Catalytic Converter

[4R-Driver]

This forum rocks!!

Had been throwing P0420 & P0430 and clearing them whenever they popped up. When it came time to smog & was tight on cash and new cats seemed out of the question.

Replaced the O2 sensors thinking I'd need to after the new cats anyway & cleared the codes one last time. After completing the drive cycle, was good to go! Super easy job after months of stressing out about it.

 

[Ralph Blake]

I am lucky as i don't have to pass any of them stupid state engine checks. My 98 Maxima with around 30K today started getting them check engine codes at around 12K and i use real gas not that corn feed 10% trash gas.

Back then went to a local parts that offer free scans,said i needed O2 sensors. Well my gas mileage had not dropped from when new,so i just kept driving and today my gas mileage is the same, Maxima still starts and runs great.

So do i really care about that check engine light,covered it with tape,do ireally care if i really need new O2 sensors NO!!
As long as my Maxima is getting the same gas mileage as when new,and starts and runs great i don't think i am going spend money on anything.

Am sure if i lived in a state that required and "FORCED" me to pass some stupid test,that just is aimed to make dealers rich. I would need to get them sensors,but since i don't live in a state that would required and "FORCED" me to pass some stupid test i will just keep my money keep driving along.:washing:

 

[Wilcoxzack]

This forum rocks!!

Had been throwing P0420 & P0430 and clearing them whenever they popped up. When it came time to smog & was tight on cash and new cats seemed out of the question.

Replaced the O2 sensors thinking I'd need to after the new cats anyway & cleared the codes one last time. After completing the drive cycle, was good to go! Super easy job after months of stressing out about it.

Did you replace both before cat and after cat sensors? I'm throwing a p0430 code so I'm wondering if i should try new sensors first. the rear is 90$ but the front is $200

 

[asabs6]

Resurfacing Thread w/ Cat and O2 Questions

Hey everyone,

First off sorry for resurrecting this thread but it seemed to answer some of the issues I'm having with my newly acquired '04 SR5. Since I've had it (purchased in Chicago-land December 5th 2016) and driven it back to Lakewood CO where I live, the CEL and VSC Trac lights have been on. I had the code read at AutoZone and came back with the P0430 code, indicating the CAT is running inefficiently (or so they say). I took it over to "my local guys", whom I haven't had much experience with as I just moved out here in July, and they charged $125 to inspect the CAT and O2 sensors, after which they claimed the drivers side CAT is "bad" and the passenger isn't far behind. They wanted to replace both CATs and all O2 sensors for $850/side or $1700 total.

After lots of thread research it sounds like I may just be experiencing worn out sensors and I would like to replace these first to see if that solves the issue. I need to get the emissions tested by the end of the month so I can register the car in CO but with the lights on it's guaranteed fail. "My shop won't replace the sensors without doing the CATs as well, which is part of why I most likely will be seeking a new go-to shop. Does anyone in the Denver area have a shop recommendation/ willing to offer a helping hand in replacing the sensors to see if the issue can be resolved? Being new to the vehicle I'm not super familiar with replacing these on my own and would feel most comfortable having someone with experience perform the task/ lend some help in doing so. Thanks in advance, this forum is the best I've ever experienced and I cannot wait to learn my about my T4R and how to go about future mods.

Cheers,
Adam

 

[Roody]

Hey everyone,

First off sorry for resurrecting this thread but it seemed to answer some of the issues I'm having with my newly acquired '04 SR5. Since I've had it (purchased in Chicago-land December 5th 2016) and driven it back to Lakewood CO where I live, the CEL and VSC Trac lights have been on. I had the code read at AutoZone and came back with the P0430 code, indicating the CAT is running inefficiently (or so they say). I took it over to "my local guys", whom I haven't had much experience with as I just moved out here in July, and they charged $125 to inspect the CAT and O2 sensors, after which they claimed the drivers side CAT is "bad" and the passenger isn't far behind. They wanted to replace both CATs and all O2 sensors for $850/side or $1700 total.

After lots of thread research it sounds like I may just be experiencing worn out sensors and I would like to replace these first to see if that solves the issue. I need to get the emissions tested by the end of the month so I can register the car in CO but with the lights on it's guaranteed fail. "My shop won't replace the sensors without doing the CATs as well, which is part of why I most likely will be seeking a new go-to shop. Does anyone in the Denver area have a shop recommendation/ willing to offer a helping hand in replacing the sensors to see if the issue can be resolved? Being new to the vehicle I'm not super familiar with replacing these on my own and would feel most comfortable having someone with experience perform the task/ lend some help in doing so. Thanks in advance, this forum is the best I've ever experienced and I cannot wait to learn my about my T4R and how to go about future mods.

