Y2KOB Posted November 29, 2008 Share Posted November 29, 2008 I have a 2001 4 cyl. Outback with approx. 70,000 miles and while on a trip to Florida the check engine light came on. The plugs are fresh as well as the air cleaner, battery and a Subaru gas cap. It seems to run ok and I got almost 28 MPG on the trip at 65 mph. Is there a way to get the trouble code without a code reader? My 2000 jeep will display the trouble code on the dash after turning the ignition key on and off 4 times. Does Subaru have anything like that? Any ideas on the problem? Rich jcmsp062@aol.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KnifeyMcShanker Posted November 29, 2008 Share Posted November 29, 2008 No, just run to an Autozone or other parts store and they'll read it for free. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonklein611 Posted November 30, 2008 Share Posted November 30, 2008 While your there, try to delete the code and see if it comes back later. Some things can be a hiccup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Y2KOB Posted December 13, 2008 Author Share Posted December 13, 2008 I bought a cheap code reader/eraser and used it. The code comes up as "P0420" Catalyst Efficiency Below Threshold (Bank 1) . This light came on during a 2,400 mile trip andstayed on untill I deleted it this morning. If it comes back on do I change the Cat? If so where's the best place to get one at a reasonable price? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bdubs Posted December 13, 2008 Share Posted December 13, 2008 It could be a rear 02 sensor as well. Sometimes a faulty sensor sets that code off. Ever have that changed before? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Y2KOB Posted December 13, 2008 Author Share Posted December 13, 2008 No, I haven't replaced very much on this car. It's been almost trouble free since new. If the light comes back I'll give it a try. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jah77clash Posted December 14, 2008 Share Posted December 14, 2008 when i drove from Missouri to Oregon my CEL came on when i got into Oregon. i think it was getting used to the %10 ethanol gas that is the only regular fuel product available in Oregon. after a few days the light cleared itself and never came back on. that was 6 months ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Y2KOB Posted December 15, 2008 Author Share Posted December 15, 2008 I wondered about the gas. I live in New Jersey and we don't get it. But the light came on after around 900 miles at highway speeds just after I got into Florida. The 10 percent ethanol started appearing in Virginia I think. Anyway it's out and I'm hoping it stays that way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackfang Posted December 15, 2008 Share Posted December 15, 2008 It could be a rear 02 sensor as well. Sometimes a faulty sensor sets that code off. Ever have that changed before? It could also be the front AF Sensor too. I have seen that go bad and give false readings and cause the cat to go bad. The main thing is seeing how the readings from the AF Sensor are and relate them to the rear O2 and see how they change in recordings. [SIZE=1][URL="http://public.fotki.com/blackfang/"]Pics[/URL] [B]08 KawasakiZZR 600- exhaust and other mods 98 Camaro Z/28 HT- some mods......street/strip car 07 Legacy 2.5i- SPT exhaust...daily driver[/B][/SIZE] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
excel1959 Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 The CEL on my daughters 1996 Legacy with 109000 miles came on about 2 weeks ago. Went to Autozone for a read out and got the dreaded P0420. Considering the mileage I changed the front O2 sensor. No change. Then I started the car and with the hood up did some listening around the engine. Noticed a sucking sound which led me to a vacuum hose that was dangling. I reconnected the hose and disconnected the battery during an oil change. CEL cleared. It's now been a week and close to 500 miles, she drove to Maine this past weekend, and still no CEL. Bottom line P0420 can be caused by many different things. Don't necessarily assume it's the very expensive cat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackfang Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 Actually a P0420 can be caused by a few things including the front sensor, cat and rear sensor. Also a misfire can cause it as well from raw fuel being dumped into the exhaust. I think what might have happened was the vacuum leak contributed to the problem and with the front a/f sensor going bad, that is why you had a p0420 code. I will say that most of the time, the sensor and cat need to be replaced, but that is not always the case. [SIZE=1][URL="http://public.fotki.com/blackfang/"]Pics[/URL] [B]08 KawasakiZZR 600- exhaust and other mods 98 Camaro Z/28 HT- some mods......street/strip car 07 Legacy 2.5i- SPT exhaust...daily driver[/B][/SIZE] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caschmidt Posted March 25, 2009 Share Posted March 25, 2009 Ya ive had that code for about 9,000 miles now..... I replaced the cat, later replaced the AF sensor, and ITS BACK ON!! Im so pissed im going to get a rear o2 sensor and hope that finally solves it. If it is ur AF sensor, ur car will run funky sometimes. It will stutter and hesitate. Along with the cat and AF sensor, I replaced the fuel filter, still didnt clear the code, but it def ran a lot smoother Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackfang Posted March 25, 2009 Share Posted March 25, 2009 Are you using a factory cat or an aftermarket one? Some aftermarket ones still will set the code being the converter may not fully satisfy the ECU's requirements in what it is measuring. [SIZE=1][URL="http://public.fotki.com/blackfang/"]Pics[/URL] [B]08 KawasakiZZR 600- exhaust and other mods 98 Camaro Z/28 HT- some mods......street/strip car 07 Legacy 2.5i- SPT exhaust...daily driver[/B][/SIZE] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caschmidt Posted March 27, 2009 Share Posted March 27, 2009 IF your referring to me, I got an aftermarket one. I never thought of that... it was $260 vs $1000 something so i obviously took the cheeper one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
987687 Posted March 27, 2009 Share Posted March 27, 2009 I get a code every now and again, I think P0139. It usually happens about 200miles after filling up with non ethanol gas after using ethanol, or visa versa. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackfang Posted March 27, 2009 Share Posted March 27, 2009 IF your referring to me, I got an aftermarket one. I never thought of that... it was $260 vs $1000 something so i obviously took the cheeper one Yes. I have seen some aftermarket converters cause this. One comes to mind where he has replaced his AF Sensor twice, rear o2 twice and converter twice and still has a P0420 code. All are non OE parts. [SIZE=1][URL="http://public.fotki.com/blackfang/"]Pics[/URL] [B]08 KawasakiZZR 600- exhaust and other mods 98 Camaro Z/28 HT- some mods......street/strip car 07 Legacy 2.5i- SPT exhaust...daily driver[/B][/SIZE] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caschmidt Posted March 28, 2009 Share Posted March 28, 2009 CRAP THAT SUCKS!!! I just went to autozone today and had 4 codes: 2 p0420 p1137- Front o2 sensor circuit range/performance problem p0130- circuit condition (heated o2 sensor bank sensor 1 Basically Im effed right? Im assuming I need to buy an OEM cat for this problem to be fixed. my inspection isnt due til december, so i have some time to troubleshoot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
987687 Posted March 29, 2009 Share Posted March 29, 2009 CRAP THAT SUCKS!!! I just went to autozone today and had 4 codes: 2 p0420 p1137- Front o2 sensor circuit range/performance problem p0130- circuit condition (heated o2 sensor bank sensor 1 Basically Im effed right? Im assuming I need to buy an OEM cat for this problem to be fixed. my inspection isnt due til december, so i have some time to troubleshoot How long does it take for all the codes to come back? Probably couple hundred miles. So just reset the codes right before having the inspection done... works in Maine at least... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caschmidt Posted March 29, 2009 Share Posted March 29, 2009 haha definitely worth a shot. it should work, i just hate having the CEL on constantly. its better than throwing away $1000 for an OEM cat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.