Hello everyone,
Sorry for the multiple posts..I just don't know what to do. I changed the intake gasket/spark plugs on my 2010 after the intake gasket cracked at the coolant cross over and caused mis-fires. I would guess I went for a couple hours of driving with hardly any noticeable issues besides the check engine light, maybe the occasional skipped feeling. Then, I drove home 30 minutes with it really bad...super bogged down...couldn't get it up hills. Anyway...did the repair and now I'm getting P0430 : P430 Catalyst System Efficiency Below Threshold (Bank 2) . Based on my research bank 2 is driver side..which is the side where the coolant leak was. This morning I retorqued the intake bolts but @ 8lb-ft it was kind of a joke. I pulled the fuel rail off and made sure the o-rings were good. Is there anything else I can do/check? I'm guessing the cat was damaged on the last drive home. I can't afford a new cat so I'm guessing this is the end of the van for me. Any ideas/suggestions will be welcome...feeling really bad...the van is in great condition and all the time/money I just put in was a complete waste.

 

Is it possible the diagnosis was incomplete and the problem resurfaced ?


Most times just replacing some parts without determining the cause is only half the job.

I wouldn't throw in the towel yet until you are sure you are not getting a repeat performance.

Continued misfires can destroy a converter, so how long was the vehicle driven the first time before repairs were made ?
The code is only telling us something is wrong and the converter cannot do it's job.
Is there any way you can get some data stream info so we can see just what is going on ?

 

Hey Hanky, thanks for bearing with me.

I'm not sure what you mean by diagnosis. I had a misfit for about two weeks, that was basically a skip that could be felt and a CEL that would come and go. I assumed it was nothing/spark plugs needed changing. I don't use the van much so I'm guessing 5 hours like that. I then drove for about 30 minutes (home) with it bogged down...hardly able to make it up hills. When idling/going down hill it felt fine. Parked it, pulled the spark plugs...found the driver side 5+6 filled with coolant/full of white dried crap. Changed spark plugs/intake gaskets. Now dealing with P0430...which feel like it can't be coincidence that is started up now.

I'm going to ask a friend to come over this weekend and view live data...I'm assuming I am looking at the driverside o2 sensors and seeing how they behave compared to the passenger side and make check on the MAF.

 

A good diagnosis examines the result and determines the root cause . We know what the result was and what caused it , but the answer as to why and correcting that might have been overlooked. What allowed that coolant to get in past the gasket ?

 

There was a failure of the plastic intake gasket in the area around the drive side coolant passover pipe. I found it when I inspected it after pulling. It wasn't huge but definitely there. This entire area also had an accumulation of dry white powder (same stuff that was in the spark plug galleys). When I pulled the spark plugs the drive side ones were wet/smelled like coolant. 5+6 were basically filled.

 

Don't forget any crack in the intake that has coolant passages could require manifold replacement. Some cracks cannot be easily seen and the corrosion is the only clue .

When you get gaskets to replace ,,,,always get a gasket set and everything you need to do a thorough job usually is in the kit.

 

Hello everyone, My van is officially running "fixed". The P0430 was due to the cat being destroyed. I'm assuming this was due to the last drive I took, where the misfire dumped fuel into the exhaust for about 30-40m. I confirmed by reading the live data and then putting a scope in the o2 sensor hole. I just wanted to say thanks for everyone that helped. Having people to ask / vent with made a huge difference. Especially @hanky ...I appreciate your patience.

 

You DO know that you can continue driving your vehicle if the converter is not cleaning up the exhaust. If there is no restriction, so you know why the light is on.

Not a total loss. Drive it until you can replace the converter as long as it drives OK.. No power loss.
What do you think ?

 

100%. Yeah...not a total loss. I'm a decent welder...I'll get it fixed eventually. I'm happy to stop working in the cold. Wait till Spring...thanks a ton for your help.

 

Thank You for the update.