CA Catalytic Converter Question...

[Saint75]

So I need to get my 2000 4Runner (3.4 v6) smogged. It passes visual inspection but fails the sniffer test. After doing research on this forum and talking to a few people, it sounds like I need to replace the catalytic converters.

Called a muffler shop I found on Yelp with high reviews and they wanted $310 (installed) each to replace them (so $620 total). I didnt ask who made the cat but he did mention it was not Magnaflow. Now I was willing to try to get the parts and try to do the job myself but I was always under the impression that the cats needed to be welded on and I have zero welding skills so that's why I was looking at getting the job done at a shop. I soon realized there are also direct bolt cats that supposedly do not require welding.

I am now on Amazon looking at buying these two CARB legal Magnaflow cats:

MagnaFlow Exhaust Products 447192 Direct Fit California Catalytic Converter
( $298.08)

MagnaFlow Exhaust Products 447225 Direct Fit California Catalytic Converter
($245.34)

I know it says "direct fit" but how is it really just going to be unbolt one and bolt on the new one? Is it an "easy" job or is this something that I really should take into a shop and have a professional take care of it? Anyone have any experience with these cats or other direct bolt cats? Any help/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[RS Dude]

The job is straightforward, however if you have heavily rusted bolts, you may have to saw or grind them off. Be sure to use all new nuts, bolts, and gaskets as well as copper based anti-seize lube on threads.

About a year ago I replaced my cat with a Walker that cost around $170.00 and paid a muffler shop to weld it in.

 

[Saint75]

The job is straightforward, however if you have heavily rusted bolts, you may have to saw or grind them off. Be sure to use all new nuts, bolts, and gaskets as well as copper based anti-seize lube on threads.

About a year ago I replaced my cat with a Walker that cost around $170.00 and paid a muffler shop to weld it in.

Thanks for the reply RS Dude. I see you are in the OC as well. I know its only been a year with the Walker cat but how has it been working for you so far? What muffler shop did you go to? Thanks.

 

[jdemetrician]

I would be interested as well. I desperately need to replace my cat and muffler.

 

[kball]

Saint, how far off is it from passing the test? Have you tried a full tune up before testing? How old are your O2 sensors?

 

[downpour11]

I know it says "direct fit" but how is it really just going to be unbolt one and bolt on the new one? Is it an "easy" job or is this something that I really should take into a shop and have a professional take care of it? Anyone have any experience with these cats or other direct bolt cats? Any help/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

It's a direct fit because it comes with the piping and flange that bolts straight to the headers. Extremely easy swap. Unbolt the front o2, unbolt bolt where it goes into the headers, and unbolt where it attaches to the exhaust. Bolt the new cat in. Just look under your car and see how easy it is.

 

[Ol'Blue]

Talk to [MENTION=91297]Kraze[/MENTION] about this. He changed his cats not long ago I think and is running a Magnaflow. I know he had no issue or at least think not any how. CA is a real PITA when it comes to smog.

Blue

 

[UTEP]

CA smog nonsense drove me out of state to register vehicles 8 years ago. A friend of mine has a near perfect Toyota sedan that will not CA smog just because of what appears to be a false CEL. He's replaced all the components associated and it still pops.... can't smog with CEL not matter what! His in fact is well below all emission levels!

Try AZ

AZ just wants your money and is not particular about where you actually are. Phx and Tucson will require smog but I used to live in Santa Cruz co. that does not smog and when my registration was due I happened to be living in CA. AZ gladly sent my registration with a CA address to me!

I drove out from TX yesterday just to change title and register. Took 10 minutes and $73 for a 2000 T4R. Sure 2x 250 mile drive but a beautiful day for a drive and now I'm set with a AZ/TX/CA registration! All legitimate!

While you'll probably have to pull a fast one to get in the system AZ really does not demand much more than a "lease" and a PO Box to start....plenty of county out there....then switch to CA....

I am certainly pushing the legal envelope but the past 8 years spent enough time in AZ to be "legal"... I happen to be a student so have a built in excuse for being out-of-state and realize this is not practical for all.

Not advocating the breaking of laws but suggest creativity in dealing with the beast. Even if you have to rent a shack in Quartzite it will pay off in the long run. DL good for like 15 years. You can register vehicles for 3-5 years at a time....

Warren

 

[Saint75]

Saint, how far off is it from passing the test? Have you tried a full tune up before testing? How old are your O2 sensors?

The smog test failed horribly the first time. After saving some $$$ and going back and forth returning a cat that was damaged during shipping, I finally have them in the back of my truck. Its going to be a project for this long Columbus Day weekend.

After it failed, I changed plugs and wires. I replace one of the 02 sensors about 3000 miles ago when I first got the car and it spit a CEL (P0136). The CEL went away for about 2800 then came back for a few days then went away on its own again. Im hoping changing the cats will help take care of some of these lingering issues.

 

[2001TR4runner]

I to am interested in this because the check engine light has been on my car for awhile now. Got the code p0420, replaced my sensors and still getting it. I live in NC so its not as strict. Is there any negative affects if you leave the bad cat in?

 

[Nelsonmd]

I to am interested in this because the check engine light has been on my car for awhile now. Got the code p0420, replaced my sensors and still getting it. I live in NC so its not as strict. Is there any negative affects if you leave the bad cat in?

