Pretty gauge but why the two sets of lights? Does it display information from two different cars?

 

Yup, yours and the one behind you !!

It's for twin banks, horizontal opposed 4's, V6, V8 so you can monitor both "sides" of the engine. On ours I'd just tie them together if possible. Won't know for sure until I get a "tune". Don't really need one till then but did have the "bung" added so it's ready to go.

 

I wonder if I can read my o2 sensors with my scan gauge. Yes my code just came back @ 204,563. Also, which cats from these P80 cars are the same? It will likely be cheaper to buy a car, take the cat (or swap it), then resell the car.

 

OMG!!! Have any of you guys seen and tried this?
Fixing Bad Catalytic Converters With Inefficiency Code P0420 - YouTube

 

Well scrub-a-dub-dub! Who'da thought you could wash your car and your cat at the same time!

 

Well, banged on my cat today and it is an after market unit. It did not make any noise so I assume it's a little dirty or the rear o2 sensor is bad.

I guess I'll try the laquer thinner in the gas tank when I get my hands on gas cash. LOL

 

Ok, I watched the youtube video about a week ago and was planning to do it to my T-5R since I've been getting the code for about a month. I reset and the code returns every 400 miles.

So the day before yesterday I picked up a gallon of laquer thinner from the auto paint store. (Had a couple of very interesting conversations with a couple of guys there ). I went to the gas station to pump my 1/2 tank of gas and put a little (about 4 oz.) in a clear water bottle. Then I put about 4 oz of the laquer thinner in the bottle, mixed it up and waited to see if it would seperate. I didn't want to add the stuff in my tank and have it seperate and run through my motor at 100% (like water does). Anyway, after about 4 hours it was still mixed, no seperation.

Well, yesterday I added 1 can (gallon) of laqure thinner to about 11 gallons of gas (in my car tank) which took my supply up to 12 gallons. My goal was to do 10/1 but I missed by a little, no big deal. Then I started my car and headed out on my 750 mile drive.

The car started and ran normally. I had 93 octane in there with the thinner and could not tell that anything was different. After about 230 miles it was time to fill up. When I'm on the road, I will sometime pump 87 octane to help myself a little financially. I figure this 87 octane is just going to be flushed through the fuel system in just a few hours and I'll be cruising at about 70 mph so no big deal. Well, when I started down the road the car really didn't like the 87 octane. It was actually running a little rough like it as trying to misfire but it didn't. After about 30 minutes it seems like the car adjusted to the lower octane and smoothed out. During the first 30 minutes my gas mileage dropped to about 22 mpg then went back up to 28.

No CEL after another 550 miles so far. I'll report back if the light returns within 10,000 miles.

 

that lacquer thinner will eat away at the rubber components of the fuel system. The vapors will damage the EVAP system.

As to "washing" the cat. Though it may work, but after all the time you invest getting it off and back on, only to having to do it again after a few thousand miles isn't worth the hassle.

Regarding the 3 way cat codes on Volvos. Its almost every time the flame trap system, not working as it should. That could be something as simple as a leak in one of the hoses to the box itself being stopped up.

Furthermore, if you pull the dipstick aster taking a 10 minute drive or so and you see smoke and have the code -- 100% its the flame trap. If there is no smoke, it could still be the flame trap.

 

I did a bit of googling on this subject, and the general consensus I found, is that IF the TWC is actually clogged or below efficiency because of carbon buildup (and it is often another problem like vacuum/exhaust leak or bad O2 sensor that is causing the DTC) then best case the gas additive route may sneak you through an inspection.

And at worst, depending on the blend (because lacquer thinner is a generic name for a cleaning solvent blend that has no industry standard) you could cause major damage to the rubber and plastics in your fuel system.

One person compared it to trying to clean a used paint brush by waving it in the smoke of burning gasoline/lacquer thinner. :P

 

Well, thanks for your input. I posted the link and gave you guys 10 days to comment and now I get the "words of wisdom" after I do it. I guess I'll find out soon enough if there is any "downside". I will let you guys know. LOL

Other than that, I have a new PCV system, less than 14k old (8/5/11). When the system was years old and nearly totally clogged up I had NO P0422 code. I did get the code for the EGR being clogged up but I cleaned it up real good.
https://volvoforums.com/forum/off-to...71/#post283974

 

You're probably OK, I just wouldn't do it again because everyone I could find online who sounded knowledgeable were on the side of it being ineffective. One person claimed that additives (including the ones sold for the purpose) are about 20% effective to help temporarily pass a smog test.

But you know how it is, 35% of all statistics are completely made up.

 

Hey, I figured that there is only one way to find out... LOL

 

Hey, how did it work out in the end? Did the code pop up again?

