How to fix P0420 code with non Fowlers (cheap & easy)
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- Опубликовано: 5 фев 2025
- This should fix your check engine light for any O2 sensor you have or if you have an exhaust system with no catalytic converter because you had it removed or if you have a bad catalytic converter and I don’t recommend doing this long term but it can get you by if you just have a P0 420 code because you have a bad oxygen sensor it would be easier to just replace the sensor
It works AWSOME. Did it on a Honda with 275k miles on it and don’t want to spend 1200 bucks on a Ca only Cat.
Did you pass smog while having them on? I am also in California with 420 code. Sucks
@@cesar2542 yes. Nobody checks it
Ok thank you brother will try this. Did you reset codes manually or did check engine go away by itself?
@@cesar2542 cleared it with my code reader but you can disconnect the battery. Just have to drive about 50-69 miles for the computer to reset
Will give it a shot I appreciate your help man! Gotta pass smog asap
for those that don't know. this is for the bottom o2 sensors and yes it works.
Doesn't really fix anything.
@@falcorthewonderdog2758it gets rid of the engine diagnostic code, and the check engine light.
How does this work without a mini cat inside? And also wouldn’t it be better to use a J-joint positioned forwards? Seems like the dirty air could still make its way inside that extender
It moves the O₂ sensor just far enough away from the exhaust stream that it works.
Wow 😮 with this we save literally over $2000 dollars 😮 , thanks for share your knowledge 😊
Also on a 2013 Ford Explorer I wonder if there is enough space to use 2 spark plug spacer’s since my catalytic converters are on the front of the engine and firewall of the engine..not underneath the car..
Do Non Fowlers prevent hens?
If you disconnect the harness clip on the 02 sensor it will not twist up the harness wire ?
I have one spark plug non-fouler on each bank of the motor in my 2010 Accord V6 and I'm still getting the P0420 on B1 error. Car runs great. Bank 1 has a new downstream 02 sensor, i did not replace the other 3 sensors. Should replace the other 3 sensors?
I'll have to replace both my cats - both are not working and I'm in CA and the car won't pass smog AND since I'm in CA I have to buy 2 CARB-compliant cats at $400 each 😭😭
Great video sir 👍👍
I got a question was this put in before the catalytic converter or after the catalytic converter? Biker Dave.🤘
@@dave6095 this one was after the concert
Could you have used the Dorman 42109 non fouler? It's longer and only one piece.
Probably I’ve heard people say you only need one but others say you need to for it to be at the right distance…. I just tried 2 first and it worked so I never used just 1
I don't care about emissions. But I do care about my car engine. Honda Civic. I think my cat is just wore out (but not stopped up) because I get this code about once a month and i clear the code. I don't have any performance issues. I'm fixing to change spark plugs. The cat has 250k miles on it. My question is doesn't the ECM need this input to adjust fuel trims for a better running longer lasting engine?
I got the check engine light with Po420 code but every time I drive 45min-1 hour on the highway the check engine light goes away for a day or two then come back on?
Sounds your cat is starting to get clogged but when you drive for a long time, it probably helps to clear some of it out. If I was you, I would go on the highway and drive for an hour to see if you can help clean that out and I would Also put in this additive called cat clean in its like 30.00 a bottle but it would probably help in your case because it sounds like it’s not fully clogged yet cat clean is just a chemical that you put in The gas tank you can get it at any auto parts store but Walmart might have it cheaper
@@mightymotors2074 thanks 🙏
No problem your welcome!
If you see this, please let me know if it helped. Samething happened with mine.
The catalyst is borderline. When the vehicle is driven on a stop and go traffic the code will go away. Then the smog technical will not see the code and has no choice but to pass the smog check.
Where can you buy these now, I looked at Lowe's and they have alot and nothing like that. What size is average threads on male and the female which I still have old one I replaced and helped out for few hundred miles but small gasket leak at back of cat , now much worse and I'm gonna try jb weld exhaust tape repair. Just at the collector. Thanks if any replies
Amazon injustice picked upma 2pack for 12bucks
Any automotive store has those , they're called the spark plug Fowler's there are other names for them
No Home Depot or Lowe's will not have that
“Lowe’s” that’s a lumberyard, check the Waffle House
Great video very detail 👍
Is this for downstream #2 sensor and not #1 sensor?
Yes downstream sensor and if you buy the longer defowler no drilling is required and you only use 1.
I own a 2017 F150 3.5L naturally aspirated. I have an o2 sensor on the cat, which i have gutted , and an o2 sensor after the cat. Which one should i use the non foulers on?
The one after that cat
Thanks😊
Did using the non-fowlers fix your P0420/P0430 code on you F150? I ask because my 2016 F150 3.5 EcoBoost has the same codes and CEL.
It's easier to buy the longer defowler instead of using two. I put one on my 2012 dodge worked great. And because I bought the longer defowler no drilling.
