420 check engine code after cleaning throttle bottle

[chaseh55]

420 check engine code after cleaning throttle body

I was having problems with warm starts and I read that I should clean out the throttle body. i removed the air intake hose from the throttle body and sprayed throttle body cleaner in the air intake valve. Then I wiped out as much of the black gunk as I could. After half a day of running just fine(btw cleaning the throttle body solved my warm start problem. at least temporarily)

I took it too the dealership and they said the check engine code was for a catalytic converter efficiency error. they reset it and everything was fine.

However, last night the light came on again and I bought myself a code reader.

I am getting a P0420 error which is catalytic converter efficiency. Also, my car just struggled with warm start(ie. low idle speed at start up).

Any reccomendations? Someone told me that Ford's use some grease or goop that helps the air intake valve seal. Should I shmear some vacuum grease around my air intake valve?



2000 limited 4runner

 

[dteamer114]

Throttle Body

Sounds like the same symptoms our 03 Tundra was having.
Of course, even after cleaning the throttle body, the stuttering issue continued. Ended up taking it to Toyota & having the entire unit replaced to the tune of $800 (a few other things done as well).

Fix it asap or learn the hard way like us :cry2:

 

[jbstrd]

I had a P0420 on my 2000 4Runner with California emissions. You can tell it is Cali emissions if you have two cats vs. one. To fix mine, I purchased a new rear O2 sensor since I had over 100K miles anyway. I had the two cats replaced with 2 new Magnaflow cats. These are not up to Cali spec, so the engine light came back on. I live in WA state, so my tailpipe emissions would be up to par for WA, but since the Cali computers are more strict, these cats will still throw a code. Knowing my cats and rear O2 sensor were good, I installed a URD O2 Sensor simulator. This tricks the computer into thinking all is good emissions-wise at the rear O2 sensor. I have been code free for 3-4 years now. My total cost was about $550.

Good luck