Dodge straus 2.4 strange O2S reading (I think)

Well, an update...

Went and took the actual test and it failed again. Not very badly (4
or 5 PPM on HC). The NOX was much lower than before.

Seeing as I have done all the repairs that got it close (and out of the
3 digits on HC), I decided to bite the bullet and get the cat tested;
as was suspect by users on the group and myself, due to the rattle at
idle with a load, the cat was shot. I was there when the tech removed
it from the vehicle, and pieces fell out when he handed it to me. Once
he got the new one put on, he was nice enough to give me a free
pre-test (I make friends easily (-: ) The new readings for HC are thru
the floor and in the low single digits and all the rest of the readings
were very good except for the NOX; it was a bit high. I retested the
EGR and transducer, and they are operating correctly (still scratching
my head, maybe carbon in the combustion chamber?)

On a side note; last night I decided that I wanted to take the car for
a nice long hard freeway drive before I got the cat put on so I could
get myself some baseline numbers. I figured a San Bernardino to Cajon
Summit (interstate 15) to Chiriaco Summit (interstate 10)was in order.
I had no doubts the car would be able to do the Cajon Summit trip with
little effort; I was a tad worried about the Chiriaco climb as that
takes you from 70 ft below sea level to 2500 ft on a pretty good grade
(it's known for killing cars) . I was amazed that my car was able to
sustain the climb at 70MPH. The last time I tried climbing it a few
years back, I had trouble keeping it above 55. I put on 312 miles last
night in 4 hours just driving the freeways. After checking my mileage,
I averaged 30MPG!!! My car has not gotten that since it was new.

I forgot how much I like to drive when I am not sitting on the freeway
stuck in traffic.

 

Wouldn't that follow, though? With a new cat the backpressure is
going to be much lower, thus it will be harder to suck in exhaust
gasses to dilute the burn.

Ted

 

question
were did u get the software and cable for the pc hookup?? and how much

 

http://www.obdscan.net/
I think I paid $150 a couple years back

 

Final update... IT PASSED THE TEST at the test only station! The
rnumbers were lower than I have ever seen on the car (or any car I have
owned for that matter) The NOX was 5 at 15MPH and 3 at 25MPH. The HC's
were 7 at 25MPH and 9 at 15MPH.

Thanks again for all the input!