Need Help with P0430 trouble code. (Catalytic converter)

On 4/28/2011 10:29 AM, stryped wrote:
> On Apr 28, 7:08 am, Steve > wrote:
>> On 4/27/2011 9:48 PM, stryped wrote:
>>
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>>
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>>> On Apr 27, 7:22 pm, (Scott Dorsey) wrote:
>>>> > wrote:
>>
>>>>> Call me anal, but I hate any check engine light on. If the second 02
>>>>> snesor measures how much 02 is being taken by the converter, I guess
>>>>> taking the guts out of the inside of the converter would cause a code?
>>
>>>> Yes, it would cause precisely the code you have.
>>
>>>> Again, could be a sensor or wiring, or it could be a bad converter. Given
>>>> the mileage, a bad converter wouldn't be surprising.
>>
>>>> I have cleaned gunked-up converters with acetone and had them work well
>>>> again once the catalyst was exposed again, though I can't recommend that
>>>> and it may not be legal (even if effective). But it's also possible to
>>>> have the catalyst just mechanically worn away after enough exhaust has
>>>> passed through there.
>>>> --scott
>>
>>>> --
>>>> "C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."
>>
>>> Is there a way to bypass the converters and somehow fool the sensor
>>> into working properly? Autozone has a "universal" converter for 73
>>> bucks for one. I'd rather just do away with them if i could still get
>>> the light to go off and for it to run properly.
>>
>>> By the way when it talks about "bank 2" for the code, which converter
>>> is that on my 1996 350 silverado?
>>
>>> I appreciate it!
>>
>> Passenger side- Hide quoted text -
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>> - Show quoted text -
>
> Ok. I will check the o2 after the cat on the passanger side.
>
> One question, if the o2 sensor after the cat just looks for oxygen,
> what would happen if you left a good o2 sensor plugged in but took it
> out of the exhaust pipe into free air? Looks like it would read more
> oxygen.
>
> It seems I read somewhere about replacing the cat with a straight pipe
> and welding in a spark plug non fouler to "lift" the o2 sensor out of
> the exhaust stream a little bit

Different makes check the cat operation a different ways. What works on
Ford might not work on Chevy, etc.