ex not idling, p0420 code....related?

[mcompton1973]

I just recently bought 97 ex with 128k miles on it. It had a check engine light on it and i figured most likly O2 or similar. Well this morning I went out and could not get the truck to stay idling. I have a 60 mile commute, and it was not until about 45 mins into it that it would stay idling without me keeping on the gas. I deceded to head over to AutoZone for a free code pull, and the only code that they came up with was the P0420 code. I did a search and read a little about people fighting with this code and whether to replace the cats or not. with the engine not wanting to idle, would you think that it really is the cat, or some other ideas? Thanks.

 

[TPLYNCH]

Do you have the SOHC engine or OHV?

 

[mcompton1973]

sorry
I have a 97 SOHC engine with about 129k on it.

I need to do my signature i guess.....

 

[Glacier991]

I'd feel a lot better about the code and your symptoms if you had a P0402 code. You SURE it is 0420 and NOT 0402?

Off the top of my head about all I could think of that might throw that code and have idling problems is a plugged cat. You SURE it's 0420? <g>

 

[Gcrop]

Not sure if this helps in this situation but here are the codes for a 2000 V6 Mustang (my old car).

http://home.comcast.net/~miracerros/dtc_powertrain_1.htm

Here is the main page to that site:

http://www.miracerros.com/mustang/2000_index.html

Again, I am not sure if they crossover to Explorers and what specific years.

HTH,
Geoff

 

[mcompton1973]

I'd feel a lot better about the code and your symptoms if you had a P0402 code. You SURE it is 0420 and NOT 0402?

Off the top of my head about all I could think of that might throw that code and have idling problems is a plugged cat. You SURE it's 0420? <g>

pretty sure on the code. Guy at AutoZone said that it was something to do with the cat. He thought maybe it was bad gas messing with the cat. Anyways, i putin some fuel injector cleaner to make him happy, and so far the CEL has not come back on.

I did some more reading around here....I think that I might have the O ring problem, but I dont have the surging that most people are reporting. All I had was the ex would not stay running at all without me giving it gas until I had driven about 45 miles. Then it started and ran and idled all day long with no problems.

 

[Glacier991]

Aha, more info.... I'd guess you are looking at possibly TWO unrelated problems.

 

[TPLYNCH]

With the SOHC engine my guess would be the O-rings. Check with Ford and see if they have record of 00m12 and 01M01 repairs being done.