Hey guys,

I found this site and started looking around at p420 code threads but none seem to have my circumstances.

I have an 01' gsr with full exhaust and cat, headers, intake, intake manifold, and throttle body mods.

About 1.5 years ago I started having acceleration issues and hesitation where is sounded like the car should be accelerating but was really struggling. I then got the p171 and 170 codes and soon after the p420 code. I then had the fuel filter, timing belt and water pump, cat, one of the o2 sensors, the distributor, spark plugs and wires replaced. So during the past year or so those have all been done to try to solve it but I still have terrible acceleration issues once the car is run for 15 min. 2 weeks ago my p420 code came back after like 6 months of no code. Now its cold and raining and the car won't start at all. It turns but every few seconds of trying I can feel only little bubbles of air pressure going through the exhaust, but no idea why..with all those things replaced.

It should be noted that before this started I had struggled a little after adding the intake manifold, and prior to the original codes I had hydrolocked the car, (drained the oil and started back up) and also had the timing replaced..cant really figure out if any of those things caused this, but I have had a leak down and all is well. But I also have oil spurting up into the hood from some leak in the head.


All those things being said, let me know what you guys think...I can't take it/afford it any more!

 

In the future post a little description about the code, not everyone knows them off by heart. Cat below threshold....yes a clogged cat can very well cause what you're dealing with unbolt the cat and run it open head and watch it be fine.....

 

Sorry about that. Why would the code be thrown within such a short time though, the cat is 6 months old..

 

what brand of CAT ? who knows does the car run rich ?. just give it a shot re-set the ECU beore you start it up w/o the cat, if it's the cat just weld a straight piece of pipe in it's place till you get another one.

 

I really don't think it was the cat's fault alone though something is causing the cat to clog repeatedly if that is the case...and I wanna figure out what is causing the clog. How would the richness affect the cat? I remember 2 years ago I went from the too rich to too lean code without changing anything and then I erased them after the fuel filter replacement and they came back but not since 7 months ago.

 

too rich/lean code(s) ? I'm not familiar with a specific code(s) that indicates that, do you remember them. that's what you want to figure out pull the plugs and post a pic, 3rd un bolt the cat/rest of the exhaust you'll probably get a code regarding no 2ndary o2 but the car should run better.

 

P0171 is a too lean code. Check your fuel pressure.

 

Yeah I had p171/p170. Ill check the fuel pressure and have my friend take the exhaust apart. Ill get back to you guys with updates/pics after the holiday.
thanks for the advice

 

Melted cat/cause rich mixture

 

If your running rich all the unburnt fuel coming out of your combustion chamber ends up and burns inside your cat.

 

I know the p0420 code by heart because its the one I get the most lol.

For me, it wasn't the cat, but it was the secondary 02 sensor.

But that code says it could be:

1.Air/Fuel Ratio concern
2.Air leak near h20s (heated oxygen sensor) bank 1
3.Ignition system concern
4.faulty catalytic converter


I got this 2 times (one on my civic, and once on my integra)
on my civic, there is a spark plug non-fouler or something trick because I didn't have a cat, which threw the p0420 code.

If both 02 sensors get a similiar reading, you will get a code. The trick (if your not in a carb legal state), is to move the o2 sensor further back, and it will get a different reading, thus elimintating the code.

https://honda-tech.com/forums/acura-integra-type-r-8/spark-plug-non-fouler-1841240/

 

Well the code isn't my issue really, its the fact that it won't start, and has been having terrible acceleration. I agree that I'm probably burning through cats because of a rich mixture but how do you think I fix the rich mixture? Do i have to get all the tuning stuff done cause of the air fuel ratio? Its gonna cost me 1300 to have it tuned cause I'm clueless

 

Rich could be
Leaky injectors/stuck open
Fuel pressure regulator leaking internal
Bad timing
Vaccum leak

Could be alot of things