Post by jmorrisjr on Mar 8, 2008 22:02:47 GMT -5
It is my hope that this post will help members accelerate a fix and save on some of the headache this code has been for me. a couple of months ago, my 04.5 unlimited threw a code P0432 with the C.E. light. the manual lists this as 'catalyst ineffective' or something along those lines. the troubleshooting is to check and replace the O2 sensors, and if that does not fix it, replace the catalytic converter.
this began the fun...
first, i discovered that unlike all the cool headers i see in the catalogs, the 04 LJ has not one, but two catalytics, and they are on the manifold pipes, not further down on the exhaust like the other vehicles i have owned. in addition to the fun with the catalysts, there are 4 O2 sensors on the LJ.. nice...
rather than spending a couple hundred to replace the O2's, i decided to research the code further to see if i could narrow it down to which ones would be likely candidates. keep in mind that i never thought the cats would fail after only 57k miles, since i have had other cars with more than 3x the miles and no cat problems.
during my research, as i was driving home one night, the LJ suffered a dramatic loss of power, and the CE lights started to flash at me while the engine began missfiring. FMS!
i had to get off the interstate, and limp home on backroads with a top speed of 45 mph. i reset the computer when i got home to see if the same codes would flash and this is where it got even more confusing... the CE light did not come back on for almost 100 miles. a little of the power came back, but it still wasnt right. so i started researching the new symptom of power loss.. guess what a loss of power with no codes points too.. yep, fuel problem.
i thought the most likely culprit there would be a clogged fuel filter, and thats when i found the TJ/LJ does not have an inline filter, but an in tank filter, the issue got more complex..
now i'm a 3rd gen shadetree, and it pains me to pay anyone to do a job i can do myself, but with such a variance in the symptoms, i finally broke down and took her into the dealership. i figured it was worth the diagnostic costs for them to use the tools i didnt have to give me the right info.
what they found was a failed catalytic that clogged and created backpressure that robbed the power of the engine. P0432
the cool thing was that it was a covered repair under the emissions warranty..
I got my jeep back on thursday, and its like new again!! Yeah!
i posted this thread for two reasons. first, so that if anyone else has these issues in the future, there is something that might point them in the right direction. second, I took my LJ to Mark Dodge/Jeep in Woodstock GA. they did a great job, and in fact, this is the first time i have ever taken any vehicle to a dealership, and had a positive experience.
so i hope this helps. feel free to email me if you have any questions..
J
this began the fun...
first, i discovered that unlike all the cool headers i see in the catalogs, the 04 LJ has not one, but two catalytics, and they are on the manifold pipes, not further down on the exhaust like the other vehicles i have owned. in addition to the fun with the catalysts, there are 4 O2 sensors on the LJ.. nice...
rather than spending a couple hundred to replace the O2's, i decided to research the code further to see if i could narrow it down to which ones would be likely candidates. keep in mind that i never thought the cats would fail after only 57k miles, since i have had other cars with more than 3x the miles and no cat problems.
during my research, as i was driving home one night, the LJ suffered a dramatic loss of power, and the CE lights started to flash at me while the engine began missfiring. FMS!
i had to get off the interstate, and limp home on backroads with a top speed of 45 mph. i reset the computer when i got home to see if the same codes would flash and this is where it got even more confusing... the CE light did not come back on for almost 100 miles. a little of the power came back, but it still wasnt right. so i started researching the new symptom of power loss.. guess what a loss of power with no codes points too.. yep, fuel problem.
i thought the most likely culprit there would be a clogged fuel filter, and thats when i found the TJ/LJ does not have an inline filter, but an in tank filter, the issue got more complex..
now i'm a 3rd gen shadetree, and it pains me to pay anyone to do a job i can do myself, but with such a variance in the symptoms, i finally broke down and took her into the dealership. i figured it was worth the diagnostic costs for them to use the tools i didnt have to give me the right info.
what they found was a failed catalytic that clogged and created backpressure that robbed the power of the engine. P0432
the cool thing was that it was a covered repair under the emissions warranty..
I got my jeep back on thursday, and its like new again!! Yeah!
i posted this thread for two reasons. first, so that if anyone else has these issues in the future, there is something that might point them in the right direction. second, I took my LJ to Mark Dodge/Jeep in Woodstock GA. they did a great job, and in fact, this is the first time i have ever taken any vehicle to a dealership, and had a positive experience.
so i hope this helps. feel free to email me if you have any questions..
J
