MrGTI

VW GTI · Diagnostics

P0420 Cat Efficiency

MrGTI house reference

P0420 — "catalyst efficiency below threshold" is a common GTI check-engine code that owners rush to fix with an expensive cat — often wrongly. It means the ECU, comparing the upstream and downstream O2 sensors, thinks the catalytic converter isn't cleaning the exhaust well enough. The cat is sometimes the answer, but rule out the cheaper causes first. See Catalytic Converter GTI