hello all! i have this 18 year old 4runner and got a code of p0420 just a few days ago. my inspection is still a few months away by august. i have been researching online and found that if your car is more than 15 years old, emission inspection in massachusetts is no longer needed, only the safety inspection is needed. now my question is, would my 4runner pass the inspection with the p0420 code? safety inspection i believe it will pass. let me know what you think. thank you.
18 year old 4runner and annual inspection question
- Thread starter 4r-4ever
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I'm sure you'll get answers on both sides for this.. yes and no lol. I find that most people just answer with what they believe it should be, rather than having actual experience/knowledge on the issue.
I have no idea.. I could see an argument for this either way. Best thing I would suggest to do is to call an inspection station near you and just ask..
as far as the code it self.. just get a spark plug non fouler and space out your rear O2 sensor a bit.. it worked like a charm for me after tweaking it a bit. Its like a $15 fix and doesn't take all that much to get done. I cleared my code with this method and has been off for the past 4-5 months at least now.
I have no idea.. I could see an argument for this either way. Best thing I would suggest to do is to call an inspection station near you and just ask..
as far as the code it self.. just get a spark plug non fouler and space out your rear O2 sensor a bit.. it worked like a charm for me after tweaking it a bit. Its like a $15 fix and doesn't take all that much to get done. I cleared my code with this method and has been off for the past 4-5 months at least now.
Buckaroo
Member
Very common problem. As you likely know, the code is for catalytic convertor efficiency. A number of possible issues. You could have a bad CAT (had misfire issue recently?) or perhaps the O2 sensor downtream of the CAT is not reading correctly and needs to be replaced. You would be lucky if this was the problem. Am pretty sure you will not pass emissions with that code. First, suggest you clear it and see if it comes back. Lots of info on this site about addressing P0420.
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emissions are no longer checked if your car is more than 15 years old. so i'm more on the safety inspection now. i'll find out i guess in august.
Cameronswmp9
New member
It really depends on the laws of Mass. I can speak to the laws of NC (20 years in the auto repair industry in NC, but no other state) and if it was safety only then it would pass. Tampering is another story (removed cats, etc.) but that's here, not there.
Unless another Mass 4runnerer chimes in, my best answer is to ask a licensed inspector in your state.
With that said, typically a P0420 is a catalytic converter, among most makes. Typically. It could also be an exhaust leak, O2 sensor, or blockage in exhaust (which would cause some other issues too).
Unless another Mass 4runnerer chimes in, my best answer is to ask a licensed inspector in your state.
With that said, typically a P0420 is a catalytic converter, among most makes. Typically. It could also be an exhaust leak, O2 sensor, or blockage in exhaust (which would cause some other issues too).
i checked the massachusetts law about it and it says 15 years and after that, it's safety inpection only. my last inspection was last august, they only did the safety part based on the inspection report. that's all i needed and so i can continue driving it until safety inspection fails completely.