You guys need to actually trouble shoot to make sure it's bad CAT's that are your problem. First check for leaks in the exhaust anywhere between the header and the muffler, leaks will cause you a P0420. Next check the sensors, you can even try sensor spacers if you don't want to straight up replace the sensors themselves. Then if all else fails, replace the CAT's.

BTW, I just replaced my CAT because my old ones were super rusted out, and my P0420 code disappeared for the first time since owning the vehicle.

 

[TheDurk]

You guys need to actually trouble shoot to make sure it's bad CAT's that are your problem. First check for leaks in the exhaust anywhere between the header and the muffler, leaks will cause you a P0420. Next check the sensors, you can even try sensor spacers if you don't want to straight up replace the sensors themselves. Then if all else fails, replace the CAT's.

BTW, I just replaced my CAT because my old ones were super rusted out, and my P0420 code disappeared for the first time since owning the vehicle.

Matt...what cats did you end up using?

 

[Nelsonmd]

Matt...what cats did you end up using?

Eastern Catalytic. ~$350 total for both from Rock Auto.

 

[CZ Eddie]

After saving some $$$ and going back and forth returning a cat that was damaged during shipping, I finally have them in the back of my truck. Its going to be a project for this long Columbus Day weekend.

Hi, how did the install go?
Did all the bolts & flanges line up properly? I need to get cats and am considering the ones you purchased.

Thanks!

 

[CZ Eddie]

Eastern Catalytic. ~$350 total for both from Rock Auto.

Oh wow, that's way cheaper than the Magnaflow. How was the fit for YOUR cats?

Here is the front in case anyone else is looking:
Amazon.com: Eastern 40364 Catalytic Converter (Non-CARB Compliant): Automotive

 

[Nelsonmd]

Hi, how did the install go?
Did all the bolts & flanges line up properly? I need to get cats and am considering the ones you purchased.

Thanks!

The install was a *****. I have a rust bucket, so I had to grind otu the studs on the header and replace with bolts. I posted some pics on the other recent CAT threads, so check those out if you want to see what I did. The flanges all line up fine. If' you're not in CA, I think the are a great choice since they fixed my P0420 and they were quite cheap.

Oh wow, that's way cheaper than the Magnaflow. How was the fit for YOUR cats?

Here is the front in case anyone else is looking:
Amazon.com: Eastern 40364 Catalytic Converter (Non-CARB Compliant): Automotive

Fit was fine, but you may want to check the CARB approval though. Some of the other CA guys here have complained that CA hasn't approved any aftermarket CAT's for CARB and so using anything other than OEM will mean that the CARB inspector will fail you for for having non-compliant CAT's. I think walker might make one that is approved, but you need to check the CA laws, or some CA guys can speak up here. A shop may say the magnaflow is CARB approved, but you'll want to verify that yourself.

Remember, a licensing/certification law is just an all out ban if the state is too lazy or incompetent to approve alternatives...

 

[TheDurk]

That's BS about the CARB approvals. You need to go to the CARB website below, plug in your engine family code from under the hood, and you can find a few approvals for any year/engine, including Walker. When you buy, print out the Executive Order approving your Cats for your engine family from the CARB website and match it to the cat invoice, then shove those two pieces of paper up the rectum of any mechanic or CARB inspector who gives you a hard time.

Aftermarket Catalytic Converters

 

[CZ Eddie]

The install was a *****. I have a rust bucket, so I had to grind otu the studs on the header and replace with bolts. I posted some pics on the other recent CAT threads, so check those out if you want to see what I did.

Great job! Thanks for all the info you put into that thread. It's really going to help me a lot.
Here's his thread in case anyone else needs to take a look:

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/150176-cat-replacement-hell.html

That's BS about the CARB approvals. You need to go to the CARB website below, plug in your engine family code from under the hood, and you can find a few approvals for any year/engine, including Walker.

Hahah. Thanks for the link.
Thankfully, I myself don't have to worry about Kommifornia regulations anymore. I'm now in Austin, Texas and it's awesome here. It's actually just like San Diego and Ventura Counties, except without an ocean and no rude people.

I would just go with a single high-flow cat, but the CA vehicles 02 sensor & computer are apparently all tied into *needing* two CA cats.

The nice thing though, is I probably won't need a rear cat. Just the front one. Because the front collects most of the crap so the rear will stay healthy much longer than the front.

 

[Nelsonmd]

Sorry to get blood flowing there, I was echoing comments by some CA guys on a previous thread who had called the CARB office to petition them to get other CAT's approved and they were told that they weren't able to get new ones approved because they didn't have bandwidth to do it, so they were stuck with OEM only.

It looks like maybe they actually opened it up a bit now, but previously there were some major limitations on what the CARB referees would allow.

 

[TheDurk]

Sorry to get blood flowing there, I was echoing comments by some CA guys on a previous thread who had called the CARB office to petition them to get other CAT's approved and they were told that they weren't able to get new ones approved because they didn't have bandwidth to do it, so they were stuck with OEM only.

It looks like maybe they actually opened it up a bit now, but previously there were some major limitations on what the CARB referees would allow.

This is all true--and there was one year that was completely orphaned longer than the rest with identical set-ups (I forget which) just due to CARB incompetence. But things have improved and I'm pretty sure there is an after-market CAT for everybody. I'm sorry if my emphatic style made you think I was exercised--I was just having fun--no intention or thought of calling you out and I hope you didn't think that.