Hi, I just searched these forums for a code PO430. I found very little info and the related postings are quite old. So I thought I might bring it up again and see if anyone has experienced this problem since then and might have an answer. The truck seems to run just fine but still... The book says it is a catalyst insufficiency(or something like that) on bank two. This is the truck my wife and I just got for our son. It is a 2001 F150 Supercab 4x4 with the flaresides and the 4.6 engine. It seems like a good truck even though it did run rough when we bought it. It took a new fuel pump and related fuel system maintanence to get it right. It had some dirt in the tank which kept cloggin fuel filters including the screen on the pump. I don't like pulling tanks down so I decided to replace the pump while I had it down. I am a helicopter mechanic so working on the thing is easy for me, but still, I hate wrestling with fuel tanks. My own truck is a 2003 F150 Lariat FX4 Flareside with the 5.4 The only problem I have had with it so far is the brake assembly on the right front side came loose. I let the ford dealer get me a new rim and had them fix that one though. I didn't gripe too much about it but it did scare me when it happened and it could have turned out ugly as one of the retaining bolts quickly departed the scene. One of the dealer mechs had just done the front brakes right before I bought the truck. But anyway, you guys have a really nice site here and I have gained quite a bit of knowledge from it already and even a few laughs here and there.

Thanks,
Wes

 

Hi Wes and welcome , I can't help much on this one , but heres a link that describes what's behind the PO430 code. There most likley will be more people who chime in that have more experiance with this fault code. It's the best truck site on the web, these guys will help you out if they can..

http://www.fordscorpio.co.uk/catmonitor.htm

 

Heya Wes,

The P0430 is the same fault as it's twin - P0420 (just the other bank). Look for that one, too.

8/80 Federal warranty on the cats (except California -7/70). If you're inside the limits, the fix is free.

Otherwise, MIL Eliminators will get rid of the fault code.

Steve

 

If you've got the capability, you need to monitor the upstream and downstream O2 sensor switch rates. When the downstreams are switching at the same rate as the upstreams, the converter is chemically dead.

 

The computer already did that, that's why the code was set.

Steve

 

Sometimes P0420/430 will be set by calibration issues as well. PCM updates have remedied a few of these for me.

 

This is one of those times that 'if' the cats have to be bought, it pays to do the switching test to be sure. $$$$$.
May even be the sensors.
This could have had something to do with the dirt in the fuel system, over time.
Like sticking fuel injectros open at times and killing cat on one side.

 

Ok, seems it's going to be an exhaust system problem then. I do hear exhaust leaks but I haven't smelled anything to lead me to believe the cats are stopping up. The dirt in the fuel system could have caused an injecter problem. So the chances are I must either have a burned out cat or a bad exhaust sensor. It's too close to Christmas for me to be replacing the cats so I'll have to wait till the first of the year.
\

Thanks for the replies,
Wes

 

The code isn't from the converter being stopped up, it's from the converter being chemically inactive.

 

Quintin is correct.
There is a big difference. An actual physical blockage would make the motor have no power from a large amount of back-pressure.
Inactivity means the exhaust passing thru is not being acted upon by the internal coatings on the ceramic substrates. The sensors detect this as a change in switching that is outside the PCM program limits.
Check by looking at the actual switching to be sure. It's the 'natural thing to do'.

 

Right. It would still come down to replacing a bad converter. Being a mechanic, if I replace any item of the exhaust system I might as well replace all of it. I call it preventative maintanence. The truck has 114k on it and the fact that this code indicates a bad converter doesn't surprise me. I just didn't have a clue as to what the code really ment. I figure in age, present exhaust leaks, one failure will eventually lead to another, expense and aggravation, equals: might as well knock it all out with one stroke. I am a helicopter mechaninc...no converters or mufflers.

Thanks,
Wes

 

Hi all i own a 2006 f150 got the code po430 change the 2 O2 sensors on banks 2 lights still came back on . could it be a vaccuum leak somewhere that links to bank 2 . the truck runs fine . just put a cat back system on but the code was there before that . i think i should have stayed with my 1993 f150 no hard times like this with that .

 

and also how do get PCM updates ?