I've been having chronic P0422 problems with my '96 850. My mechanic says it's because the '96 OBD doesn't tolerate the ethanol in the gas, especially with aftermarket catalytic converters. Fortunately, I've been able to convince the DMV to pass me anyway but it's a nail biter every two years when I have to go in...

 

Yes the code has returned. I now have a P0133 (front o2 sensor). Returns about every 400 miles (upon completed drive cycle).

 

I had a used catalytic converter welded onto mine. Worked great
Never had another problem. $50 part. $100 labor from a welder, and drove it for 2 years with no issues. Passed emissions too.

 

thanks for the update! so, the hunt continues... at least we now know that a gallon of lacquer thinner -- amazingly -- does not do anything obviously harmful to a fuel system -- nor did it solve your problem...

that looks like a good solution: (1) get either a used or a 'universal' catalytic converter. (2) find a welder or muffler shop to install it.

i guess one would have to re-install the O2 sensors but i don't know how it all fits together, exactly.

i find it absolutely amazing that one can purchase a universal catalytic converter for as little as $76. WTF?! why is the stock converter $1000, and even an aftermarket converter is $500???

 

It's so expensive for a few reasons.

It's a Volvo part.

Low demand on the OEM as it fits exact models and years.

The OEM for a '95 even has to specifically fit a conical turbo exhaust compared to a non turbo '95 and there are separate cats for the straight and angled housing too. So right there you have Three or four part numbers to stock instead of one just for an 850. Not sure if the 850 came stock with an angled turbo housing ?? or if there is also a different cat for the different size turbos used 13/15 ??
Or . . . you are only selling one fourth as many of each specific full length cat compared to the generic.

The generic isn't full length and needs to have a pipe in front of and behind it. Either new or from the cat it's replacing. It's a cost to consider but isn't "seen" in it's sale price.

The generic can fit any model, any year with a 2.3 and also used on other Volvo engines including non Volvo vehicles and non Volvo engines.

BUICKLESABRE(1992 - 1995)BUICKPARK AVENUE(1991 - 1995)BUICKREATTA1991BUICKREGAL(1990 - 1993)BUICKRIVIERA(1991 - 1993)CHEVROLETCAMARO(1993 - 1995)CHEVROLETCORVETTE(1992 - 1995)CHEVROLETLUMINA(1991 - 1995)CHEVROLETMONTE CARLO1995CHEVROLETSPECTRUM(1985 - 1988)CHRYSLERIMPERIAL(1990 - 1991)CHRYSLERLEBARON(1987 - 1992)CHRYSLERNEW YORKER(1988 - 1990)CHRYSLERTOWN & COUNTRY(1987 - 1988)DODGE600(1986 - 1988)DODGEDAYTONA(1987 - 1993)DODGEDYNASTY(1988 - 1993)DODGELANCER1989DODGESHADOW1988DODGESPIRIT(198 9 - 1992)FORDTHUNDERBIRD(1987 - 1988)ISUZUI-MARK(1981 - 1986)ISUZUIMPULSE(1983 - 1992)LEXUSES300(1992 - 1994)OLDSMOBILE98(1991 - 1995)OLDSMOBILECUTLASS SUPREME(1991 - 1995)PLYMOUTHACCLAIM(1989 - 1991)PLYMOUTHSUNDANCE1988PONTIACBONNEVILLE(1992 - 1995)PONTIACFIREBIRD(1993 - 1995)PONTIACGRAND PRIX(1991 - 1995)PORSCHE944(1986 - 1989)VOLVO740(1985 - 1992)VOLVO7451985VOLVO760(1984 - 1990)VOLVO780(1987 - 1990)VOLVO850(1994 - 1995)VOLVO940(1991 - 1995)

So with all those sales the price can be much lower and they still make good money because they are moving a ton of them and they don't have to manufacturer, ship, stock and sit on inventory of forty/fifty/??? different cats.

But I totally agree, when you just look at the sale price the difference is shocking .

 

Thanks for taking the time to explain what the heck is going on! I always thought the high cost was due to the unobtainium (platinum). This is just a quick reply. Hopefully I'll find the time to think things over more. This is an ongoing issue for me, since I plan to keep my beloved '96 850 until ashes to ashes, dust to dust, it becomes ...

 

edited

 

I would go with the cat removal and spray the inside with oven cleaner, oven cleaner is brutal on carbon build up. Adding lacquer thinner to my gas would be my very last choice, and if I were to try the thinner method, I would be sure to run it all out in a days time to get it out!

I am betting that the Lacquer thinner is the cause of your 02 failing....and with that said thats the reason it would be very last choice.

I notice that most cat problems are ones with turbos, turbo seals leak oil causing the car to consume oil and as it gets into the exhaust it clogs up your cat. The burning oil causes carbon build up. So if your car is consuming oil and you see no leaks and get a p0422 code ...theres your problem.