Check Engine Light 0420 code
#1
12-09-2013, 05:10 PM
Check Engine Light 0420 code
Have a 2002 Blazer, 4X4, 4 door, 314,473 miles, 4.3 engine, automatic. Was getting 0420 code and have replaced catalytic converter and all three o2 sensors. Finally narrowed it down to, when I come to a stop light if I sit there for more than 10 to 12 seconds I hear the engine rpm rev slightly and then the check engine light comes on with 0420, and I get two 0420 codes not just one. Here's the kicker if I shift into neutral for about 3 to 5 seconds and then back to drive I can go for days and never get the 0420 code. If I sit for less than 10 seconds never happens.
My mechanic found a broken vacuum hose where it connects to the wheel well and just had the transfer case seal replaced along with a new switch for the 4WD as it was pulling trans fluid into the engine via the vacuum hose. Blew out the vac hoses they all look good.
Trans fluid gets changed every 100,000 & filter.
Any ideas????
My mechanic found a broken vacuum hose where it connects to the wheel well and just had the transfer case seal replaced along with a new switch for the 4WD as it was pulling trans fluid into the engine via the vacuum hose. Blew out the vac hoses they all look good.
Trans fluid gets changed every 100,000 & filter.
Any ideas????
#2
12-09-2013, 05:50 PM
CIRCUIT DESCRIPTION
In order to maintain a reasonably low emissions of hydrocarbons (HC), carbon monoxide (CO), and oxides of nitrogen (NOx), the engine controls system uses a three-way catalytic convener. The catalyst within the converter promotes a chemical reaction which oxidizes the HC and CO present in the exhaust gas. This reaction converts them into harmless water vapor and carbon dioxide. The catalyst also reduces NOx, converting the NOx into nitrogen. The powertrain control module (PCM) monitors this process using bank 1 heated oxygen sensor (HO2S) 2. Bank 1 HO2S 2, located in the exhaust stream past the three-way catalytic converter, produces an output signal which indicates the oxygen storage capacity of the catalyst. This determines the catalysts ability to convert exhaust emissions effectively. If the catalyst is functioning correctly, the bank 1 HO2S 2 signal will be far less active than that produced by bank 1 HO2S 1. This indicates that the three-way catalytic converters oxygen storage capacity is operating at a threshold considered acceptable.
When the conditions for running this diagnostic trouble code (DTC) are met, the following occurs:
^ The powertrain control module (PCM) captures the current rear HO2S rich or lean status.
^ The air fuel ratio transitions from rich to lean or lean to rich depending on the capture rear HO2S rich or lean status.
^ The air fuel ratio transitions a second time opposite the first air fuel ratio transition.
^ The PCM captures the response time, the time the HO2S goes from below 300 mV to above 600 mV and from 600 mV to below 300 mV, of the front and rear heated oxygen sensors when the air fuel ratio transitions occurred.
^ The PCM measures the time the HO2S takes the rear HO2S voltage to cross a reference rich or lean threshold minus the time the HO2S takes the front HO2S voltage to cross the same rich or lean threshold. The time difference from the front and rear HO2S is the oxygen storage capacity of the catalyst. This DTC sets if the time exceeds a predetermined threshold.
CONDITIONS FOR RUNNING THE DTC
^ DTCs P0101, P0102, P0103, P0106, P0107, P0108, P0112, P0113, P0116, P0117, P0118, P0121, P0122, P0123, P0131, P0132, P0133, P0134, P0135, P0137, P0138, P0140, P0171, P0172, P0200, P0300, P0335, P0336, P0341, P0342, P0343, P0351, P0401, P0404, P0405, P0410, P0418, P0440, P0442, P0443, P0446, P0449, P0500, P0502, P0503, P0506, P0507, P0704, P0706, P0711, P0712, P0716, P0719, P0724, P0740, P0741, P0742, P0748, P0751, P0752, P0753, P0756, P0757, P0758, P1112, P1114, P1115, P1121, P1122, P1336, P1345, P1404, P1860, P1870, or P1875 are not set.
^ The engine operating longer than 400 seconds.
^ The engine coolant temperature (ECT) is between 70-120°C (158-248°F).
^ The intake air temperature (IAT) is between -15 to +167°F (5-75°C).
^ The engine speed is more than 1,300 RPM for a minimum of 9 seconds since the end of the last idle test.
^ The barometric pressure (BARO) is more than 74 kPa.
^ The fuel system is operating in Closed Loop.
CONDITIONS FOR SETTING THE DTC
The PCM determines the oxygen storage capability of the catalytic converter has degraded below a calibrated threshold.
ACTION TAKEN WHEN THE DTC SETS
^ The control module illuminates the malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) when the diagnostic runs and fails.
^ The control module records the operating conditions at the time the diagnostic fails. The control module stores this information in the Freeze Frame/Failure Records.
CONDITIONS FOR CLEARING THE MIL/DTC
^ The control module turns OFF the malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) after 3 consecutive ignition cycles that the diagnostic runs and does not fail.
^ A current DTC, Last Test Failed, clears when the diagnostic runs and passes.
^ A history DTC clears after 40 consecutive warm-up cycles, if no failures are reported by this or any other emission related diagnostic.
^ Clear the MIL and the DTC with a scan tool.