Cheers,
Adam

Bumping this thread as I'm in the exact same situation. Local shop told me my cats are bad and need to be replaced. I'm in a sh!t situation as I just bought the truck and need to sort this out quick so as to remedy the CEL and pass inspection.

Any word from anyone who has gone through this? Is the sensor replacement trick working?

Thanks

 

[bgibbs11]

Bumping this thread as I'm in the exact same situation. Local shop told me my cats are bad and need to be replaced. I'm in a sh!t situation as I just bought the truck and need to sort this out quick so as to remedy the CEL and pass inspection.

Any word from anyone who has gone through this? Is the sensor replacement trick working?

Thanks

Do you know what code is being thrown? It was extremely easy to replace the rear 02 sensors in my 04 V6 a couple years ago. Go to autozone, have them read the code, buy the sensor needed, and you can even borrow (rent?) the o2 sensor socket from them. They loan out tools. It literally took me about 30 minutes to change mine out. I'm extremely handy, but not so knowledgeable on cars. If you can locate the sensor and turn a wrench you can swap them out yourself. I did it in freezing temps so i'd pass inspection. It is well worth trying before replacing your cats. My truck never threw that code (or any other code) for the remainder of my ownership. Just sold it in December with 40,000 additional miles on it since changing the sensors.

 

[lunchindabox]

Good info.

Sidenote: I've gotten my catalytic converter stolen before when I parked at a rideshare.

Same. Outside DC at the metro lot. Off my 1996 taco. that sucked ass. They cut outside the flanges so it needed a front pipe and the mid pipe. Bastards.
I got lucky tho, sold the truck as is for more than I had originally bought it for. Still sucked ass.

 

[additc]

My p0420 story

I brought my '03 SE 4WD 180k mi. to the dealer for the dashboard crack recall (which they messed up on and I had to bring it back again), but when they gave it back to me the light vsc and cel lights were on.
I told them about it and they insisted that I needed 2 cats.

$600 per cat + $400 labor. They denied any wrong doing, and that the dashboard and the codes have nothing to do with each other.

I couldn't take this.
How could this have happened so coincidentally?

I brought it to my local mech and he cleared the codes and it never came back.
Saved me $1600.
He told me that if you try to clear the code with cheap obd2 reader, it can glitch the ecm and you wont be able get it cleared even if you get 2 new cats unless you go to a dealer. You need to use one of these $4k readers.

Dealer isn't going turn away money. This code can be a multiple things and the dealer is going to tell you it's the most expensive item on their menu.

 

[catrains]

I brought my '03 SE 4WD 180k mi. to the dealer for the dashboard crack recall (which they messed up on and I had to bring it back again), but when they gave it back to me the light vsc and cel lights were on.
I told them about it and they insisted that I needed 2 cats.

$600 per cat + $400 labor. They denied any wrong doing, and that the dashboard and the codes have nothing to do with each other.

I couldn't take this.
How could this have happened so coincidentally?

I brought it to my local mech and he cleared the codes and it never came back.
Saved me $1600.
He told me that if you try to clear the code with cheap obd2 reader, it can glitch the ecm and you wont be able get it cleared even if you get 2 new cats unless you go to a dealer. You need to use one of these $4k readers.

Dealer isn't going turn away money. This code can be a multiple things and the dealer is going to tell you it's the most expensive item on their menu.

if you believe they did create this issue to screw you then you should post who they are ..also post on face book.

 

[AuSeeker]

I brought my '03 SE 4WD 180k mi. to the dealer for the dashboard crack recall (which they messed up on and I had to bring it back again), but when they gave it back to me the light vsc and cel lights were on.
I told them about it and they insisted that I needed 2 cats.

$600 per cat + $400 labor. They denied any wrong doing, and that the dashboard and the codes have nothing to do with each other.

I couldn't take this.
How could this have happened so coincidentally?

I brought it to my local mech and he cleared the codes and it never came back.
Saved me $1600.
He told me that if you try to clear the code with cheap obd2 reader, it can glitch the ecm and you wont be able get it cleared even if you get 2 new cats unless you go to a dealer. You need to use one of these $4k readers.

Dealer isn't going turn away money. This code can be a multiple things and the dealer is going to tell you it's the most expensive item on their menu.

I would of told the dealer to clear the codes and see if they come back before I can commit to letting them do the Cats, and then not come back!!

 

[additc]

if you believe they did create this issue to screw you then you should post who they are ..also post on face book.

Miller Toyota Anaheim, CA
I wrote a yelp review. (dunno what that's gonna really do)
Also, Im not sure if they did this maliciously or incompetently.

I was chatting with the service adviser who took my car in and asked him how work life was there at Toyota.
He was there for 12 or so years. Since then, they started replacing experienced mechanics with technicians right out of school. Basically to read codes and swap parts.
These inexperienced parts-swappers can only do what the computer tells them, they really dont know how to diagnose a car.

