Anyone ever use: O2 sensor extender pipe to clear CEL?

[Ride_Red]

I have a check engine light to replace my cat, but until I get it fixed I need to sneak by inspection. I was told you can get on O2 extension pipe to eliminate the CEL? This is only a temporary thing until I can get a new cat.

Any idea how many I need and what size/shape and most importantly does it work?

O2 Oxygen Sensor 90 degree 18mm test pipe extension M18 X 1.5 18mm 02 | eBay

M18 O2 Extender Oxygen Spacer HHO Wideband Dry Cell Sensor 02 Test Pipe Bung H2O | eBay

 

[IanB]

It's also called a "sparkplug defouler", and I used one on my brother's Protege MP3 to get rid of a CEL for the post cat O2 sensor. Basically just pulls the sensor probe out of the exhaust stream, keeps it plugged in, and makes the sensor happy with what it's seeing. So long as you have room to add one (angle of the O2 sensor bung, clearance, etc), they are a cheap easy fix, and if it doesn't work for you then you're only out $5 and some time.

 

[TheDurk]

If you are talking about the 2000 in your sig, it won't work. You have the flange-type sensors both front and rear. Only the '01 and '02 3rd Gens have the screw style rear sensors.

2001-2002:

2000 and before:

 

[IanB]

^^Ya, that will seal it, won't work for you if that's the case.

 

[T4R_Finally]

It's also possible that your issue isn't the CATs but is just a bad sensor. You can replace it for around $60 - just search and read. That worked for me.

There is also a device out there available that plugs between the sensor wire and the vehicle wiring that simply fools the system into showing that everything is okay. Don't remember the specifics on it though - also can be found with search. Might be called an O2 eliminator or something like that.

 

[sakoluvr]

Dealer says my cats need to be replaced on my wife's 2001 4runner. Truck still running fine but the check engine, vsc off and vsc track lights are on. Dealer wants $3K to fix. LOL

Has anyone used the spacers on the downstream O2 sensor? They are cheap enough to try I guess? I know there is an O2 simulator out there also, but the spacer seems too easy.

 

[SaulG]

That's ridiculous !! Buy the O2 sensor for behind the cat first thing , you can do it in your driveway.
They will replace 02 sensors anyway...you got nothing to lose.
And $2930 to keep.

 

[huvgti]

Pretty sure the cat section is only $2 - $300 on rock auto, that post cat o2 is only $50 like everyone mentioned. You can also try some cat cleaner fuel additive. Some people have really good luck with it, some don't. If you really just want to pass inspection without spending money, one of those code readers will clear the code and it doesn't usually come back on until you're most of the way through a tank of gas.

Dealer says my cats need to be replaced on my wife's 2001 4runner. Truck still running fine but the check engine, vsc off and vsc track lights are on. Dealer wants $3K to fix. LOL

Has anyone used the spacers on the downstream O2 sensor? They are cheap enough to try I guess? I know there is an O2 simulator out there also, but the spacer seems too easy.

 

[tarsun]

the code readers that clear the codes will clear ALL of the readyness monitors and the truck will not pass.
it is the same as disconnecting the battery.

the O2 spacers work but not in flange type sensors. (like ours)

i dont know how your state is, but if it fails, you might have 30 days to fix it. that should be more than enough time to fix it.

 

[T4R2014]

Dealer says my cats need to be replaced on my wife's 2001 4runner. Truck still running fine but the check engine, vsc off and vsc track lights are on. Dealer wants $3K to fix. LOL

Has anyone used the spacers on the downstream O2 sensor? They are cheap enough to try I guess? I know there is an O2 simulator out there also, but the spacer seems too easy.

I've used it on a bunch of cars. Works great. Sure, maybe an inspection loophole but those clowns will pass vehicles with rotted frames and fail people over an oxygen sensor code.

 

[SodiumFlouride]

I've used it on a bunch of cars. Works great. Sure, maybe an inspection loophole but those clowns will pass vehicles with rotted frames and fail people over an oxygen sensor code.

