P0420-Catalyst System Below Threshold

[Broosedamoose]

So, now I'm getting this code! I cleared it out but it just comes back. My V8 Ranger is almost done and I really don't want to spend that kind of money where I'm going to sell it soon. You can buy just the one cat, you have to buy the whole dang Y-Pipe and it's expensive as heck! I know I can't just replace bank without doing bank two! I know it's not the "right" thing to do but, I'd like to just punch out the two small ones and leave the big one.

 

[Shran]

Sell it to someone in a state that doesn't have smog testing and don't worry about what happens after that...?

None of us can tell you to gut or remove cats, that is illegal and I don't know if it would even fix your problem. If it is the cats causing the issue could you simply replace them all with universal (cheaper) ones and then put the O2 sensors back in the appropriate places?

 

[Broosedamoose]

My truck is outside the emissions testing time limit in MA (15+ years) so that's not the issue. I don't want to sell it with the CEL on because I won't get as much! My truck has no rot at all on the frame and just a little bit at the bottom of the doors. It's in excellent condition! I could just clear it with my scanner before someone came to look at it but that's not right! I won't do that. I talked to my mechanic and he said gutting the cats will surely produce a CEL so that's out. Though he did say I would gain some performance! But no, I'm not gonna do that! I guess I am going to just have to suck it up and buy new down pipes. I can't do one side without the other because I know as soon as I do, bank 2 will fail! That's how my luck is!

 

[19Walt93]

Is there a muffler shop near you that could cut out the old cat and weld in an aftermarket, universal one?