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Catalytic converters that is. My exhaust has developed a rattle at certain RPMs and my garage seems to think it's my catalytic convertor. My question is, doesn't Ford have some sort of 7 year emissions warranty, and if so would the cat be covered under that? I'm trying to figure out whether this is a problem I should take to the dealer.

Originally posted by dbateman:

Catalytic converters that is. My exhaust has developed a rattle at certain RPMs and my garage seems to think it's my catalytic convertor. My question is, doesn't Ford have some sort of 7 year emissions warranty, and if so would the cat be covered under that? I'm trying to figure out whether this is a problem I should take to the dealer.

Everywhere except CA you get a Federal 8/80 emissions warranty. If your cat dies they replace it for free.

Originally posted by ScottK:

Originally posted by dbateman:

Catalytic converters that is. My exhaust has developed a rattle at certain RPMs and my garage seems to think it's my catalytic convertor. My question is, doesn't Ford have some sort of 7 year emissions warranty, and if so would the cat be covered under that? I'm trying to figure out whether this is a problem I should take to the dealer.

Everywhere except CA you get a Federal 8/80 emissions warranty. If your cat dies they replace it for free.

Ask for a new & free PCV valve too.

I'm thinking I might take it in and say I smell rotten eggs after hard acceleration (which I have for a long time), and I hear a rattling/vibration in the exhaust. If they put 2 and 2 together hopefully I'll wind up with a new cat.

I'll ask about the PCV too.

Originally posted by TourDeForce:

Ask for a new & free PCV valve too.

Why should he ask for a new pcv?

Originally posted by XKontour98:

Originally posted by TourDeForce:

Ask for a new & free PCV valve too.

Why should he ask for a new pcv?

Read your warranty!

If the cat has failed internally, it should be covered under the 8/80 warranty. The "rotten egg smell" will NOT qualify you for a free cat, but a broken honeycomb will.

Make sure it isn't a loose heatshield, first.

Steve

Hello all, this is my first time actually posting so take it easy on me. I have a 2000 Contour SVT with 71k. The only engine code I am getting is 0430. From what I have read it seems like I should take advantage of the 8year/80,000mile emission warranty/ford's free cat giveaway.

To make sure I don't make a complete fool out of myself at the dealership I wanted to check and see if there are any other steps to take. I changed the plugs, wires, fuel filter all around 60k. Would the 02 sensors, the DPFE or an original fuel pump be related to the problem? Would I get additional codes if any or those parts were the problem?

One last possibly related issue...under moderate/hard acceleration at above 5k RPMs the engine is losing power. I attributed this to the aging fuel pump, but could it be related to a plugged catalytic converter? Any insight would be helpful.

Thanks
Devin

Welcome youngsvt

. First post in 1.5 years.

"I have a 2000 Contour SVT with 71k. The only engine code I am getting is 0430. From what I have read it seems like I should take advantage of the 8year/80,000mile emission warranty/ford's free cat giveaway."

Hate to disappoint you but it is a reprograming of the PCM to increase the "band" at which the code for inefficient precats come one. Unless the precat is too far gone and the reprogramming does not work, they will not give you a new precat. The reprogramming just postpones the inevitable (new precat) maybe until the 8/80 is past.

"I changed the plugs, wires, fuel filter all around 60k."
Good idea.

"Would the 02 sensors"
Sometimes but you usually get a O2 code if it is a bad O2 sensor.

,"...under moderate/hard acceleration at above 5k RPMs the engine is losing power. I attributed this to the aging fuel pump, but could it be related to a plugged catalytic converter?"
Could both or either.

One strange thing though, most of us get P0420 (Bank 1 firewall side) before P0430 (Bank 2 radiator side).

Yes, do send it in and see what they say. Because if you are past the warranty period, you won't even have that option. (my P0420 first came on at 8 years 1 month, 66k miles).

Good luck and good night.

Originally posted by youngsvt:
Hello all, this is my first time actually posting so take it easy on me. I have a 2000 Contour SVT with 71k. The only engine code I am getting is 0430. From what I have read it seems like I should take advantage of the 8year/80,000mile emission warranty/ford's free cat giveaway.

To make sure I don't make a complete fool out of myself at the dealership I wanted to check and see if there are any other steps to take. I changed the plugs, wires, fuel filter all around 60k. Would the 02 sensors, the DPFE or an original fuel pump be related to the problem? Would I get additional codes if any or those parts were the problem?

One last possibly related issue...under moderate/hard acceleration at above 5k RPMs the engine is losing power. I attributed this to the aging fuel pump, but could it be related to a plugged catalytic converter? Any insight would be helpful.

Thanks
Devin

Before you get overly concerned, those codes are frequently "false positives". You may indeed have nothing wrong.

It helps to make sure that it is in good tune. By that I mean that the plugs are in good shape, the injectors clean, and the air filter in good shape.

If you feel like replacing something just to see if it would help, replace the upstream oxygen sensor the the offending bank.

There has been a lot posted about this and you could learn a lot with a search, especially if you limited the search to posts I've made.

Go get the reflash since it's still free. If you wait around, it will cost you $$$ to get the fault resolved.

The cat efficiency code is not directly related to possible restricted converter flow. However, a cat that has been fuel-loaded can degrade the honeycomb resulting in both a reduction in the physical integrity of the cat's internals and its ability to store oxygen.

Steve