Hello all. I'm a new member. I just purchased a 2006 f-250 4x4 extended cab with a 5.4 triton. I bought this truck from the chicago area which is about 175 mile north of my home. After I bought the truck I got about 100 miles down the road and the check engine light came on. Im asuming they used a scan tool to clear the computer and get the light to go out. I did a good search before purchasing the truck and everything came up good, 2 owner, 50,000 miles, never been wrecked, etc. Payed $14,995 for the truck. Thought I got a good deal , now this. The engine seems to run perfect but I get both p0420 and p0430 codes. I just don't believe both coverters are going to take a crap at the same time, or o2 sensors. I dont here any exhaust leaks. What could be causing these codes to come up.

 

Well, it's one or more of the following three issues:

1. Bad Gas
2. Bad O2 Sensor(s)
3. Bad Catalytic Converter(s)

I would address the potential issues in the 1-2-3 order presented. BTW, welcome to FTE!

 

Both of your converters should be covered for 8 years or 80,000 miles by Ford. The oxygen sensors might be covered for 8/80 also--not sure.



RON

 

Yeah, take it to the dealer and make it their problem. The 8 year/80,000 mile warranty on emissions components applies even if you are not the original owner.

 

Thanks for the help guys. I dind't realize I would be covered since I didn't buy the truck new. My 98 f150 had 180,000 on it and the check engine light had been on it since 125,000 was on the truck. It was the egr valve not opening propper, but the truck ran fine. Ive got a pretty good scan tool and I would just check it every so often to make sure any new codes had not acured. I bought this 2006 and it just bugs me that the check engine light is on with only 50,000 on the truck. I sold the 98 to my son and he wanted the f-150 fixed, he said the check engine light bugged him. I put a new EGR valve on it and the light has stayed out. The funny thing about my son, he had a worn out saturn and the check engine light has been on it for a couple years and it didn't bother him. Maybe its not just the f-250 has only 50,000 on it, but its just a new truck to me and I want it to be perfect. LOL

 

Is your F250's gross vehicle weight over 8,500 lbs? If so, then the emissions warranty is only 5 years/50,000 miles. See Page 12 in the link below.

http://www.motorcraftservice.com/pub.../06frdwa5e.pdf

Page 12

EMISSIONS DEFECT WARRANTY COVERAGE
During the warranty coverage period, Ford Motor Company warrants that:
• your vehicle or engine is designed, built, and equipped to meet - at
the time it is sold - the emissions regulations of the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA).
• your vehicle or engine is free from defects in factory-supplied materials
or workmanship that could prevent it from conforming with applicable
EPA regulations.
• you will not be charged for diagnosis, repair, replacement, or adjustment
of defective emissions-related parts listed under What is Covered?
on pages 13-15.
The warranty coverage period for:
• Passenger cars, light duty trucks (vehicles with a GVWR of 8,500 pounds
or less
— 8 years or 80,000 miles (whichever occurs first) for catalytic converter,
powertrain control module, onboard emissions diagnostic
device, natural gas vehicle (NGV) module (Bi-fuel/CNG), electronic
emission control unit, and transmission control module;
— 3 years or 36,000 miles (whichever occurs first) for all other covered
parts.
• Heavy duty vehicles (vehicles with a gross vehicle weight over 8,500
pounds)
— 5 years or 100,000 miles (whichever occurs first) for covered diesel
engine parts;
— 5 years or 50,000 miles (whichever occurs first) for all other covered
parts.
See WHAT IS COVERED for list of covered parts.
EMISSIONS PERFORMANCE WARRANTY COVERAGE
Under Emissions Performance Warranty Coverage, Ford Motor Company
will repair, replace, or adjust - with no charge for labor, diagnosis, or
parts - any emissions control device or system, if you meet all of the following
conditions:
• You have maintained and operated your vehicle according to the instructions
on proper care in the Owner Guide, the Scheduled Maintenance
Guide, and this booklet.
• Your vehicle fails to conform, during the warranty coverage period, to
the applicable national EPA standards, as determined by an EPA approved
inspection and maintenance program.
• You are subject to a penalty or sanction under local, state, or federal
12

 

P0420
Catalyst system below threshold (Bank 1)

P0430
Catalyst system below threshold (Bank 2)

Could be a sensor(s). May be a CAT(s). A scantool could help in determining which.

With it being both sides it might be that an X pipe was installed, removed and replaced, and the sensors or CATs were played with. If the CATs (connected to the OEM H pipe) were hanging on a fence somewhere and got water in them (Maybe from the rain) they may have gone bad together (Rusted out.). If the sensors were installed wrong, or similarly got wet, they may be rusted out or the vent holes, as explained in the web site refered to below, may be clogged. Either way they would need replaceing.

Or, if the PO took the truck swimming and it stalled in the river, got water in the exhaust pipe and CAT(s) then they may, similarly, have rusted and gone bad. Sensors, too.

You may want to clear the codes and start from scratch.

You may find this web address helpful in determining the difference between Bank 1 and Bank 2 as well as how to check the sensors w/ a scantool.....

OXYGEN SENSORS

As I understand it CATs can't be tested. Only the sensors. If the sensors are good the CAT(s) are bad. If the sensors are bad then replace the sensors and retest.

 

This area is my expertise. The P0420 and P0430 codes are pretty conclusive that the cats are not performing like they should. Weak sensors will not trigger these codes. However, weak sensors can cause the damage to the converters that in turn results in the codes.

There is a good chance the previous owner may have tampered with the converters, maybe you should take a look and make sure they have not been eliminated.

 

Well I checked the vaccum from the intake and the truck held 20psi. Had a person in the truck and had him bring the rpm up to 2500 and the vaccum dropped when we brought the rpm up but came back pretty quickly to 20 psi while holding the rpm steady at 2500. That tells me there is not a back pressure problem. The cat could be bad but they are not plugged. I decided to replace both down stream O2 sensors. Figured I would spend the extra money and get them from the dealer. I cleared the codes before I replaced them and the check engine light would come back on at 45 miles. After replacing the down stream sensors I have put about 220 miles on the truck and the light has stayed out. Hooked the scanner up and it read..( pass no codes found ) I'm hoping I got the problem solved.

 

Congrates!!!!!!

Good feed back & info.

Thanks for the update.