Catalytic Converter

[downtow]

I am having some work done on my car and I wanted to get the opinion of this board.

I had my car's (2006 toyota 4runner sport 2wd) oil changed at jiffy lube recently and it was towards the end of the day and I am friendly with the guy who worked there and he said he would clean my fuel injection for half off. I told him to go ahead and do it, got my car after he was done, then left. The next day I had 4 warning lights on: Low Tire Pressure, VSC TRAC, Check Engine, and the winding road symbol meaning I don't have traction.

I took my car back to jiffy lube and told them about the lights. I had checked online about these warning lights and some said that it could be a minor problem and some said a major problem. The guy at jiffy lube, who said he worked for a toyota dealer for 10 years, said he checked all the problems and couldn't find anything wrong and that the lights were now off.

I got in my car and all the lights were off except for the low tire pressure light and he said he couldn't figure out how to turn that off.

So a few days later the warning lights come back on. I had previously given an opportunity to jiffy lube and wasn't getting a "safe" vibe from them so I decided to take my car to a toyota dealer. The dealer instantly identified the problem as a burned up catalytic converter. The dealer told me that if I had just had my fuel injection cleaned that most likely they used too much cleaner and this burned up the converter.

My question to the board is, is this a legitimate reason? I obviously want to get jiffy lube to pay for the repairs. I am slightly worried they are going to balk at paying though because the dealer also told me that it is a possibility that the catalytic converter went out on its own because of the high mileage of my vehicle. I have a lawyer in my family and they said that it is too big of a coincidence that the warnings happened the following day. I am keeping all the parts taken out of my car and documenting everything. I am just worried about payment because this is about $3400 total.

What do you all think?

 

[MikeInNH]

When ever the Check Engine light is on it will disable traction control (thus the VSC TRAC light). Get the code read to determine what the cause is.

The Low Tire pressure can only be on if one of your tires is low. Get a gauge and check the tire pressure. Then add air to the effect tire(s).

As for Jiffy Lube. Stay away from any place like Jiffy Lube. The internet is full of hundreds if not THOUSANDS of complaints against them. I wouldn't let them add washer fluid to my truck.

Find a good local mechanic and have him do all your servicing. Far better in the long run.

As for being a catalytic converter?? MAYBE...What's more likely is a bad O2 sensor. There is no way you can tell if it's the cat by just reading the codes. You then have to do some more tests to eliminate an O2 sensor problem.

 

[MikeInNH]

One last thing.

If it is the catalytic converter...the dealer doesn't have to replace it. And there are aftermarket catalytic converters that work fine and are about 1/3rd the cost.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

Easy thing out of the way, guy at Jiffy Lube most likely did not check your spare tire to see if it was low, most people never check that anyways. If the tire light is blinking for at least a minute after start up that is a different issue entirely.

When you brought the car to Jiffy Lube the second time to have them check the lights did they provide you with a print out or a record of what DTC (Diagnostic Trouble Codes) they pulled from the system? Because if the MIL (Malfunction Indicator Lamp/ CEL) was illuminated along with the VSC & TRAC (Which do come on when ever the MIL is tripped) there were codes stored in your system.

I would also want to see any freeze frame data regarding the codes if availible (which if they were catalytic converter related would be most likely available.)

The Toyota Dealership should also have provided you with a similar print-out record when you brought it to them a second time. These codes and data can be very helpful in diagnosing what the issue is. It could be that they used too much fuel injector cleaner and essentially confused the system and partially burned the catalytic converter. It is also possible that the cat can simply be brought back by driving it a good long while, and again it could be that the catalytic converter is completely burnt out and requires replacement. I personally would never rely on a single set of codes to deterine whether or not to replace a catalytic converter on any modern vehicle because of what can go wrong in how the system percieves the catalytic converter's health.

I hope the best and that its nothing too bad, but I would personally start looking at all the other data and get more information before I would make a jump to replace anything as cost intensive as a catalytic converter. Even as a dealership technician I will admit that the larger majority dealers replace parts and assemblies not do diagnosis and component repair.

Here's a post I made in regards to how catalytic converter monitors work and why diagnosing them can be tricky;
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/61631-catalitic-converter-lifespan-2.html

 

[Friend on the road]

I found your post doing a search on Jiffy Lube Catalytic converter. I just had the same problem with my Subaru. How did things turn out for you?

Thanks,
Friend on the Road

 

[madhader]

What exactly is costing you $3400? I'm new to toyota's and this forum but that sounds steep for a catalytic converter. Hopefully taking a closer look at the codes your vehicle is throwing will give you some better news but, if you do need a new cat I have a brand new Toyota one that I will sell cheaper that the OE. I know it fits an 2005 4.7L V8 but, I'm not sure what changed in 06 (or if you have a v8). let me know if you are interested and I can give you a Toyota part number if you want to call Toyota and see if its compatible

I am having some work done on my car and I wanted to get the opinion of this board.

I had my car's (2006 toyota 4runner sport 2wd) oil changed at jiffy lube recently and it was towards the end of the day and I am friendly with the guy who worked there and he said he would clean my fuel injection for half off. I told him to go ahead and do it, got my car after he was done, then left. The next day I had 4 warning lights on: Low Tire Pressure, VSC TRAC, Check Engine, and the winding road symbol meaning I don't have traction.

I took my car back to jiffy lube and told them about the lights. I had checked online about these warning lights and some said that it could be a minor problem and some said a major problem. The guy at jiffy lube, who said he worked for a toyota dealer for 10 years, said he checked all the problems and couldn't find anything wrong and that the lights were now off.

I got in my car and all the lights were off except for the low tire pressure light and he said he couldn't figure out how to turn that off.

So a few days later the warning lights come back on. I had previously given an opportunity to jiffy lube and wasn't getting a "safe" vibe from them so I decided to take my car to a toyota dealer. The dealer instantly identified the problem as a burned up catalytic converter. The dealer told me that if I had just had my fuel injection cleaned that most likely they used too much cleaner and this burned up the converter.

My question to the board is, is this a legitimate reason? I obviously want to get jiffy lube to pay for the repairs. I am slightly worried they are going to balk at paying though because the dealer also told me that it is a possibility that the catalytic converter went out on its own because of the high mileage of my vehicle. I have a lawyer in my family and they said that it is too big of a coincidence that the warnings happened the following day. I am keeping all the parts taken out of my car and documenting everything. I am just worried about payment because this is about $3400 total.

What do you all think?