Fotis

iTrader: (2)

i have a daily driver 2001 Camaro RS (yes the V6) and when i bought it there was a code for P0420, i changed the cat and within about 35 miles the code came back on, so i changed the rear O2 sensor and again withing about 35 miles the CEL came back on saying P0420.

i thought that was the only stuff related to the P0420 code, so what am i not doing right or missing here?


2001 Camaro 3.8L V6, Auto, no mods...

BTW i live in Acworth Georgia if anyone wants to meet up and help me out...

jam01

i thought it would have been the front 02? try them.

Fotis

iTrader: (2)

Im about to try those too, i just thought that if the front o2's were bad then it would through a sensor 1 (Bank 1) or (Bank 2) code, or heater circuit code, not a cat code

FiredUpZ28

They didn't make a 2001 RS.....

Did you clear the codes? It takes the PCM a long time to check the rear 02. Or if you put a junk chinese made cat on it the rear 02 may still not be happy with its performance. Check all your wiring too make sure there are no splices, oxygen sensors wiring can NOT be spliced.

The one other thing its not very common but it CAN be a front 02 sensor getting lazy. The rear catalyst monitor just doesn't want to see the same thing as the front. Thats how it knows the cat is doing its job. If the fronts are getting lazy they may read near what the rear does and throw the code. Like I said though, pretty uncommon.

HAZ-Matt

iTrader: (8)

There was in fact a 2001 and 2002 RS. They were SLP optioned V6's. Essentially the same as the Firebird GT for those 2 model years.

Otherwise, agree with above. Try clearing it. If you can't use a scanner to do so, unplug the negative battery terminal or pull the PCM fuse long enough to reset it.

FiredUpZ28

Whoa Haz-Matt whats up, I remember you from FTV6 (OneSlowL36). I totally thought the RS ended in the 90's whoops.

Fotis

iTrader: (2)

i checked all the wires and nothing has been spliced

the cat is a magna-flow, also i have an orange scanner i got from auto zone so i cleared the codes with that, but it comes up between 35-40 miles consistently, guess i gotta change the front o2's now huh

FiredUpZ28

Oh, well thats easy, the Magnaflow cat isn't doing a good enough job. The factory sensor wants a certain value. I'd have the rear 02 tuned out. Next time if your asking for help we need to know if there are aftermarket parts on the car.

HAZ-Matt

iTrader: (8)

The ones directly from Chevrolet did, you are right about that... They ended up just making the RS into the "Sport Appearance Package" without badges for MY1998 and up.

I ended up with a Magnaflow cat of some sort on my 2000 V6 and didn't get any O2 errors. Magnaflow makes a lot of different cats, and I don't remember which model number it was so perhaps you have one that isn't compatible. As above, perhaps you can get the cat codes turned off... although we certainly can't recommend that if you plan to drive it legally on the road...

Fotis

iTrader: (2)

why would the code come on exactly at 35 miles though, does that not seem odd, or is it roughly the time that obd2 runs the test?

SuperSpeed27

35-40 miles can set a code. If its an aftermarket "high flow" cat you might need one of those O2 spacers. The O2 sensor doesnt just look at the Oxygen amount it also looks for the amount of gas thats moving across it sometimes with aftermarket cats the flow is too high and itll set a code. mine always sets whenever I get on the highway for about 30miles or so. And goes away whenever I'm city driving since its not flowing enough gas through for long enough to set it.