 

[catrains]

Miller Toyota Anaheim, CA
I wrote a yelp review. (dunno what that's gonna really do)
Also, Im not sure if they did this maliciously or incompetently.

I was chatting with the service adviser who took my car in and asked him how work life was there at Toyota.
He was there for 12 or so years. Since then, they started replacing experienced mechanics with technicians right out of school. Basically to read codes and swap parts.
These inexperienced parts-swappers can only do what the computer tells them, they really dont know how to diagnose a car.

to keep costs down many dealerships do hire rookies . I worked at a dealership for a time. very rare to find a dealership with most techs having more than 10 yrs experience in the auto repair business.

posting the info on what happened to you may not help you now but will help others.

on these codes . the new vehicles have a PCM that when a confirmed failure occurs it will continue to show the CEL until many run cycles . lets say they [dealership tech] disconnected the sensor creating this failure. now the computer will lock in that failure and will not reset the code until many cycles have passed. only an OEM program computer can reset this immediately.

so why is this NOW happening because on older vehicles you could reset a code like after you replaced the defective part or perhaps you did a repair and forgot to hook up a sensor connector. this is because of the emission testing programs where people would reset PCM CEL codes then bring in to the test station so they pass.

looks like your mechanic did catch them, so not a guess that it was created by dealership.

 

[odelayih]

So this seems like a pretty easy do it yourself solution. Can anybody point me in the right direction in terms of how to tackle it? If I know what to do, I'm not afraid to just do it myself.

You ever track this down? I'm in a similar position with same code and would like to try to replace the O2 sensors myself.

 

[bgibbs11]

You ever track this down? I'm in a similar position with same code and would like to try to replace the O2 sensors myself.

No guide, but easy enough. Mine was one of the rear o2 sensors that needed swapping. It sits on top of the exhaust after the cat, so its kind of a weird angle to wrench. I borrowed a loaner o2 socket from Autozone and swapped it out in about 30 mins in the freezing cold. Code didn't come back for the rest of my ownership. Traded it in for a 2017 Tacoma 40,000 miles later Dec 2016.

 

[BarryT]

Thanks for the seafoam tip.
I have a 2005 T4R. Does anyone know what the O2 sensor readings should be on a healthy exhaust system (as read on a scanner tool)? I thought the voltages should be between 0.1 and 1.0, but on the front sensors, I see readings over 3.0. (I see similar values on a 2003 RAV4 as well. I'm wondering if this is a Toyota thing or if I have some bad sensors.
Thanks!

 

[missmarlomarie]

Bad Cats/99 4runner

Hi, I was glad to have found the thread on bad cats. I have had "cat" codes /check engine light on accordingly, in my 99 runner since I owned it, 10 years ago. It has never affected the running of the vehicle, and because the cost seemed so high and also so many price ranges in estimates, I just never did anything with it. Now, in the last few months, I'm having problems with power going up hills, or long sight inclines. Also intermittent power issues where I can feel it resisting when I want it to go faster! I'm told this is normal sign of the cats clogging up, since they have been coding bad.

After reading this thread, could it actually be the sensor and not the cat, even though I'm experiencing the clogging/loss of power issue? Or is that a sure sign that it really is the cats?

If it is the cats, I'm told that they can be "punched out", which is basically putting holes in them so they can breath or having them removed completely. Does anyone know about this technique?

Greatly appreciate any feedback--I want to keep my runner running, but also with age of it, don't want to dump a ton of money into this cat issue!

Marlo

 

[geenowalker]

My cat is shot (according to emissions test and sensors are new and giving good voltages). Any recommendations on cat? Dont need OEM, but dont want cheap crap as I am giving to in-laws...married guys will understand this. Bosal, Walker, etc?....do I replace both (do they tend to go at the same time). My current cat has no shield as it fell off. shop wont weld, only replace at flange.

BTW....will hit 300K this week. Cars a f'ing beast.

 

[2003-4x4runner]

I had the same issue, P0430 code. Changed both O2 sensors and it fixed the issue for about 2k miles but the code came back. Tried seafoam and Cat-Clean. Both worked and the codes did come back. I finally had the CAT replaced yesterday and so far so good.
Save your money everyone and just replace the bad CAT.

 

[adrianp]

I had the same issue, P0430 code. Changed both O2 sensors and it fixed the issue for about 2k miles but the code came back. Tried seafoam and Cat-Clean. Both worked and the codes did come back. I finally had the CAT replaced yesterday and so far so good.
Save your money everyone and just replace the bad CAT.

Which CAT did you get?

 

[2003-4x4runner]

Which CAT did you get?

It was the Left Exhaust Manifold with Catalytic Converter, Part # 17150-31011