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FIXD – ERROR CODES P0174, P0171 AND P00420

by Alex | Last Updated: March 22, 2021


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Error code P0174 and P0171

If your engine is coughing, misfiring or has a rough idle, you might be getting error code P0174 or P0171.

Your power train control module is trying to compensate by injecting more fuel. There’s more to this so let’s go to the engine. The engine likes many things, but in particular, it likes a 14.7 part oxygen to one part fuel. When a lean condition exists, it means that the fuel parts are too few or the air parts are too many. So we have computer chips to help. The power train control module is just that. It’s one of the many onboard computers that is the brain of the engine control system.

PCM then sends a signal to the fuel injectors which inject the fuel. When it’s working at an extreme to compensate for this, that’s when the code is triggered. And the most common cause is a faulty oxygen sensor. But …
But there’s more.

It’s important that you know the other probable culprit. While the oxygen sensor is the usual suspect, there are a few other sneaky problems. Don’t worry about all that right now. If you’re getting error code P0174, these are more than likely your culprits. If the problem is too much oxygen, it could be faulty mass air flow sensor, oxygen sensor, a vacuum leak or an exhaust leak. Over on the too little fuel side, a weak fuel pump, clogged or dirty fuel injectors or a clogged fuel filter.

Like we said, this code can be tricky. So please check out our blog at the link below for more information on the at home diagnosis.

FIXD Error code P0420

You’re getting error code P0420. Don’t fret. We are here to explain what that error code means to your vehicle. This code is telling you that your catalytic converter in bank 1 is not functioning efficiently which means that it’s not breaking down the harmful pollutants that are coming out of your engine. To better understand all of this, we have to go to the catalytic converter.

What even is a catalytic converter?

The catalytic converter is an exhaust control system that converts toxic gases and pollutants to less toxic gases and pollutants. It does this by combining the exhaust with platinum, palladium, and rhodium.

Platinum and palladium are oxidation catalysts that oxidize carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide. They also oxidize hydrocarbons into water and carbon dioxide.

These catalysts, platinum, palladium, and rhodium, coat the inside of the catalytic converter, it suddenly makes more sense, and help scrub away all of the poisonous gases.

What really causes this error code?

Well, we’ve narrowed it down to three top contenders.

Error code P0430

So you’re getting error code P0430? Don’t fret. We’re here to explain what that error code means for your vehicle.
This code is telling your sensor that the catalytic converter in bank 2 is not functioning efficiently, which means that it’s not breaking down the harmful pollutants that your engine is creating during the combustion cycle.

So, what even is a catalytic converter?

The catalytic converter is an exhaust control system that converts toxic gases and pollutants into less toxic gases and pollutants. It does this by combining the exhaust with platinum, palladium, and rhodium. Platinum and palladium are oxidation catalyst that oxidize carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide and oxidize hydrocarbons into water and carbon dioxide.

The platinum and rhodium are reduction catalyst and reduce nitrogen oxides into nitrogen and oxygen. These catalyst, palladium, platinum, and rhodium, coat the inside of the catalytic converter. It makes more sense now, doesn’t it? And help fix all those poisonous gases.

So, what causes this error code? What’s the problem?

The top three we found are: