P0420 -- worst 420 ever

[av9328]

I will be looking through previous threads but please feel free to engage. I am handy enough to DIY anything that doesn't require a lift but I am also still learning.

2014 Ram 1500 5.7 tradesman, regular cab
Codes stored: P0420, P0430
Codes pending: none
Lights: check engine and gas cap
Context: y-pipes, flowmaster exhaust (idk which model, installed by previous owner, medium loud), minor collision that pushed in the driver's side pipe about an inch (previous owner), strong exhaust odor and smoke (not sweet or opaque, maybe running lean or rich?)
Urgency: I can't register/title it until it passes smog, I don't have a million dollars to spend

THE QUESTION: how would you tackle this DIY or dealing with a mechanic? What other context can I provide that will help?

Love this truck. Any help is greatly appreciated. Anybody in westside Los Angeles that can help?

Thank you!
av

 

[Ken226]

strong exhaust odor and smoke

From inside the cab/engine well area, or do you mean at the exhaust pipes?

 

[Burla]

It sounds like you have something needs to be fixed other then code. But I'd just put and extender in the cat bank and pour cataclean the day you want to reg it. Go for a nice trip and use it concentrated like a bottle and a 1/4 tank.

Google the 420 code and see what products fix it. My brother has been fixing his 30 year old car every two years with this.

 

[jws123]

Bet you the previous owner hollowed out the cats I would pop a 02 sensor and stick a scope in there to see that would for sure make it stink if you dont have any leaks.

 

[av9328]

From inside the cab/engine well area, or do you mean at the exhaust pipes?

I'm going to have to test this. I rarely drive with my windows up-- always at least 1/4 cracked and I smell the exhaust. I'll get back to you on this. Thank you!

 

[av9328]

It sounds like you have something needs to be fixed other then code. But I'd just put and extender in the cat bank and pour cataclean the day you want to reg it. Go for a nice trip and use it concentrated like a bottle and a 1/4 tank.

Google the 420 code and see what products fix it. My brother has been fixing his 30 year old car every two years with this.

Think the rear end collision caused a crack somewhere on the exhaust? I suspect it but would a crack not visible to the eye throw code? I'll get in there tomorrow and see if I find anything.

LOVE the bank extender and cataclean recommendation. CA smog law is ridiculous. Happy to cheat it. And why not throw in the cataclean anyhow? 103k miles

 

[av9328]

Bet you the previous owner hollowed out the cats I would pop a 02 sensor and stick a scope in there to see that would for sure make it stink if you dont have any leaks.

That's wild. Googling.... why? after installing a flowmaster? in a state with strict smog laws?

Nothing surprises me anymore. Adding to checklist.

 

[DILLIGAF]

HP tuners and turn it off

 

[jws123]

That's wild. Googling.... why? after installing a flowmaster? in a state with strict smog laws?

Nothing surprises me anymore. Adding to checklist.

some people dont care would rather hollow them out then buy new cats when they go bad.

 

[metalchewy]

Chasing mine, I found many things. Some not necessarily the cause but all were needed.

Took 2 years to get rid of it. Day before emissions I would put a can of bg44k with 12 gallons of gas and drive it till it cleared, usually about 100-150 miles and the. emissions it.

Something has to be the cause before replacing the cats. Things I found.

My O2 sensors had the ends melted off. Put 4 new ones in.

Plugs. Had a couple with wide gaps. Changed all 16 and found one original looking plug on the back lower right that looked like an original with no electrode.

Fuel injectors. Cleaned and reinstalled.

Valve stem seals, i found some cracked and replaced all 16.

All of this didn't fix it. Some seemed to slow down the reappearamce of the code. It would throw at odd times. Usually after or during a long trip. Sometimes it would go out for awhile, then come back.

Finally, the water pump went out and overheated it a bit at 80MPH, 200 miles from home. Shortly after it threw the code again and I started seeing a puff of white smoke occasionally at thet
Tail pipe. Tested the head gasket and found it had started leaking.

New Heads (with new cams, lifters, rockers), new timing set, head gasket, etc for the 4.7. Found previous owner had used a head gasket sealer in the antifreeze. ( probably the true cause of the code)

Then changed the cats after the new top end and no more p0420.

Any one of these above can help clog the cats. Find the cause and fix before replacing them.

