Aftermarket Catalytic Converters... Junk?

[Nelsonmd]

So I have a P0420 code that I need to fix before I can get my new (to me) 4runner inspected and registered, and sell my old car.

Reading on this code, it sounds like it is likely my Cat, though I am going to check the O2 sensors as best I can first.

The OEM is about $1k, but I can get an Eastern Catalytic or other aftermarket brands for anywhere from $75 to $300.

Are these aftermarket Cat's junk? Anyone running an Eastern Catalytic?

 

[quicksilvr]

So I have a P0420 code that I need to fix before I can get my new (to me) 4runner inspected and registered, and sell my old car.

Reading on this code, it sounds like it is likely my Cat, though I am going to check the O2 sensors as best I can first.

The OEM is about $1k, but I can get an Eastern Catalytic or other aftermarket brands for anywhere from $75 to $300.

Are these aftermarket Cat's junk? Anyone running an Eastern Catalytic?

P0420 is usually your downstream O2 sensor, or your cat. If you are still on the original O2 sensor, I'd get new one. If that doesn't do it, get an aftermarket cat. Eastern Catalytic looks like a good company to me, although I have no direct experience with them.

In general, aftermarket cats are fine. Not exactly 100% legal, depending on your location, but they work just fine. Is your truck a CA emissions spec? If so, you'll need two cats to get it within spec and not throw the CEL.


EDIT: I think all 'runners from 2000 on are CA spec.

 

[jsmarine]

EDIT: like the above post, get a new rear O2 sensor first before replacing the cats.

If your 4runner is California vehicle the Eastern cats are probably not heavy duty enough to keep the CEL off. I had that problem, I have a CA emisions vehicle and replaced both cats with Eastern, but the light still stayed on. I ended up using a URD rear O2 simulater and that keeps the light off. And I still pass the Texas inspection just fine with the Eastern cats. But I would NOT pass if the light was on, as a CEL is an automatic failure which is why I bought the URD rear O2 simulater.

 

[Nelsonmd]

I just replaced the rear O2, but I had to solder on a longer harness, so if I suspect that from the diagnostic test, then I will just replace it with the right part number.

It is not a CA vehicle, but it does have 2 cats. The sticker on the underside of the hood states whether it is CA right? Do I need to replace both Cats at the same time?

Should I be replacing both O2 sensors at the same time?

I live in Mass. We have what they call "enhanced emissions inspection". Not sure what that means.

 

[jsmarine]

Yeah, check the sticker under the hood. I also thought all 2000 4runners (only that year) were CA, but I could be wrong.

 

[Jed]

All aftermarket cats sold in the U.S. have to pass federally mandated guidelines. Therefore, I wouldn't consider them junk at all and they should work just fine in your vehicle.

 

[TheDurk]

Cali. spec. only existed in 1999 & 2000. From 2001 on, the Feds adopted the Cali. standards and all trucks used the two-cat system, which was the Federal spec for those years. CARB still has lots of rules about inspection requirements, approved parts, penalties, etc. that are all their own, but the vehicle specs are the same in all 50 states from 2001 on.