Originally posted by chongo:
Originally posted by sylin:

I would never have this TSB done. Re-flashing the PCM to deal with the P0420/P0430 code is not going to improve the pre-cat efficiency at all. It simply lowers the threshold so that a low efficient pre-cat that was to fail the pre-cat efficiency self test before the re-flashing passes the test after the re-flashing. I believe this TSB is much more effective in kicking people having P0420/P0430 out of 13yr/130KKm waranty, by postponing the re-appearance of the same codes, than it is in solving the real problem. And the most lovely part here is that the bill is on customers.

I had the same P0420 code with my 97 Tour a few months ago at 135K km out of waranty so I'm on my own, no other codes but this solo P0420. I cleared it up and turned off the CEL and it didn't come back until 3 months after. I passed the emission test with flying colors a few weeks before the code came back. So I knew the not-as-effective pre-cats are not a too big deal in the emission control as long as the main cat works well. I built an MIL Eliminator and installed it on the bank 1 down-stream O2 sensor to fool the PCM, and the code hasn't come back so far.



Stylin 2 things I see wrong with your statement.

1 - It's 8yrs or 130,000km emmisions warranty.

and

2 - You say not to reflash the PCM becuase it lowers the threshold.
Well what do you think you did with the MIL Eliminator!

I say get it flashed, then if it comes back, have them replace the cats.
As Nate's car is still within the warranty period get it done, then gut them later if all else fails once the warranty is up.



It must have been the moment that I accidentally spilled hot coffee onto my pants when I put "13yr" -- my bad.

But the MIL eliminator is a slightly different story than re-flashing the PCM. This little device, with a working down stream O2 sensor, flattens out the O2 sensor output signals feeding to the PCM and makes it appear to the PCM that the pre-cat is working well even if it is not, or even if it has been gutted, so that you NEVER get P0420/0430 codes. Therefore, the MIL eliminator is like lowering the pre-cat efficiency arbitration threshold all the way to zero, while with re-flashing the PCM the codes are guaranteed to come back at a later time and you end up anyways with either A)gutting the pre-cats and installing the MIL eliminator or B)replacing the pre-cats.

I did plan to gut the pre-cats whenever it gets warm and easy to work outside. Since that wont happen in some months from now and I do need to prevent any other codes from being possibly masked by the failing pre-cats codes during this period of time, I put in the MIL eliminator in advance to gutting the pre-cats, in order to maintain a clear board.

I personally would not encourage having the re-flashing PCM done, as it simply is not dealing with the problem itself at all, though I do encourage anyone still under the emission waranty to have Ford pay for new pre-cats, and if that turns out no-go get the pre-cats gutted.

1997 Contour Sport Duratec MTX 2000 Olds Intrigue GLS Sterling Edition