Catalytic converter

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Jul 12, 2011 | 10:22 PM

scoony

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Catalytic converter

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9; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> I have a 2004 F-150 w/ 5.4

Check Engine light came on the other day. Took the truck to AutoZone and the first fault that showed was the catalytic converters.

I then took the truck across the street to a muffler shop and they checked the converters (total of 4 converters) and found that the Bank#1 converters were bad. They said that both of the right side converters needed replaced and would cost $500

I then took the tuck to Ford to get a second opinion but they said that unless it was under warranty, they send the vehicles to the same muffler shop that I was at earlier.

How urgent is it to get them replaced?

Jul 12, 2011 | 11:00 PM

bridge

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Joined: May 2006

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From: League City, TX

If they are bad you will get lots of back pressure on the effected bank. Hesitation, no power, a loud popping sound and really bad gas mileage will also occur. More than that, you won't pass inspection. I think the emissions warranty is 8yrs and 80K miles? Ask the service advisor. They might want to charge you $100 to diagnose if its covered, but it you're still under emissions warranty and your car has no other symptoms it might be covered. I've had a couple replaced under warranty myself on my '06 Expy.

Jul 19, 2011 | 07:50 PM

scoony

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After searching and reading other posts on catalytic converters it seems that my truck is missing many of the symptoms associated with bad cats.

Truck runs very strong, with no missing that I can detect. I take it on the hwy and run it up to speed very quickly and have no problems in the passing lane.

Before I spend $500 on replacing them, should I get the code cleared to see if it comes back, or would the code have cleared out if the cats were in fact fine?

Should I get the plus looked at first to see if one is not firing?
That in itself seems to be a nightmare with this engine!

Jul 19, 2011 | 10:49 PM

Cofcmsc

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From: Lexington, SC

Is your CEL staying on? How many miles on truck? Do you know what code was actually throwing? If it was a plug I think you would notice a lack of performance and it sounds like your truck is strong under load, in addition sounds like trouble code it indicated O2 sensor/s. You have two cats and 4 oxygen sensors. There is a sensor before and a sensor after each cat to measure cat efficiency. If the delta is off due to bad cat or either sensor being bad you get a code. Two sensors going on the same bank at the same time is funny to me and $500 to replace two $70 sensors is robbery. The job takes less than 20 minuites. I would reset wait to see if you get a code and if the CEL comes back get the actual codes such as P420, and post here for advice or take to shop other than Mr.$500 Good Luck! Shawn

Jul 20, 2011 | 12:51 AM

Djack04F150XL

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From: Vicksburg, MS

How many miles are on your truck? You could still be covered under emissions warranty. If not you may need to change the plugs along with the cats if they are bad. there is usually a cause for bad cat(s) on one side.

Jul 20, 2011 | 07:56 AM

scoony

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Truck has 94,000 miles on it. I have only had it a few months and the miles were 84,000 when I got it.
I think the code actually stated something like "lack of efficiency" for bank 1 cats

Jul 20, 2011 | 08:19 PM

JesseJFX2

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From: Liberty, Mo

What people are missing with a lot of these catalytic converter problems is that thrown codes COULD be caused by defective or worn out oxygen sensors. O2 sensors are recommended to be replaced around 80k miles (of course those recommendations are from the people who sell them lol). Still... Worth a look...