Any tricks to clean out a Cat converter?

[leech~~]

My son is down in college and is driving our old 2002 Chrysler Voyager. He is getting a Cat 0420 code and they want $850 bucks to replace it. I'm just trying to keep him going down the road until he can get out of school and get his own ride without putting a lot of money into this old van! Any ideas?

[Jeremy airjer W]

That code most likely tells you that the cat is no longer performing as it should. It has reached its lifespan. There is no magic, easy, or inexpensive fix.

How many miles?

[leech~~]

About 179,000 yep it's old.

[NowthenJoe]

This was a super common code on Subarus. I had it happen on both the Subarus I owned. I frequented the forums and found out guys were just "tricking" the computer.

The code comes up when the secondary O2 sensor doesn't see a noticeable difference from the reading before the CAT. To "fix" this, you need to create some additional space between the rear O2 sensor and the cat.

[NOTE FROM ADMIN, PLEASE READ FORUM POLICY BEFORE POSTING. THANK YOU]

Though this isn't the ideal fix, I can attest that it did work just fine for me. It certainly was better than replacing the whole CAT system.

[leech~~]

NJ, I like it, makes a lot of sense. I'm sure it will kill a lot of people with the massive amount of extra C0 it will put out! But, hey it could save me $850 bucks!

[Macgyver55]

If its in an accessible spot, pick up a universal cat (available for about a hundred bucks) cut the pipe and weld it or have it welded in.

I've done lots of them and they should last a few years.

[Shack]

Quote:

Any tricks to clean out a Cat converter?

A big hammer.

[nobody05]

My car is old enough. I fixed mine with a sawzall a welder and a piece of pipe. Did I say that out loud?

[harvey lee]

Great fixed nobody.

[harvey lee]

Great fixed nobody.

Air chisel will also work Shack.

[leech~~]

A big hammer.

You mean to lightly tap the build up out of it Shack?

[Jeremy airjer W]

My car is old enough. I fixed mine with a sawzall a welder and a piece of pipe. Did I say that out loud?

I'll be the Debbie downer. You a required by law to have a tailpipe emissions system that is in working order as originally equipped by the manufacturer at the time of manufacture. Failure to maintain this system makes the vehicle unlicenseable for on road use. Just because we no longer or where not required to have emissions testing does not mean the laws no longer apply. It means we are are the honor system until enough people think they don't have to fix it right and then we will be back to bringing the car in once a year to have it tested.

If your driving around in a vehicle that no longer meets its tailpipe emissions standards that's fine BUT you have no right to jump on the guy talking a couple over the limit, or taking out of season, etc. Your both having an impact on the environment and neither is o.k. IMO.

[delcecchi]

When did Minnesota have emissions testing? I don't remember that and I have been living here longer than I care to admit. Am I suffering from CRS?

[Scott K]

They had emmision testing in the mid to late 90's

[BoxMN]

Yeah, the MN testing was a pita for me. I would fail on my Ranger, go to parking lot, twist distributor about 4 degrees, go back and test again and pass, and then twist distributor back to normal and off I would go. That was after the $1000 repair that never worked the first year... ugh... after that I started to learn how to work on my own stuff. I still don't know carp, but glad the emissions testing is gone. It was a scam, IMO.

[Scott K]

I would rather there be a mandatory safety inspection on vehicles over 5 years old. You really wouldnt believe the un safe vehicles that leave with saying, I will do it next oil change, but they never do. I have witnessed a outer tie rod end, that you could lift off the socket, brought them out to show them, and was told they will do it at their next oil change, I tried to explain to them, it wasnt safe to drive off the hoist, but believe it or not, the next oil change came, and they still havent replaced it, and didnt then either. I have witnessed on many occasions that people would rather pinch off rear brake lines on their pick ups, rather then put a rear wheel cylinder in, or to replace a leaky brake line. Or tiers with cords hanging out. Yet these same people will have a $2000 audio system, or many accessories in the vehicle. It really makes one think as your driving down the road, with cars coming at you at 70mph.

[Jeremy airjer W]

I agree. I had a car pass me on the freeway with sparks coming from the passenger front tire. It was the metal cords making the sparks!

[delcecchi]

That's strange. I been living here since forever and never had testing. Maybe it was a metro thing.

OK, looked it up, and it was a metro thing that went from like 92 to 99.

Not for us SE folks.

[JOHNBIGDOG]

I would rather there be a mandatory safety inspection on vehicles over 5 years old. You really wouldnt believe the un safe vehicles that leave with saying, I will do it next oil change, but they never do. I have witnessed a outer tie rod end, that you could lift off the socket, brought them out to show them, and was told they will do it at their next oil change, I tried to explain to them, it wasnt safe to drive off the hoist, but believe it or not, the next oil change came, and they still havent replaced it, and didnt then either. I have witnessed on many occasions that people would rather pinch off rear brake lines on their pick ups, rather then put a rear wheel cylinder in, or to replace a leaky brake line. Or tiers with cords hanging out. Yet these same people will have a $2000 audio system, or many accessories in the vehicle. It really makes one think as your driving down the road, with cars coming at you at 70mph.

On a side note, I have told my service writer that X part is about to fall out ( say a ball joint ) Then I over hear the writer talking to the customer to get it fixed soon. In no way stressing the danger of the vehicle. oh well