That may be because some states do an emissions check only.
Other states do a safety check in addition to the emissions test.

In the emission states, they'd pass a car with no headlights, cracked windshield, nonworking brake lights, and bald tires, as long as the emission results are good.

 

[sakoluvr]

the code readers that clear the codes will clear ALL of the readyness monitors and the truck will not pass.
it is the same as disconnecting the battery.

the O2 spacers work but not in flange type sensors. (like ours)

i dont know how your state is, but if it fails, you might have 30 days to fix it. that should be more than enough time to fix it.

The downstream sensor does not use a flange, at least on my 2001 and 2002 runners. Will have to check my 97 model.

 

[sakoluvr]

That's ridiculous !! Buy the O2 sensor for behind the cat first thing , you can do it in your driveway.
They will replace 02 sensors anyway...you got nothing to lose.
And $2930 to keep.

Dealer checked the resistance on the A/F sensor and O2 sensor. Said both were fine. I may try the cleaner first. If that doesn't work I will try the spacer. If no joy there I will order a front and rear cat from Rock.

 

[TheDurk]

Dealer checked the resistance on the A/F sensor and O2 sensor. Said both were fine. I may try the cleaner first. If that doesn't work I will try the spacer. If no joy there I will order a front and rear cat from Rock.

All they do is check the heater resistance. Pretty much a waste of time because a bad heater will throw its own code, like P1135.

That resistance test will NOT flag a sensor whose signal response had degraded over time and THAT is what causes a P0420. I swapped my rear sensor 80 k and four years ago and cured a p0420. Eff dealers, big time.

If the cat is damaged, plugged, or there is a leak between the manifod and the rear sensor, a new sensor won't help. But it's worth it to try.

 

[TheDurk]

The downstream sensor does not use a flange, at least on my 2001 and 2002 runners. Will have to check my 97 model.

'97 is flange. See my Post #3.

 

[sakoluvr]

All they do is check the heater resistance. Pretty much a waste of time because a bad heater will throw its own code, like P1135.

That resistance test will NOT flag a sensor whose signal response had degraded over time and THAT is what causes a P0420. I swapped my rear sensor 80 k and four years ago and cured a p0420. Eff dealers, big time.

If the cat is damaged, plugged, or there is a leak between the manifod and the rear sensor, a new sensor won't help. But it's worth it to try.

I will send off for an O2 sensor then. Amazon here I come. Any special brand to get?

 

[TheDurk]

I will send off for an O2 sensor then. Amazon here I come. Any special brand to get?

Denso, and only Denso.

 

[sakoluvr]

OK, so I decided to take this in steps, the first being a snake oil cleaner for the cats, followed by a new O2 sensor, followed by a sensor extension and then finally a cat inspection and aftermarket cat installation.

I bought a can of Cataclean and followed the instructions. That was about 6 days ago. Pulled the battery cable to clear the CEL and noticed the positive terminal needed a good cleaning. Hit it with baking soda and dielectric grease.

Wife put about 350 miles on the runner since without any issues. Feeling lucky, she brought the truck in for inspection. It's not due till January, but we can get vehicles inspected up to 90 days prior.

No CEL, no codes, no problems. Truck passed.

I am thinking that the Cataclean snake oil may have cleaned the O2 sensor? I guess I won't really know. Anyway, if we get another CEL, I am going right to the O2 sensor next.

I may have to give the Toyota service dept. a call and nicely tell them that the easy way out (for them) was to tell my wife she had to replace both cats fot an out the dorr price of $3300ish. Also, how do they expect me to ever trust them again?

THANKS ALL! Thanks TheDurk.

 

[Majindan]

Dealer checked the resistance on the A/F sensor and O2 sensor. Said both were fine. I may try the cleaner first. If that doesn't work I will try the spacer. If no joy there I will order a front and rear cat from Rock.

On a 2000 LTD I used to have, the cat went bad so I just bought a $80 Magnaflow from Advance, had the old one cut off and new one welded in. Had that truck for about 2 years after that, zero issues.