P0420
2ZR-FE ENGINE CONTROL: SFI SYSTEM: P0420: Catalyst System Efficiency Below Threshold (Bank 1)
P0420 - Catalyst System Efficiency Below Threshold (Bank 1)
MONITOR DESCRIPTION
The ECM uses sensors mounted in front of and behind the three-way catalytic converter to monitor its efficiency.
The first sensor, the air fuel ratio sensor, sends pre-catalyst information to the ECM. The second sensor, the heated oxygen sensor, sends post-catalyst information to the ECM.
In order to detect any deterioration in the three-way catalytic converter, the ECM calculates the oxygen storage capacity of the three-way catalytic converter. This calculation is based on the voltage output of the heated oxygen sensor while performing active air fuel ratio control.
The oxygen storage capacity value is an indication of the oxygen storage capacity of the three-way catalytic converter. When the vehicle is being driven with a warm engine, active air fuel ratio control is performed for approximately 15 to 20 seconds. When it is performed, the ECM deliberately sets the air fuel ratio to lean or rich levels. If the cycle of the waveform for the heated oxygen sensor is long, the oxygen storage capacity is great. There is a direct correlation between the heated oxygen sensor and the oxygen storage capacity of the three-way catalytic converter.
The ECM uses the oxygen storage capacity value to determine the state of the three-way catalytic converter. If any deterioration has occurred, it illuminates the MIL and sets the DTC.
CATALYST LOCATION
MONITOR STRATEGY
TYPICAL ENABLING CONDITIONS
TYPICAL MALFUNCTION THRESHOLDS
MONITOR RESULT
Refer to Checking Monitor Status Monitors, Trips, Drive Cycles and Readiness Codes.
CONFIRMATION DRIVING PATTERN
HINT
Performing this confirmation driving pattern will activate the catalyst efficiency monitor. This is very useful for verifying the completion of a repair.
1. Connect the Techstream to the DLC3.
2. Turn the ignition switch to ON.
3. Turn the Techstream on.
4. Clear the DTCs (even if no DTCs are stored, perform the clear DTC operation) Reading and Clearing Diagnostic Trouble Codes.
5. Turn the ignition switch off and wait for at least 30 seconds.
6. Turn the ignition switch to ON and turn the Techstream on.
7. Enter the following menus: Powertrain / Engine and ECT / Monitor / Current Monitor.
8. Check that Catalyst Efficiency / Current is Incomplete.
9. Start the engine and warm it up until the engine coolant temperature is 75°C (167°F) or higher [A].
10. Drive the vehicle at approximately 37 mph (60 km/h) for 10 minutes or more [B].
HINT
* Drive the vehicle while keeping the engine load as constant as possible.
* The monitor item will change to Complete as the catalyst efficiency monitor operates [C].
11. Enter the following menus: Powertrain / Engine and ECT / Trouble Codes.
12. Check if any DTCs (pending DTCs) are stored.
HINT
If the monitor does not change to Complete and no pending DTCs are stored, perform the following procedure.
13. Drive the vehicle at a speed between 47 and 63 mph (75 and 100 km/h) for 10 minutes or more [D].
HINT
* Drive the vehicle while keeping the engine load as constant as possible.
* The monitor item will change to Complete as the catalyst efficiency monitor operates [E].
14. Enter the following menus: Powertrain / Engine and ECT / Trouble Codes.
15. Check if any DTCs (pending DTCs) are stored.
CONDITIONING FOR SENSOR TESTING
HINT
Perform the operation with the engine speeds and time durations described below prior to checking the waveforms of the air fuel ratio sensor and heated oxygen sensor. This is in order to activate the sensors sufficiently to obtain the appropriate inspection results.
* (a) Connect the Techstream to the DLC3.
* (b) Start the engine and warm it up with all the accessories switched off until the engine coolant temperature stabilizes.
* (c) Run the engine at an engine speed of between 2500 rpm and 3000 rpm for at least 3 minutes.
* (d) While running the engine at 3000 rpm for 2 seconds and 2000 rpm for 2 seconds, check the waveforms of the air fuel ratio and heated oxygen sensors using the Techstream.
HINT
* If either of the voltage outputs of the air fuel ratio or heated oxygen sensor does not fluctuate, or there is noise in the waveform of either sensor, the sensor may be malfunctioning.
* If the voltage outputs of both the sensors remain lean or rich, the air fuel ratio may be extremely lean or rich. In such cases, perform the following menu items: Powertrain / Engine and ECT / Active Test / Control the Injection Volume for A/F Sensor.
* If the three-way catalytic converter has deteriorated, the heated oxygen sensor (located behind the three-way catalytic converter) voltage output fluctuates up and down frequently, even under normal driving conditions (active air fuel ratio control is not performed).
INSPECTION PROCEDURE
HINT
Malfunctioning areas can be identified by performing the Control the Injection Volume for A/F Sensor Active Test. The Control the Injection Volume for A/F Sensor function can help to determine whether the air fuel ratio sensor, heated oxygen sensor and other potential trouble areas are malfunctioning.
The following instructions describe how to conduct the Control the Injection Volume for A/F Sensor operation using the Techstream.
(a) Connect the Techstream to the DLC3.
