Diagnosing Catalytic Converters

On this episode of Fear No Fix, Chris and Jordan explain how to determine if your Catalytic Converter is working or not.

If you need to read codes or live data to help diagnose your issue, BlueDriver can help! Get the #1 Scan Tool on Amazon here:

Top DTCs (Diagnostic Trouble Codes) associated with Catalytic Converters:
• P0420
• P0430
• P0421
• P0431
• P0422

Top symptoms associated with Catalytic Converters:
• Check engine light
• Misfire
• Dark exhaust smoke
• Smell of Sulfur or rotten eggs from the exhaust
• Excessive heat under the vehicle
• Rattling sounds underneath the vehicle
• Poor fuel efficiency
• Poor acceleration
• Difficult to start
• Fail vehicle emissions test

Video Sections:

Intro: (0:00)
Reading Codes (0:30)
Physical Tests (2:28)
Outro (3:59)

[shoa]

Big up to Scotty Kilmer for selling me on this blue driver. Saved my buns and I helped a few neighbors out too.

[markurban]

Guys - BEST VIDEO ON WEB for a cat diagnosis!!! Thank you! I have spent hours listening to other videos and now everything clicked with this. Brief yet thorough descriptions.

[northsideangler]

My blue driver is a life saver wow keep the features coming keep updating it Scotty was right glad I listened to him.

[lloydhlavac]

I just did these tests today, both the blue driver O2 sensors readings, and the temperature gun test. The downstream O2 sensor was all over the place, and the temp in front of the cat was much higher then the temp in back of the cat, so looks like time to get a new catalytic converter.

[keithp]

I got a Blue Driver for Christmas and can't wait to use it!

[jeffboe]

Excellent work! Just got the blue driver in the mail. This will be the 1st diagnosis with BlueDriver. Great great great information. Thank you for putting this out. Just another reason to buy BlueDriver

[billybobbarker]

I use the BD daily. Current project is a 2000 GM 5.3 LM7. Am getting 420. I have borescoped the inlet and outlet of the cat. The substrate looks ok at both ends. The upstream sensor is active but not uniform in oscillations. The downstream sensor is following the upstream almost exactly.
I have fixed all exhaust leaks with new bolts and gaskets.
I am down to replacing the O2 sensors. The only possible thing left would be a poisoned convertor. If gets to that I will try the lacquer thinner burnout trip trick. For now I have put in an O2 sensor spacer and 420 is totally gone.

[dkruz]

about 4 minutes into this video BlueDriver presenters said they would do a video on O2 sensors but I could not find that one.

[WayneVLOGS]

Thank you. This video needs to pop up when you search p0430 or p0420. Note to find out why my cats went bad

[geraldryan]

Thanks guys, keep them coming, especially SLK info, Merry Xmas 🧑‍🎄

[paulpaquette]

You might want to make sure there are zero exhaust leaks first. Oxygen storage capacity can be determined by three consecutives revs and observing the post cat O2's behavior.

[williegillie]

I was thankful blue driver scanned all modules and found the issues with this 2006 Chevrolet Traverse 3.6 liter engine. The codes where probably due to the miss fire causing the converter to not function properly. All codes were erased and the scan done again, which found no problems after the fix

[garciahome]

So far I see three (3) videos on this channel (YouTube). How often do you post new videos? Do you have another platform where you post videos?

[rodneyspence]

Will the temperature difference (between catalytic converter inlet and outlet) test tell you that the converter is bad/clogged apart from whether the downstream O2 sensor is working or not? In other words does a bad temp test definitely indicate a bad/clogged cat converter?

[mohamedbellator]

i have a cheap obd2 scan, it indicates the Cat temps
i have a focus tivct 125hp, it has 2 cats
so :
Catemp11 = 279C
Catemp21= 279C
Catemp12= 161C
Catemp22=161C
according to your video, my Out Temp is half the IN temp
My CAtalytic converter is DEAD
thank youuuu !!!

Useful video. If a catalytic converter is bad, is it safe for the engine to drive the car?

[LIOTBs]

Thank you much I really appreciate that!

[Miaslittlegarden]

I did emission 3 weeks ago and it passed . I got a 420 code bank 1 could it just be sensor ?

[juanjohntramos]

I have 2006 gmc 1500 savanna, 5.3L V8 .
I just had the po332 knock sensor and harness replaced. I cleared the code . Drove the van for few miles, then the engine light came on . I checked and the code reads, po332 low input, pending .

Question;
1. What does this mean ?
2. Is ok to drive 50 miles everyday for few days ?

[mike-ypuk]

How do fuel trims effect your temp readings?