Problem is everyone the O2 monitor will not ready if you add the defowler and if in CA wont pass smog. CA emissions on some vehicles are too tight for example My 2003 Silverado is allowed 1004 parts per million but will not pass because it is sometimes putting out 1006 PPM so CA wants me to buy a $2500 dollar CAT which is made and sold in CA. So now I have to drive my 69 F100 which puts out 500,000 PPM but is smog exempt. Not what I want to do but what I have to do. What sucks to is the State can BIT flip your ECM to give a bad reading forcing you to buy a new car Yaaaaaay dictatorship
The O₂ sensor will still work when using a housing. It just moves it far enough away from the exhaust stream to not trigger the check engine light's P0420 cat inefficiency code.
These rules are not based on science, cars of the last 30 years burn ridiculously clean. California emission laws are a corrupt money-making scheme between the govt and auto manufacturers.
Defeating them is the American way! 🇺🇸🖕🏻
It’s not a dictatorship, it’s state/federal law!
Obviously you don’t a damn about your fellow Californians!
Remember when Angelenos couldn’t see the mountains for the smog? That was fun, right?
You’re not very bright!
I have an 04 sequoia with PO420 code. I can't use a non fouler because my downstream O2 sensors are bracket or flange type mount. Anyone have this issue?
Would this work on a 2010 ford escape v6?
I believe it would
I own a 2017 F150 3.5L naturally aspirated. I have an o2 sensor on the cat, which i have gutted , and an o2 sensor after the cat. Which one should i use the non foulers on?
as the 420 code can be caused by a number on issues w/the car, not sure how you can say that this fix will clear the code.
It’s a catless down pipe on this application. They work, you clearly know not what you see
Will adding a spark plug non-fowler to the downstream O2 sensor on a NEW cat fix the issue? I've had the NEW cat (likely not OEM) and I'm still getting the P0420 code despite no exhaust leaks, new o2 sensors
@@user-bc1kp1sl2e yes I think that would definitely still help you
@@mightymotors2074 okay because I did everything, new Cat, new o2 sensors, personally checked the entire exhaust system and at first I found a leak to the manifold but I personally replaced and inspected it after with no leaks but the code came back on after 3 days of clearning it with an obd2 scanner
It fixed it
Will this pass smog check?
No way
Ciao ho provato sulla mi 500 abarth con errore p0420 con il distanziatore , ma non ho trovato beneficio anzi al contrario va peggio di prima. Non capisco perché.grazie se sai come fare fammi sapere
Can I do this on my honda element 2004 can't got rid of the code and still dont pass inspection
Yes this should work for you!
Thank you. I'll try it, and I will let you know if it worked
Will this pass emissions?
@@jaman2366 it will not
How to get the foulers please
Any auto store will have them!
First time i saw the code 420 i thought is was for the driver is too high.😊
I gutted my front cats and run Doug Thorley catless B pipes on my 2005 Nissan Xterra. I have tried three different types of spacers and the P0420 P0430 codes come back within 10 miles of driving. Scratching my head as to what to try next. Thinking of the resistor fix but there are mixed results with that one too..🤬 The truck runs great otherwise and gets over 20 MPG, just hate the CEL..
If I have two O2 sensors then I would have to bypass both?
Only the downstream o2 sensor.
I did this to my daughter’s car. After about 4 months she got a code saying the system is running too lean. Now what?
It is possible that the sensor went bad
my cat rattles , for two years no trouble , engine started sputtering recently (2004 escape) . I think i am out of options, oh well, It rattled when I bought it used it with no issues.
It sounds like the cat has come loose on the inside if you can try to get the loose pieces out if you can that would probably fix your sputtering it might just be moving around freely in there and occasionally is blocking it causing the sputtering
@@mightymotors2074 ty, I will try
My resonated test pipes have longer elbow shape bungs and I just got a P2098 code a week after installing the pipes, what is the difference between P2098 and the P0420?
But isn’t the problem still there?
Is it upstream or downstream of the cat?
This will probably turn code off but fixes nothing. Engine Exhaust is still restricted by a clogged cat. Creating unwanted back pressure on Engine.
Will adding this non fowler to a new CAT that is not OEM fix this code?
You understand that the p0420 code will be triggered when the catalytic efficiency drops to something like 95%. You can go 100,000 or more miles before the cat has any clogging that restricts airflow.
@@buddy6551 well adding a new CAT even that is not oem will be better than running the old cat that is clogged. Sometimes you need an o2 spacer to remove the engine light due to the non oem cats slightly decreased efficiency compared to the oem cat
so one spacer wont work? i see you are using two
Yes I think one will work too
It depends on the car. Try one, then try to. I initially had two, and it was too far away from the airstream. The measurements from my O2 sensor were too low, and triggered another code, p0137, or low O2 voltage. When I went to one spacer, the O2 sensor voltage was within range.
Just but oxygen sensor spacer from eBay and you won’t need to drill anything
How to know which sensor to do this to?
It would be the one either in or after the cat
@@mightymotors2074 so how can I be sure which one it is?
there's no need to drill or anything like that china has you covered i got 4 of them for like 5 dollars on aliexpress they did the job.
