soda7o

iTrader: (1)

hello,
CEL and VSC came on so i ran the diagnostic tool and got this msg
P0430 Catalyst System Efficiency Below Threshold (Bank #2)

what could it be? i have read many posts on this but still not sure

the car performs fine, no MPG decrease, no performance impact


any help would be much appropriated

diverchris

Try re-setting computer and see if code re-appears. If not it maybe your cat needs to be replaced. Look at your warranty to see age and milage for this to be covered
Chris

shoebopper

A code P0430 may mean that one or more of the following has happened:

1 - The catalytic converter is no longer functioning properly
2 - An oxygen sensor is not reading (functioning) properly
3 - There is an exhaust leak

Chris is right. The oxygen sensor after the convertor is most likely indicating a faulty converter...probably will not affect performance right away, might down the road. If there was an exhaust leak, you'd probably already know it. Someone can check the voltage at the O2 sensor for you (you might need a shop manual for a reference on that).

Why did the VSC light come on? Shouldn't be related to the catalytic converter, since it is all about vehicle stability control. Could be a wiring issue, I suppose, or coincidence.

RX330inFL

Give it a good heat cycle on the cat. A good blast on the interstate at 70+ should suffice. Then, reset the code and see how things go.

soda7o

iTrader: (1)

thanks
i am thinking i start with the 02 sensor first

i turned off the code last night and have along trip planned for this weekend. lets see what happens

soda7o

iTrader: (1)

did this over the weekend..light came back on


the oxygen sensor.. i figure ill start with that
where to get it? how much do they usually run?

KikeLexus

iTrader: (1)

I am having the exact same code. My mechanic told me it could either be a faulty catalytic converter or the oxygen sensor. I need to decide where to start because he also told me that if I changed the sensor, it might not necessarily erase the code. What did you finally do to fix the problem?

Grumpa72

Let Google be your friend! I have used Advance Auto for a coil pack on my 2005 RX and it is working just fine. In addition, I have used AA for the O2 sensor on an Acura and Honda.

ELITech

I figure I'll put a tech's info in on this one. While the afore-mentioned advice is correct, I must say that 95% of the time, the second gen RX will set a p0420 (Bank 1) or p0430 (Bank 2) when the cat itself is faulty.

Note I said 95%, because there are rare occasions where an o2 sensor is the cause.

Federal Emissions warranty covers the catalytic converters for up to 8 years/ 80k miles.

Things you have to remember when clearing the check light, is that there are specific drive cycles that must be taken for the emissions checks to occur. Meaning that engine must be running at normal operating temp (not cold), a specific speed range, usually 45-55 mph for a few miles, etc.

I am giving you this NOT to scare you into buying a cat, but to hopefully help you avoid buying an o2 sensor, and spending more money in the long run.

Even if you don't take it to a Lexus dealership, there are good independent places that can read live data streams to monitor your o2 sensor before AND after the cat, to truly locate the problem. One hour of diagnosis time spent can save $2-300 on repairs over time.

Long and short of it, don't leave it up to guess work.

Good luck with the fix!

lexus114

I bet your running regular Gas arent you?

LSBen

My check engine and VSC light popped up on New Years eve. I went and bought a code scanner/reader the next day and P0430, P0430 (Catalyst System Efficiency Below Threshold Bank 2) and P0456 (Evaporator Emission Leak Detected) came up. This is on my 04 RX330 now with 191K miles that I just recently got.

I went over to my local Toyota Indy mechanic in Milpitas CA and asked him what he recommended which kind of surprised me. He says you only need to change the Catalytic converter when it fails to pass smog. He recommended I erase the codes before smog, cycle thru the OBD2 for 30 or so miles, then take the smog test and I should pass. He was able to get another 50K miles out of his wife's Camry after the P0420/P0430 codes first appeared before it wouldn't pass smog. At that point he was forced to change the Catalytic converter. His shop is really busy so he didn't need to take any more of my money even though I was a willing customer. This is good advice for those on a tight budget or for those who want to squeeze as much out of their vehicles.

cid4houses

I was driving my 2005 RX 330 for about 7 hours continuously, and I saw my panel indicator showing the check engine light and the VSC light, which I had never seen before on an Lexus I'd owned (including my LX 450.). I took it in right away to my Lexus Dealership at Serramonte in Colma (Norcal) where I always have all my cars serviced. My regular service fellow was not in but I left the car anyway. The fellow called me back, and said I would need a new Cat. Converter, and that it would be $3,900 approx. out the door, including labor. I am a princess, NOT a "fix it yer-self gearhead", but I told him to just put it back together and I'll wait until I have the cash. Yesterday, I mentioned this to the husband of a friend who knows about cars and his wife incidentally has a 2004 RX 330 he said (wisely) to look up the code on the internet. So I did....
That is where I found a blog that mentioned a Lexus Cat Converter Recall.
QUESTIONS:
If I mention to Lexus that I saw a Recall report on a Blog, will they honor it?
Or, how can I confirm it?
What should I do? (Ditch this car and get a newer lower mileage model or invest the $4,000 in an older car for the repair? (I have 159,0000 Miles on it. Should I pay nearly $4,000 to replace a cat converter... or should I try to buy more expensive gas and see if that helps?) I'm sort of leaning towards getting it fixed when I have some $$$, but I also have been putting in the lowest grade gas and someone said they put in a better grade of gas and that helped fix theirs.

My Service report says:
Code P0420; No Exhaust leaks were found; A/F & O2 Sensors were checked and operating properly at this time; Inspected bank 1 A/F sensor and O2 Sensor using oscilloscope and found O2 sensor mirroring A/F sensor on Bank 1. This indicates inefficient catalytic converter.
Recommend Bank 1 Exhaust Manifold Assembly, Exhaust Center Pipe Assembly and related Gaskets.
The $3,900 quote was verbal over the phone.

5gears-IS

iTrader: (5)

Give this a try......worked on my Corolla where everything was pointing to be the Cat converter....the best $5 I have ever spent!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Oxygen-Sensor-O2-Lambda-Sensor-Extender-Spacer-for-M18-Decat-Hydrogen-G3P5/162152087059?_trksid=p2045573.c100505.m3226&_trkparms=aid%3D555014%26algo%3DPL.DEFAULT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20150817211623%26meid%3De3d427838bd648f0b562c48379880305%26pid%3D100505%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D1%26

cid4houses

Thanks. I need a person to install it, as I am not adept with cars. I will ask around.
-Cid

LSBen

I'm now at 211k miles and I just reset the code when it pops up, usually when using a higher grade gas. I passed smog this year, no problems. If you want to fix it, you should take it to an independent Toyota mechanic. I was quoted around $1200 to replace a manifold converter with genuine Toyota parts, same as Lexus. I think a manifold converter is around 700-800 just for parts. Our rx330 has 3 converters, 2 manifold right and left and one downstream catalytic then a muffler at the tail. At 3900 I hope they replace all 3 converters and your muffler but the write up only says 1 converter. I would go to a Toyota place if you were going to fix, or buy a obd code reader for under $100 and reset the code. This doesn't affect the drivability of your RX. It just pollutes slightly more