat before temp is a lot higher before cat and cooler after the cat is stopped up
if it's cooler before cat and hotter out like 100 or more it's good cat most is the time and I would check for weak o2

99% cat code is bad cat

 

[Lockout]

My wife's car failed emissions test and the codes were showing bad o2 sensor and bad cat. Had a mechanic change out the sensor and it still showed bad. Thought about it for awhile and realized when we changed the radiator we didn't change the thermostat. The engine was running cool because the thermostat was stuck open. The engine never got up to proper operating temp and the computer was throwing codes out for bad cat and sensor when all it needed was a new thermostat. Changed the thermostat and drove it for a day, took it back and passed emissions test with flying colors. Apparently running cold caused the engine to run very rich and the computer saw it as a bad sensor and cat.

If thermostat was making engine run cool and not getting up to normal temp 195-215 then it will throw a code for
Operating temp to low
never in my history of experience ever seen this to ever throw a cat code
you had more then one problem or not a cat code and they was throwing parts at it

either way you passed so who cares now right lol

 

[Lockout]

As far as Fords go, I have a 1989 F150 with 5.0 and it still has original cat on it. It never failed emissions test and now it doesn't need one ever again because of it's age. I have put two new exhaust on it from cat back over the years, but the cat never failed.

Those are the good true American made ones these now are Mexico or China made crap


the best are the bead styles like 88-94 Chevy and your era fords

 

[41mag]

Vacuum leak would NOT cause cat code it would be system to lean code either bank 1 or 2 or both

Look at trouble tree for po420/po430....possible causes will list vacuum leak. If not I'm sorry and mistaken. But I believe I am correct.
it is not likely, but it is possible.

 

[Lockout]

Look at trouble tree for po420/po430....possible causes will list vacuum leak. If not I'm sorry and mistaken. But I believe I am correct.
it is not likely, but it is possible.

No the cat code isn't a mass air problem or vacuum leak or erg or thermostat if you have cat code you have a cat issue rarely o2 sensor but can cause


The problem before cat was bad could been mass air or temp sensor or tune up or thermostat that damaged the cat but if you don't fix the reason why the cat code came on for damage cat you will damage the new one


always fix the issues that caused damage to your converter

vacuum leak will be bank 1 or 2 or both system too lean code

 

[Lockout]

Look at trouble tree for po420/po430....possible causes will list vacuum leak. If not I'm sorry and mistaken. But I believe I am correct.
it is not likely, but it is possible.

These are causes of a damage cat and these needs to be checked and fixed before replacing cat
at end of day cat is still damaged
if you don't fix the above problems you will be buying another cat as your engine is running poorly and damaged the cat

 

[potenza]

This is getting interesting ! My brothers, sisters, mother had a car once and it needed a dog!! The mechanic said it needed a cat, so I changed the radiator cap, because I read it on the internet