Just purchased an '05 Off-road with 167K. Runs smooth and tight. I noticed it had a little more exhaust sound out the pipe than I expected, but didn't give it much thought. Well, it threw a P020-030 code after about 30 miles - cats both banks. I took it to my local exhaust guys, they knew what the codes were before I told them, then when they heard it as I pulled onto the lift they knew what was going on. Seems the cats, all four, have been blown out, hollow, nothing in them. I live in a state with no inspection and it has lived it's whole life here so....apparently at some point they were stopped up, so somebody "unstopped them." They basically told me if the extra exhaust sound doesn't bother me, then there is nothing I have to do. I'm contributing a little more pollution than normal, otherwise no power loss, no other problems. They put a couple "extensions" on the sensors and that cleared the codes for about 50 miles then they came back on. Otherwise this truck is looking pretty straight for the miles and money. The problem is I bought this for my daughter and I don't want her to have an issue that caused a legitimate CEL for something serious and not know it because this "non-issue" has it on all the time.
Is there secret way to short circuit those exhaust sensors or otherwise fool them into thinking things are normal? The guys at the shop said they thought they had heard of something that may now be outlawed - like a plug that the sensor sits in so it sends "normal" signal.
I'd rather not sink the money it looks like would be needed to put the exhaust back to OEM or working AM replacement.
Any help out there?
Thanks - Dennis
Is there secret way to short circuit those exhaust sensors or otherwise fool them into thinking things are normal? The guys at the shop said they thought they had heard of something that may now be outlawed - like a plug that the sensor sits in so it sends "normal" signal.
I'd rather not sink the money it looks like would be needed to put the exhaust back to OEM or working AM replacement.
Any help out there?
Thanks - Dennis