Engine Light Came On...

Engine Light Came On...
I was driving my Honda Civic LX to the stables to feed my horses when the yellow "Check Engine" light came on. I freaked out and took it to AutoZone. They hooked it up a machine and told me it said "Catalyst Below Threshold". I have no idea what that means. They told me to unhook my negative battery cable and the light would go away. I took it to a friends and he did it for me.

It seems like it runs fine but, I'm terrified to drive it anywhere.


What could be wrong with my Civic?

  SyntheticTrust

what year is the car
it sounds like it would be 95-up as this type of code would be from a down stream o2(oxygen) sensor picking up that the converter is not doing its job or one of the 2 o2 sensors are close to being out of range or breaking down

  osborste

It's a 96

  SyntheticTrust

So they didn't tell you what the code meant?? Nice.....

This code indicates that the catalytic converter is not opperating like it should. However, the cause could be other things.

Here is more information:

OBD codes (http://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/generic/p0420-catalyst-efficiency-b elow-threshold-bank-1.php)

  theman352001

LOL, I also like the fact they told her to unhook the battery and the code would "go away". :laughing: If they keep that up, I'm gonna stop sticking up for them when people put them down.

  97Talonchik

It could be the location. Around here they are always looking for help. So it is no surprise that they get people who don't know much about cars. I'm sure some locations have informed staff that can actually help somebody.

Usually when I go in they are too busy to look up my part right away. So I look it up for them on another screen and when they get to me I show them what I am looking for. Saves a bit of time.

  theman352001

This means the computer did not detect the specified voltage difference or bias between the front and rear O2 sensor.

Possible causes - bad O2 sensors (one or more) or bad catalytic converter.

  tbaxleyjr