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Tracker 101: intro to the catalytic converter
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The 2001 V6 engine has one main catalytic converter and two smaller "PUP" converters. https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/chevrol...4ee3660323.jpg The main converter is divided into two "bricks." The first brink is a REDUCTION catalyst. It converts nitrogen oxides (NOX) into nitrogen, carbon dioxide and water vapor. https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/chevrol...750126b253.jpg The second brick is the OXIDATION catalyst. It converts carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide and water vapor. https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/chevrol...a56543aac2.jpg Catalytic converters do not become fully effective until they reach a temperature of 400° to 600° F. As a result vehicles emit most of their total pollution during the first five minutes of engine operation. To meet California's Low Emissions Vehicle (LEV) standard, engineers added small catalytic (PUP) converters which heat up faster on vehicle start up. https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/chevrol...40f054395f.jpg Catalytic converters work best when the air/fuel ratio is held at 14.7:1. The PCM uses feedback from the oxygen sensors to maintain that ratio but until the O2 sensors warm up the computer uses information stored in memory to guess at an appropriate amount of fuel to add. This is called "open loop" operation. Once the O2 sensors reach their operating temperature, the engine goes into "closed loop" operation. https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/chevrol...14927c477d.jpg If the computer sees that the PUP converter is not doing its job, it will set the DTC P0420 for the driver's side PUP or P0430 for the passenger side. The main cause of catalytic converter failure is engine misfires. When a cylinder misfires unburned gasoline is dumped into the hot converter where it ignites. That will melt the brick inside the converter. The crankshaft position sensor can detect misfires as small variations in engine speed. Some cars will flash the "check engine" light to get your attention. Some cars will shut off the injector to the misfiring cylinder in an attempt to save the converter. I'm not sure how the Tracker handles misfires other than to record them. https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/chevrol...06da758612.jpg The 2001 Tracker use a "planar" type oxygen sensor. https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/chevrol...fb1ac5cf8a.jpg The PCM feeds a reference voltage to the oxygen sensor resistor. The change in O2 resistance is detectable as a change in current inside the PCM. The full-size O2 schematic is downloadable at https://www.dropbox.com/s/3rxlu8bp92...matic.jpg?dl=0 https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/chevrol...956dbc9a8a.jpg This is a plot of Sensor 1 and Sensor 2 on the Bank 1 PUP of my Tracker. The straight line of Sensor 2 indicates the cat is operating normally. The high and low peaks of Sensor 1 are caused by small changes to the pulse width of the fuel injector signal. If the the O2 sensor detects a "rich" condition, the PCM reduces the injector pulse width producing a "lean" condition. When the O2 sensor detects the lean condition, the PCM responds by increasing injector pulse with a little. By constantly bouncing between "rich" and "lean" the PCM is able to maintain an air/fuel ratio right around 14.7:1. |
Same question
Have have the same question but got a 98 chevy c1500 single v6..
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