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DTC P0420: CATALYST SYSTEM EFFICIENCY BELOW THRESHOLD Lexus RX I

Note. Bank No. 1 refers to bank which includes cylinder No. 1. Bank No. 2 refers to bank without cylinder No. 1. Air/Fuel (A/F) sensor refers to sensor closest to engine block. Heated oxygen sensor No. 2 refers to sensor furthest away from engine block.

Circuit Description

ECM compares waveform of Air/Fuel (A/F) sensor (located before catalytic converter) with waveform of heated oxygen sensor No. 2 (located after converter) to determine if converter performance has deteriorated. If both waveforms change at similar rate, catalyst performance has deteriorated. DTC is set when A/F sensor and heated oxygen sensor No. 2 waveforms have same amplitude after vehicle is driven for 5 minutes at 20-50 MPH. Possible causes are

  1. Faulty catalytic converter.
  2. Open or short in heated oxygen sensor No. 2.
  3. Faulty heated oxygen sensor No. 2.
  4. Open or short in A/F sensor circuit.
  5. Faulty A/F sensor.

Diagnostic Aids

Using scan tool, read freeze frame data. Freeze frame records engine conditions when malfunction is detected.