In order to maintain a reasonably low emissions of hydrocarbons (HC), carbon monoxide (CO), and oxides of nitrogen (NOx), the engine controls system uses a three-way catalytic convener. The catalyst within the converter promotes a chemical reaction which oxidizes the HC and CO present in the exhaust gas. This reaction converts them into harmless water vapor and carbon dioxide. The catalyst also reduces NOx, converting the NOx into nitrogen. The powertrain control module (PCM) monitors this process using bank 1 heated oxygen sensor (HO2S) 2. Bank 1 HO2S 2, located in the exhaust stream past the three-way catalytic converter, produces an output signal which indicates the oxygen storage capacity of the catalyst. This determines the catalysts ability to convert exhaust emissions effectively. If the catalyst is functioning correctly, the bank 1 HO2S 2 signal will be far less active than that produced by bank 1 HO2S 1. This indicates that the three-way catalytic converters oxygen storage capacity is operating at a threshold considered acceptable.
When the conditions for running this diagnostic trouble code (DTC) are met, the following occurs:
^ The powertrain control module (PCM) captures the current rear HO2S rich or lean status.
^ The air fuel ratio transitions from rich to lean or lean to rich depending on the capture rear HO2S rich or lean status.
^ The air fuel ratio transitions a second time opposite the first air fuel ratio transition.
^ The PCM captures the response time, the time the HO2S goes from below 300 mV to above 600 mV and from 600 mV to below 300 mV, of the front and rear heated oxygen sensors when the air fuel ratio transitions occurred.
^ The PCM measures the time the HO2S takes the rear HO2S voltage to cross a reference rich or lean threshold minus the time the HO2S takes the front HO2S voltage to cross the same rich or lean threshold. The time difference from the front and rear HO2S is the oxygen storage capacity of the catalyst. This DTC sets if the time exceeds a predetermined threshold.
CONDITIONS FOR RUNNING THE DTC
^ DTCs P0101, P0102, P0103, P0106, P0107, P0108, P0112, P0113, P0116, P0117, P0118, P0121, P0122, P0123, P0131, P0132, P0133, P0134, P0135, P0137, P0138, P0140, P0171, P0172, P0200, P0300, P0335, P0336, P0341, P0342, P0343, P0351, P0401, P0404, P0405, P0410, P0418, P0440, P0442, P0443, P0446, P0449, P0500, P0502, P0503, P0506, P0507, P0704, P0706, P0711, P0712, P0716, P0719, P0724, P0740, P0741, P0742, P0748, P0751, P0752, P0753, P0756, P0757, P0758, P1112, P1114, P1115, P1121, P1122, P1336, P1345, P1404, P1860, P1870, or P1875 are not set.
^ The engine operating longer than 400 seconds.
^ The engine coolant temperature (ECT) is between 70-120°C (158-248°F).
^ The intake air temperature (IAT) is between -15 to +167°F (5-75°C).
^ The engine speed is more than 1,300 RPM for a minimum of 9 seconds since the end of the last idle test.
^ The barometric pressure (BARO) is more than 74 kPa.
^ The fuel system is operating in Closed Loop.
CONDITIONS FOR SETTING THE DTC
The PCM determines the oxygen storage capability of the catalytic converter has degraded below a calibrated threshold.
ACTION TAKEN WHEN THE DTC SETS
^ The control module illuminates the malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) when the diagnostic runs and fails.
^ The control module records the operating conditions at the time the diagnostic fails. The control module stores this information in the Freeze Frame/Failure Records.
CONDITIONS FOR CLEARING THE MIL/DTC
^ The control module turns OFF the malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) after 3 consecutive ignition cycles that the diagnostic runs and does not fail.
^ A current DTC, Last Test Failed, clears when the diagnostic runs and passes.
^ A history DTC clears after 40 consecutive warm-up cycles, if no failures are reported by this or any other emission related diagnostic.
^ Clear the MIL and the DTC with a scan tool.
#3
12-09-2013, 09:29 PM
Is your cat stock or high flow? I ask because alot of gms start throwing emission codes with modified exhausts.
Also someone just recently posted abot a p0420 and putting a spark plug anti fouler
https://blazerforum.com/forum/genera...uestion-83091/
Also someone just recently posted abot a p0420 and putting a spark plug anti fouler
https://blazerforum.com/forum/genera...uestion-83091/
#4
09-15-2015, 08:48 AM
P0420 Update
Originally Posted by rhartman83
Have a 2002 Blazer, 4X4, 4 door, 314,473 miles, 4.3 engine, automatic. Was getting 0420 code and have replaced catalytic converter and all three o2 sensors. Finally narrowed it down to, when I come to a stop light if I sit there for more than 10 to 12 seconds I hear the engine rpm rev slightly and then the check engine light comes on with 0420, and I get two 0420 codes not just one. Here's the kicker if I shift into neutral for about 3 to 5 seconds and then back to drive I can go for days and never get the 0420 code. If I sit for less than 10 seconds never happens.
My mechanic found a broken vacuum hose where it connects to the wheel well and just had the transfer case seal replaced along with a new switch for the 4WD as it was pulling trans fluid into the engine via the vacuum hose. Blew out the vac hoses they all look good.
Trans fluid gets changed every 100,000 & filter.
Any ideas????
My mechanic found a broken vacuum hose where it connects to the wheel well and just had the transfer case seal replaced along with a new switch for the 4WD as it was pulling trans fluid into the engine via the vacuum hose. Blew out the vac hoses they all look good.
Trans fluid gets changed every 100,000 & filter.
Any ideas????
Last edited by rhartman83; 09-15-2015 at 08:49 AM. Reason: spelling
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