Need Help With Codes

[ApexPredator]

Hello everyone. Today I checked my check engine light and trouble codes p0430, and p0442 came up.

Code P0430 Catalyst System Efficiency Below Threshold (Bank 2)

Code P0442 Evaporative Emission Control System Leak Detected (small leak)

What could be wrong that is giving me these codes? Any help would be greatly appreciated. I tried the search function but it was not working at all for me and giving me error messages.

The truck is 2000 2WD Chevy Silverado 1500 with a 5.3

[pwall]

Welcome!

 

Google is your friend.......

P0430: http://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/gen...hold-bank-2.php

P0422: http://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/gen...ected-small.php

 

Check your gas cap, make sure it's on tight.

[ApexPredator]

It is funny because I was just reading that about 2 minutes before you posted. Thank you. What do you guys think could be the cause of the p0430 code the cat or the sensor?

[pwall]

If you have a hand-held scanner, I would reset the codes, tighten down that gas cap (check it first though...maybe it needs to be replaced) and then go from there.

It's always possible one code will trip another. Not saying that's the case here, but it's worth a shot before you start changing things.

[txab]

It is funny because I was just reading that about 2 minutes before you posted. Thank you. What do you guys think could be the cause of the p0430 code the cat or the sensor?

Does this vehicle only make short city trips? Are you using a top-tier branded fuel, not Wal-mart crap? I've seen several vehicles throw this code that were short trippers. Cats never were getting hot enough. Also O2 sensors were getting build-up from poor quality fuels. Switching fuel quality and occasional highway driving cleared up this problem.

[dorman68]

Check your intake manifold for warpage or intake manifold gasket for vacuum leaks. My coworker had a similar issue and a new intake manifold gasket cured his problem.

[ApexPredator]

I am sorry for taking so long to reply but I cleared the p0442 code that day and it has not come back but the p0430 code has come back after clearing two more times. I mainly drive around the city but not very far at all normally about 350-400 miles every two weeks. Last time that I cleared the code it came back within twenty minutes. Now for the back story. As far as gas goes I usually just fill up with what is cheapest but I bought this truck used with 120,000 miles and it now has 132,000. The engine light has been on since I bought the truck a year ago but I never got it fixed because a "mechanic" friend of the family looked it over and told me not to worry or spend money on it because it was just a bad exhaust sensor and would not affect anything. Fast forward to now I am trying to get this fixed because that stupid light is driving me crazy. Also my gas millage is not all that great considering that I am a pretty tame driver compared to others and it idles just a little rough I guess but it is not bad at all. I have recently started to use only 93 octane gas. Any other info that is needed just let me know and I will answer the best that I can.

[Draenor]

You can go back to the 87-89 octane gas. The higher octane used, is not going to help. As for the P0430, first check for cracks after the 1st O2 sensor;thoroughly around the cat where the welds are made. If you observe none, the its either the O2 sensor or the cat itself. A cheap way to tell, swap the O2 sensors and see if the code follows it. Then its the sensor. If not its the cat.

 

*edit* try cleaning out the throttle body and see if that helps the rough idling. They accumulate a good bit of carbon.