(b) Start the engine.
(c) Turn the Techstream on.
(d) Warm up the engine at an engine speed of 2500 rpm for approximately 90 seconds.
(e) Enter the following menus: Powertrain / Engine and ECT / Active Test / Control the Injection Volume for A/F Sensor.
(f) Perform the Active Test operation with the engine in an idling condition (press the RIGHT or LEFT button to change the fuel injection volume.)
(g) Monitor the output voltages of the air fuel ratio and heated oxygen sensors (AFS Voltage B1S1 and O2S B1S2) displayed on the Techstream.
HINT
* The Control the Injection Volume for A/F Sensor operation lowers the fuel injection volume by 12.5% or increases the injection volume by 25%.
* Each sensor reacts in accordance with increases and decreases in the fuel injection volume.
NOTICE:
The air fuel ratio sensor has an output delay of a few seconds and the heated oxygen sensor has a maximum output delay of approximately 20 seconds.
- Following the Control the Injection Volume for A/F Sensor procedure enables technicians to check and graph the voltage outputs of both the air fuel ratio and heated oxygen sensors.
- To display the graph, enter the following menus: Powertrain / Engine and ECT / Active Test / Control the Injection Volume for A/F Sensor / AFS Voltage B1S1 and O2S B1S2; then press the graph button on the Data List view.
HINT
* Read freeze frame data using the Techstream. The ECM records vehicle and driving condition information as freeze frame data the moment a DTC is stored. When troubleshooting, freeze frame data can be helpful in determining whether the vehicle was running or stopped, whether the engine was warmed up or not, whether the air fuel ratio was lean or rich, as well as other data recorded at the time of a malfunction.
* Sensor 1 refers to the sensor closest to the engine assembly.
* Sensor 2 refers to the sensor farthest away from the engine assembly.
PROCEDURE
1. CHECK ANY OTHER DTCS OUTPUT (IN ADDITION TO DTC P0420)
(a) Connect the Techstream to the DLC3.
(b) Turn the ignition switch to ON.
(c) Turn the Techstream on.
(d) Enter the following menus: Powertrain / Engine and ECT / Trouble Codes.
(e) Read the DTCs.
Result:
HINT
If any DTCs other than P0420 are output, troubleshoot those DTCs first.
B -- GO TO DTC CHART SFI System
A -- Continue to next step.
2. PERFORM ACTIVE TEST USING TECHSTREAM (CONTROL THE INJECTION VOLUME FOR A/F SENSOR)
(a) Connect the Techstream to the DLC3.
(b) Start the engine and warm it up.
(c) Turn the Techstream on.
(d) Run the engine at an engine speed of 2500 rpm for approximately 90 seconds.
(e) Enter the following menus: Powertrain / Engine and ECT / Active Test / Control the Injection Volume for A/F Sensor / Data List / All Data / AFS Voltage B1S1 and O2S B1S2.
(f) Perform the Active Test operation with the engine in an idling condition (press the RIGHT or LEFT button to change the fuel injection volume).
(g) Monitor the voltage outputs of the air fuel ratio sensor and heated oxygen sensor (AFS Voltage B1S1 and O2S B1S2) displayed on the Techstream.
HINT
* The Control the Injection Volume for A/F sensor operation lowers the fuel injection volume by 12.5% or increases the injection volume by 25%.
* Each sensor reacts in accordance with increases and decreases in the fuel injection volume.
* The air fuel ratio sensor has an output delay of a few seconds and the heated oxygen sensor has a maximum output delay of approximately 20 seconds.
* If there is almost no response from the air fuel ratio sensor, a malfunction of the air fuel ratio sensor is suspected.
Standard:
Result:
Lean: During Control the Injection Volume for A/F sensor, the air fuel ratio sensor output voltage (AFS Voltage) is consistently more than 3.4 V, and the heated oxygen sensor output voltage (O2S) is consistently less than 0.4 V.
Rich: During the AFS Voltage is consistently less than 3.1 V, and the O2S is consistently more than 0.55 V.
Lean/Rich: During Control the Injection Volume for A/F sensor of the Active Test, the output voltage of the heated oxygen sensor alternates correctly.
D -- CHECK ENGINE TO DETERMINE CAUSE OF EXTREMELY RICH OR LEAN ACTUAL AIR FUEL RATIO, AND GO TO STEP 3 P0171
C -- INSPECT FOR EXHAUST GAS LEAK
B -- REPLACE AIR FUEL RATIO SENSOR (SENSOR 1) Removal
A -- Continue to next step.
3. INSPECT FOR EXHAUST GAS LEAK
(a) Check for exhaust gas leakage.
OK:
No gas leaks.
NG -- REPAIR OR REPLACE EXHAUST GAS LEAK POINT
OK -- REPLACE FRONT EXHAUST PIPE ASSEMBLY (TWC: FRONT AND REAR CATALYST) Components
4. INSPECT FOR EXHAUST GAS LEAK
(a) Check for exhaust gas leakage.
OK:
No gas leaks.
NG -- REPAIR OR REPLACE EXHAUST GAS LEAK POINT
OK -- REPLACE HEATED OXYGEN SENSOR (SENSOR 2) Removal