P0420 Logical Diagnosis (eventual sticky?)

[brus brother]

First, a little history. 2005 Outback 2.5i AT wagon 135k miles. I have had the intermittent and recurring P0420 (warning: your catalytic converter is dying/dead) for about 30K miles so, in the interim, I may have already done irreparable damage to the cat(s).

Consensus is that cats don't die, they are killed!

When I first went to the dealer with the code, they said "You need a new cat".

Well, yes that may be but without diagnosis of what caused the damage to the cat, I would need yet another new cat in short order.

Cardoc on subaruoutback.org has an excellent writeup on possible causes: http://www.subaruoutback.org/forums/66-problems-maintenance/49537-p0420-diagnosis.html

With the use of a $10 VAGCOM OBDII to usb cable and RomRaider free software, I was able to log real time info on my car's performance.

I am attaching the output zip file in the hopes of getting some help in proceeding with a cure for the underlying cause. If you want to follow this, my posting (username - Juicer) starts at #194 at the above link and in addition, off line, Cardoc's analysis of the data warns:

"Check fuel delivery, pressure and check for vacuum leaks if the fuel pressure is good. Bank 1 is on the end of the fuel system, so if fuel flow is low, it will make bank 1 run lean, which is what is happening. The rear O2 sensors all show a lean mix. Find it quick or you'll be buying a couple CATs due to melting."

Soooo, after 2 years and 30K miles after SOA's "recommendation", monkeying around with spacers, new front O2 sensor, and voodoo, there appears to be a LOGICAL DIAGNOSIS of the underlying cause.

There have been so many posts about the P0420 that I hope to be able to collaborate to make this a sticky for those unfortunates who follow.

In the meantime, in my particular case, I need some guidance on how to "Check fuel delivery, pressure and check for vacuum leaks".

 

 

romraiderlog_20130716_180554.zip

[Frank B]

I've found that driving my car too easy produces the code. If I drive a little harder, not much, like keeping it in gear longer in between shifts, downshifting up hills in order to keep the engine speed up, I won't get the code. If the engine is lugging or I'm stuck behind a granny, the code will come up. My car has 312,000 miles on it and the cats aren't melted.

[brus brother]

I've found that driving my car too easy produces the code. If I drive a little harder, not much, like keeping it in gear longer in between shifts, downshifting up hills in order to keep the engine speed up, I won't get the code. If the engine is lugging or I'm stuck behind a granny, the code will come up. My car has 312,000 miles on it and the cats aren't melted.

My case is the direct opposite of yours. If my wife drives the car on local streets, code stays off. If I heavy foot it or it's on the hwy for a while the code returns.

My point is that with proper diagnosis of the underlying cause of the code, the mystery of when it occurs is thrown into the light.

Information is power!

[idosubaru]

Fueling:
Has the fuel filter ever been replaced?

Sea Foam or MMO the snot out of the fuel system to clean rails/injectors.

Check fuel pressure.

 

***135k seems really low for this but injector issues?  I've heard of injectors leaking - maybe they can also compromise fuel delivery?  Places like http://witchhunter.com/ and http://www.rceng.com/ test, do pre and post flow analysis, and clean and rebuild injectors.  I and others I know have used them before.

 

 

I also would love to see/learn a proper analysis of this issue and how to log/look at data.  I bought that cable but haven't had time to do anything with it besides just plug it in to my computer and attempt to read basic codes.

[idosubaru]

If you're running really lean - are you getting good gas mileage? 

 

Oh - and vacuum leaks - spray carb cleaner or starting fluid around the engine bay with particular attention to the intake manifold, vacuum lines and connectors/fittings between them and any vacuum lines associated with the FPR (Fuel Pressure Regulator).  If the engine surges as youre spraying then it sucked in that "extra fuel" with the extra air in the vacuum leak....and there's your leak.

 

Also check Fuel Pressure Regulator - though I've never done that and don't know where it is or how to check one on a Subaru, they don't fail..or should I say get replaced, very often.

[brus brother]

Rom Raider website:

First you need to download and install RR here: http://www.romraider.com/RomRaider/Download

Now click on link: http://www.romraider.com/Documentation/GettingStarted#toc7

Read this page. There are links on the above page for 3 files that you need to unzip and add to the same Program File folder where RomRiader.exe file resides.

1. Ecu definition file: http://www.romraider.com/forum/topic360.html

Scroll down to where you see this: Please do not host these definitions on your own site. Instead, provide a link to this post only.
and you will see the files attached.

2. Logger definition file: http://www.romraider.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1642&start=1

3. Car definition file: http://www.romraider.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=5792

Again, you need to place the unzipped folders in the same Program File folder for Rom Raider

In each file above and the unzipped folders I selected std_En format. Other languages and metric are also available.

Cardoc's excellent discussion thead on P0420  causes:

http://www.subaruoutback.org/forums/66-problems-maintenance/49537-p0420-diagnosis.html

http://www.subaruoutback.org/forums/66-problems-maintenance/49537-p0420-diagnosis-19.html see post #186 by Cardoc

I am running this program on WinXP laptop and was stymied for quite some time because I was trying to power off of cigarette ligher converter. RR was unable to make connection to ECU. Use battery or house current... when not driving ;-).

Once you start RR, check to see that the correct port on computer is selected. Should be same as port listed in Computer/control panel/hardware/device manager/port.

Check car defs to see if your car is listed. Mine wasn't but for the sake of logging, I chose a similar car from the same year.

You will also be directed to select paramaters as shown on dashboard page.

The program default is  to start/stop logging using the rear defroster switch which prevents you from driving off the road while looking at your screen.

If I exit the program, I seem to have to reboot to reset the port connection.

PS I bought the VagCom cable from FleaBay for $9. Arrived in a week from China.

Edited July 18, 2013 by brus brother

[SubarCharged]

The problem with a lean running engine is lack of fuel for proper combustion.  In Brus Brother's case, the fuel trim is positive upwards of 27% on bank 1.  I have the log.

 

It's not a fuel injector.  It would have to be all 3.  A vacuum leak is plausible, but with the amount of addition to the fuel trim map, its more likely the fuel pump has failed.  

 

Here's some reading to go with the P0420 Dioagnosis thread already posted above: http://www.subaruoutback.org/forums/66-problems-maintenance/53166-engineers-perspective-p0420-catalytic-efficiency-code.html

 

Never assume, don't throw tricks at it.  Find the problem and repair it.

Edited July 18, 2013 by SubarCharged