PO-420. Catalyst below threshold bank 1.

 

Conditions for Setting the DTC
The PCM determines the oxygen storage capability of the catalytic converter has degraded below a calibrated threshold.

It sounds like your drivers side Cat has lived its 9th life.

 

I called GM dealer. 8 years or 80,000 miles warranty. I have 87,000. $450 to replace.Might as well go long tube headers and sims.

 

Tell your dealer to look up:

NHTSA Item Number: 10020903
Technical Service Bulletin #: 05513
Extended Warranty for Catalytic Converters

 

Do you know what this extended warranty covers?

 

Did a search. Found it. 10 years or 120,000 miles.Gona go to the dealer Monday.

 

Im getting the same thing as you but Ive a 1999 v6 3.8, I replaced the rear o2 but the light came back on so it has to be the converter. Am I covered as well??
Edit: I think I have 94k miles

 

Do you have a scan tool so you can monitor the front and rear o2's? Check them at about 2500 rpm's. If the rear o2 is sweeping rich lean right along with the front o2, the cat is bad. Make sure the front o2 has a good sweep pattern. It should sweep around 6-8 times in 5 seconds at 2500-3000 rpm's. If the front doesn't have a good sweep, you could have a bad front o2. The computer compares the rear to the front, so even if the cat is good, you could get the 420 code because both front and rear o2's are mimicking each other. The rear should have little to no sweep.

 

Well I dont have a scan tool lol so there goes that :\ I was going to take it to a shop tomorrow and get it fixed but Id like to wait to know if im covered on that extended warranty first.. would save me a lot of money..

 

My friend is a GM tech. When he tells me . I will post it.

 

Thanks, sooner the better, getting like 10mpg blows hardcore

 

#05513: Special Coverage Adjustment - Catalytic Converter Extended Warranty - (Nov 27, 2006)
Some customers of 2000-02 Chevrolet Camaro and 2000-02 Pontiac Firebird model vehicles, equipped with a 5.7L V8 (RPO LS1 - VIN G) engine, may experience a failure of the left or right catalytic converter.

Special Coverage Adjustment
This special coverage covers the condition described above for a period of 10 years or 120,000 miles (193,000 km), whichever occurs first, from the date the vehicle was originally placed in service, regardless of ownership. The repairs will be made at no charge to the customer.

For vehicles covered by Vehicle Service Contracts, all eligible claims with repair orders on or after November 27, 2006 are covered by this special coverage and must be submitted using the labor operation codes provided with this bulletin. Claims with repair orders prior to November 27, 2006 must be submitted to the Service Contract provider.


Here are the VIN breaks for the involved vehicles:

2000 Chevrolet Camaro Y2100004 Y2177266
2000 Pontiac Firebird Y2100002 Y2177254
2001 Chevrolet Camaro 12100001 12150441
2001 Pontiac Firebird 12100004 12150442
2002 Chevrolet Camaro 22100001 22172467
2002 Pontiac Firebird 22100003 22172466

Dear General Motors Customer:

As the owner of a 2000-02 Chevrolet Camaro or 2000-02 Pontiac Firebird model vehicle, equipped with a 5.7L V8 engine, your satisfaction with our product is very important to us.

This letter is intended to make you aware that some 2000-02 Chevrolet Camaro and 2000-02 Pontiac Firebird model vehicles, equipped with a 5.7L V8 engine, may have a failure of the left or right catalytic converter.

This is not a recall. Do not take your vehicle to your General Motors dealer as a result of this letter unless you believe that your vehicle has the condition as described above.

What We Have Done: General Motors is providing owners with additional protection for the right and left catalytic converters. If this condition occurs on your 2000-02 Chevrolet Camaro or 2000-02 Pontiac Firebird within 10 years of the date your vehicle was originally placed in service, or 120,000 miles (193,000 km), whichever occurs first, the condition will be repaired for you at no charge .

What You Should Do: Repairs and adjustments qualifying under this special coverage must be performed by a General Motors dealer. You may want to call the service department at your dealer to find out how long they will need to have your vehicle so that you may schedule the appointment at a time that is convenient for you. This will also allow your dealer to order parts if they are not already in stock. Keep this letter with your other important glove box literature for future reference.

Reimbursement: The enclosed form explains what reimbursement is available and how to request reimbursement if you have paid for repairs for the special coverage condition.

If you have any questions or need any assistance, just contact your dealer or the appropriate Customer Assistance Center at the number listed below. The Customer Assistance Center’s hours of operation are from 8:00 AM to 11:00 PM, EST, Monday through Friday.

Chevrolet 1-800-630-2438
Pontiac 1-800-620-7668

 

****, off by a year =( To the shop I go..

 

wow great i have the same damn issue, though i just cleared the code again. Just a question for you guys with the bad cats. If you go under the car and give the pipe a smack with your hand does it have a rattle sound to it like a loose bold with a washer under it. I have had this sound under certain rpms where it would rattle like a loose bolt/washer for a long time. Well i knew about the po420 code and when i was under the car doing an oil change i went to check out the connections to the o2's and gave the pipes a smack with my hand and it was the same rattle i have been hearing for a long time. Im guessing there are broken pieces in the cat but dont know..

 

kind of off topic but both of my cats are gutted. anyone know how to tune the codes away with an HP Tuner?

 

What about the v-6?

 

On the cats warranty? VIN code G, 5.7 only. Wouldn't hurt to ask though.

 

Not exactly. If the front isnt switching fast enough, it'll set a different code.
P0133 Slow response B1S1
P0153 Slow Response B2S1
P1133 Insufficient switching B1S1
P1153 Insufficient switching B2S1
They even have a code for transition time ratio for the upstreams.
The kicker here is they have to be operating correctly to even set a Cat code.
If the computer doesnt like what it sees in the 02s, it sets an 02 code.
99 times out of 100, if you've got a 420/430, its a bad cat. OBDII is so specific that its unlikely an 02 malfunction will cause a catalyst code.

 

Set the codes 420/430 to no error reporting, and uncheck the SES light box.

 

ten miles a gallon is something else. post o2 cats do not effect fueling just measure cat efficency unless your cat is clogged badly this is not your problem