P0426
Catalyst Temperature Sensor Circuit Range/Performance (Bank 1 Sensor 1)
Catalyst temperature sensor at bank 1 sensor 1 reads in range but plausibility check fails — slow response or stuck reading.
- Check engine light: Yes
- Emissions related: Yes
- Repair difficulty: medium
Symptoms
- Check engine light on
- Failed emissions inspection
- Possibly slightly increased fuel consumption
- Sulfur (rotten egg) smell from exhaust under load
Common causes
Ordered by how often each turns out to be the cause.
- Sensor driftCommon
- Sensor element aged beyond calibration windowLess likely
- Sensor mounting loose - signal dampingLess likely
Parts involved
- Catalytic Converter
- Exhaust Temperature Sensor
P0426 is a generic OBD-II code defined by SAE J2012. Exact wording and diagnostic procedure vary by manufacturer and model. Code definitions are drawn from the public-domain OBDex dataset; the workshop notes are our own.