 

[slbenz600]

I will be looking through previous threads but please feel free to engage. I am handy enough to DIY anything that doesn't require a lift but I am also still learning.

2014 Ram 1500 5.7 tradesman, regular cab
Codes stored: P0420, P0430
Codes pending: none
Lights: check engine and gas cap
Context: y-pipes, flowmaster exhaust (idk which model, installed by previous owner, medium loud), minor collision that pushed in the driver's side pipe about an inch (previous owner), strong exhaust odor and smoke (not sweet or opaque, maybe running lean or rich?)
Urgency: I can't register/title it until it passes smog, I don't have a million dollars to spend

THE QUESTION: how would you tackle this DIY or dealing with a mechanic? What other context can I provide that will help?

Love this truck. Any help is greatly appreciated. Anybody in westside Los Angeles that can help?

Thank you!
av

I am wondering who us wagging the tail ? I see so many things that someone didn't know or was doing something knows anything about. Lets start with your exhaust, that Y pipe needs to be trashed replaced with a 3 inch pipe on each one of the cats. followed thru 2 Flow master mufflers 3 inch in and out, 3 inch tail pipes that will take care of your exhaust smell.
Lets look at you mileage the dual exhaust of the cats will give at least 5 mpg, this check engine and gas cap issue ?. I have a 2015 Ram 2500 4X4 with 6.4L I don't think other than the 6.4 L is better than the 5.7 L I think the system is the same. Don't let the Dealers blow smoke up your rear, if you don't have any machanic ability find someone that will, you fuel pressure sensor is bad. I spent $1600.00 dollars replacing the normal parts list, there are very few machanics out there they are called Technicians that transulates to pats replacers.
I get migraine by laying on the ground or creeper but was worth the 2 days in bed. It ****** me off to think I was scewed by people that should no something.

 

[av9328]

UPDATE!!!

NEW CODES: P0463 and P0456... 420 and 430 still stored, gas cap light still on. Eco light not coming on.
CONTEXT: OReilly scanner's "most likely solution" is to replace the fuel pump. The only reason I am thinking it's on the money is because the truck stalled just before the first red tick on the fuel gage and had to call for fuel. I threw cataclean in my quarter tank. I'll throw in BG44k next.

Any other ideas? Probably just going to take it to a mechanic next week since the fuel pump is suspect and I don't have space to do a job like that.

 

[hemihustlin]

some people dont care would rather hollow them out then buy new cats when they go bad.

some people dont even care if they go bad or not its just a long standing family tradition ya know
around here its particularly strong with Chevy truck owners of the 90s and early 2000s. bunch of old fart farmers that have been doing the same things for generations. some people just like to hack things up i guess. and enjoy the stink of a stock tune fuel injection v8 gasser trying to figure out where the cats went

 

[hemihustlin]

I will be looking through previous threads but please feel free to engage. I am handy enough to DIY anything that doesn't require a lift but I am also still learning.

2014 Ram 1500 5.7 tradesman, regular cab
Codes stored: P0420, P0430
Codes pending: none
Lights: check engine and gas cap
Context: y-pipes, flowmaster exhaust (idk which model, installed by previous owner, medium loud), minor collision that pushed in the driver's side pipe about an inch (previous owner), strong exhaust odor and smoke (not sweet or opaque, maybe running lean or rich?)
Urgency: I can't register/title it until it passes smog, I don't have a million dollars to spend

THE QUESTION: how would you tackle this DIY or dealing with a mechanic? What other context can I provide that will help?

Love this truck. Any help is greatly appreciated. Anybody in westside Los Angeles that can help?

Thank you!
av

you should be starting by the basics before letting the orileys counter guy pull out his parts cannon and start firing blanks everywhere, at your expense.


so, the operator (you) states vehicle was in a collision, drivers side exhaust pipe pushed in 1 inch, strong exhaust odor.

did the exhaust smell exist before the accident?

when you say drivers side exhaust pipe are you talking in the front from the manifold to the y pipe or in the back from the muffler to the tailpipe?

single or dual rear pipes?
fv
it is not normal to smell exhaust on a normally functioning modern fuel injection motor with functioning cats. if you smell it while driving you have a helluva leak before the cats

you can take pictures of the exhaust for us if youre not sure what you are looking at

good luck!