P0430 Mitsubishi -

Question

Hello there,

i hope this message find you well.

i have Mitsubishi outlander 2007 LS V6 3.0L

I have the service engine soon for a while, for a year it was on and off, for the last 2 months it was on most of the time.

few months ago i went to auto zone to check the code, that code was P0430 (the converter)

i went to the mechanic he checked the codes today March 14, 15 he said you have 3 codes

P0430
P0174
P0171

he said you should change the Catalyst Converter, with labor its going to cost me at least over $1300

so i went to Auto parts asking him for the codes he asked me when was my last tune up? i told him i never did since i bought the car in August 2012 and i don't know when the previous owner have done it.

he told me as well, yu probably need to change this
Sparks Plugs
Boot
Air filter
PCV Valve

he said that is i change those, %80 that the error codes will go away.

the normal car the apm in on 0.9 or 9 on the dash board when its standing while the ignition is on , but i noticed for the last 2 days it stay at 0.5 or 5

i have no idea to whom i should listen, i have no experience on the car so please advice me what can i do.

Thanks for your help

George Hosh

Answer 1

P0430 Catalytic efficiency below threshold Bank 2

P0171 Fuel trim lean Bank 1

P0174 Fuel trim lean Bank 2

Sparkplug do play a role with the fuel management. A tune up saves fuel and saves money. When the sparkplugs are worn it does the lean fuel trim. Do a tune up with a MAF (mass airflow) cleaning and throttle body cleaning. This may help restore the fuel control . clear the code the catalytic code may just be due to worn sparkplugs and a MAF not reporting properly.

 Here is a sparkplug that is worn as it wears out the sparkgap gets widen which result with the ignition system having to work harder, and causing lean code condition, it caused a P0420 perfroming the tune up cleared the P0420 and being a V6 it also had a P0430 code, just doing the tune up the catalytic code was fixed.