Hi -

Wife's 2014 Explorer, 3.5L, is throwing P0430 code. It is the only code it is throwing. I've read a ton of threads on possible causes & some on possible fixes.

Vehicle runs fine. No power loss that I detect; smooth running, etc..

So far, I have measured temp at the top of the cat & at the bottom & I'm seeing about 100*F hotter on output side so I believe the fact that it's running fine & has that temp differential, the cat is likely fine. Make sense?

Next, I replaced the Bank 2 downstream O2 sensor (I actually removed both bank 2 & bank 1 downstreams thinking I could swap them to see if the code moved to bank 1 - then found out that, while the replacement O2 sensors are the same, the OEM ones have a longer wire on Bank 1 so the Bank 2 one wouldn't reach... So I put Bank 1's downstream O2 back in Bank 1 & got a replacement for Bank 2. I then cleared the code. I forgot to write down the mileage at that point, but it was on Nov 22nd so easily 1k miles ago.

The code just came back last night.

The only "symptom" [I don't think it's related, but could be wrong] is sometimes the engine cranks 6-8 cycles before firing when starting cold. It has done that 4-5 times since resetting the code (also did it some long before this code showed up initially). It did not do it when I drove the car & the CEL (throwing P0430) came on.

I know injector(s) could be bad/leaking &/or the cat could be dirty & not performing optimally even though there's no performance issues.

I have an OBD2 code reader that captures freeze data when a code is thrown. The pictures show what the ECU was seeing at the time. Before I start removing the cat or sending injectors out to be tested, does any of this data indicate the culprit? I can also do real time data logging but haven't learned how to do that yet.

I would appreciate any insights this data indicates &/or proposed next steps.

 

I have had this code in January and again this past weekend. Only had the car about a year but it always seemed sluggish to me, but not really anything concrete to compare that to.

This past weekend it would not stay running. Shop diagnosed bad MAF and replaced it. Running better than ever now. Have you looked into the MAF as a cause of poor combustion causing issues with the cat?

Also back in January I put cataclean in the gas tank. Tried just clearing the code but it came back. After cataclean it lasted with no codes 5 months. I also switched to premium fuel which has brought mpg up as well. In January I was averaging 15, been a steady 17.5 since.

Usually not a fan of mechanic in a bottle type stuff, but I believe they do have their place in some circumstances. Planning to put in another bottle once the tank gets a little lower.

 

The code tells you that the computer has determined that the bank 2 converter is no longer working well enough to comply with EPA requirements.

Try the cleaner in a can. It will either help or it won't. Lot cheaper than new converters.