Will not pass in ny
What’s the consequence when someone get caught? Jail time? Fine? License revoked? Anyone know? I’m down to do this . I’m the owner of the car and have rights.😄
Why in the hell did you double up the spacers 😳 thankfully you didn’t by a five pack 🤣
The O2 sensor wont fit with just one spacer 😮
@ but it will with ‘zero’ spacers…hmmmm
It just masks the problem, the problem is still there, which is most likely fked up or clogged cat.
Just clean the cat in acetone and reuse the old one if really pressed for cash
So this is actually illegal to do in the state of California and every technician out here looks for those instantly
What isn't illegal in California 😂
Just replace the sensor & spray the catalytic converter with sea foam
Doesn't work.
ruclips.net/video/SVwza8Vo5XE/видео.html
Band aid fix. Problem is still there.
This is what you do after cutting the catalytic converter off to keep the engine light from tripping. Never do this with an old and clogged catalytic converter still on the exhaust system. You will destroy your engine by making it run too rich.
Downstream Sensor reports Rich/Lean readings?
I thought it's to upstream that did that.
Its works for few miles only😂😂😂
This guy gives technicians a bad name. Instead of hacking the susyem why not perform the diagnostic and actually fix the issue?
The CAT is more then likely functional. But reading a little below threshold. Why spend 300-1000 dollar. Replacing the cat when the car is worth 1k-4k. When a $10 spacer corrects the issue.
Because the cost of replacing a cat is very high. Here in Canada you're looking at paying a shop Can$2500-3500 Not everyone has that kind of money.
Assuming this is a Subaru... Subarus have a high rate of p0420 engine codes. Something to do with their programming a Subaru tech told me. Once a car gets more than 8 or 9 years old, replacing the catalytic converter on a Subaru is like half the value of a car. At the time of this reply, my 2016 Forester has a P0420 code. Dealer wants $4,200 for a new catalytic converter. Subaru requires the entire exhaust system from the headers back to be replaced. Non-dealer Subaru shop is about $600 less, still $3,600. To be any less than that, you're going aftermarket cat, which will only last a year or so. In the case of my car, it's probably just slightly less efficient, probably 95% instead of 100%. Why would I want to spend thousands of dollars, to slightly increase the quality of emissions my car puts out?
Probably bc it’ll cost 3000$.
Well for a self claimed tech you’re clearly unaware what you are looking at. For starters he’s using an accessport to read the code and is running a catless down pipe so the issue isn’t fixing it incorrectly but the fact that a functioning 02 sensor would read incorrectly on a modified/tuned car. He never said to do it, in fact said it wasn’t correct. Before you call someone out you should educate yourself otherwise you have proven your lack on knowledge. Don’t claim to be a tech, own the fact you’re just running off with no clue about the vehicle. You have yourself a bad name but proved you’re incompetence
All you're doing is making your car work harder
I don't understand how that works?
does it pass the emissions test?
@@luis1930pericles no it won’t pass
@@mightymotors2074what if I take it off right before taking it to the emission test? Asking for a friend
This is illegal. You are not authorized to modify the federally illegal exhaust system. The O2 sensors will no longer get a steady stream of exhaust gas and will no longer work properly. Many states will fail you for emissions testing. Section 203(a)(3) of the Clean Air Act prohibits tampering with emission controls and manufacturing and selling products that defeat or bypass emission controls.
😂😂😂 go hug a tree
This doesn’t fix anything
ILLEGAL!!! We see stupid shit like this come through our shop occasionally. Why does it end up in our shop? Because it eventually fails and costs the owner of the vehicle even more to fix correctly in the long run! You're only asking for more trouble in the long run if you follow this method 🙄
How's it cost more to fix it now vs. later?
Pay me now or pay me a whole lot more later... O2 Foulers are 100% illegal in all states that have emissions testing. Installing O2 foulers is 100% emissions tampering, and subjects the owner of the vehicle, the mechanic, and the shop that did the work to major fines!
www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2020-12/documents/tamperinganddefeatdevices-enfalert.pdf
@@precious5663 The EPA can fine businesses that sell or install devices to defeat emission controls over $5,000 per device. Dealers can be fined over $5,000 per tampered vehicle.
The EPA can also seek administrative orders, civil sanctions, or participate in criminal actions. The Clean Air Act (CAA) authorizes fines of up to $25,000 per day for emissions violations.
Where I live there are no inspections, and over half the vehicles don't have a catalytic converter anymore. They all use this method to keep the engine light off. You want to avoid those fines? Move to a better state that actually protects it's citizens from federal overreach by having no vehicle inspections to begin with.
@@jeffcarello7446- If they try and enforce those ridiculous rules on average people you will see a groundswell of grass roots protests urging legislators to rescind them.
They're trying to force stupid impractical EVs on everyone, and that's not going to work.
Hack!
That hack doesn't fix anything.
This is called tampering with the emission system. It is also against the law. The clean air act. Just a FYI
So is speeding but you all still do it.
Breakin the law, breakin the law 🤘🏻
@@Helmuesi911 😁🤣
no worse than the treasonous acts committed by most of the dc demons :D
May be forcing people to take scam vaccines would be ok for people like you.
this does NOT work , this kind of shite needs to stop .
You should just stop commenting, it’s a tuner car moron