I have a 02 screw 5.4 4x4 that I have the p0430 code. Is it OK just to replace one cat at a time? I mom n pop shop by me quoted me $280 for a universal cat installed. Money is tight right now as I just bought the truck and I still have to pay my taxes on it and get plates.

 

https://www.f150online.com/forums/ex...-question.html

https://www.f150online.com/forums/ex...2002-f150.html

3 threads and counting.......

 

He just wants to be SURE!

OP, from what I've read, Changing one cat at a time is bad Ju-Ju. The computer checks one side against the other and if one suddenly looks much cleaner than the other it throws a code against the older cat. Not sure if that's all years or not. Also in some areas, generic cats aren't allowed and won't pass emissions testing. I think someone from Caly posted here with that problem. YMMV.

 

Generic cats are okay in MO.

Just to get through inspection, you can try the Gotts O2 Mod like I told you in one of the other threads you posted in. However, if the cat is starting to plug up you need to change it ASAP, and I'd do both sides.

 

Does anybody have any idea why so many cats are failing these days? They starting using cats in 1975 and there have always been some failures bit it seems like today that a few people are having a LOT of problems with them and in vehicles that are reasonably new (~ 5 years) and usually they end having to replace BOTH cats. Having to replace both indicates that the source of the problem isn't the individual cats but something to do with the vehicle itself or something that both cats have in common. Bad fuel perhaps? I know that a lot of current engine failures are due to excessive alcohol in some batches of the **** that passes for gasoline today. s it possible that some additive in the gasoline is settling out and that a few vehicles are getting excessive amounts (or a lack of) of it and that's poisoning the cats?

Ideas?