Fed up and may get rid of it

[liv2bike]

I hope y'all can talk me off the edge...

Love my truck. 2001 Sport. Just did my TB/WP service and all that that included. Also just put on some matte black SCS F5 wheels. Truck is straight. Really really clean inside and out. I really like it.

So about 1 1/2 yrs ago, P0420 code. Replaced both O2 sensors. No CELs for a long time. Then got another code about 8 months ago and cleaned the MAF sensor as that was the possible culprit. No CEL until about 2 months ago. About 2 months ago, the code was P0442. New gas cap. Cleared the code. Drove her for a week, got another P0420. Ran some Lucas Oil treatment through her. Cleared the code. Been driving w/o a code until...this morning. So it has been around a month and a half. Since the last P0420 code was thrown. Several tanks of fuel, a few short road trips since then and I assumed the computer would have gone through a cycle and I would gotten a code earlier if there really was a problem.

I am just fed up I guess. Drove it straight to an independent Toyota/Lexus garage. Really good guys and I trust them. They drive and know 3rd Gens. I told them to get to the bottom of it. If it is the cats...gonna get rid of her...or just drive it. Truck is running just fine. MPGs have not been suffering, no odors, no bad cat sounds that I can hear...all seems just fine. Perhaps O2 sensor(s) bad again? When they were replaced a year and a half ago, put OEM units in. MAF sensor again? Something else?

What would y'all do? Frustrated.

Thanks,
Guy

 

[JohnsD90]

I'd keep clearing the codes (remove negative terminal) as long as it wasnt something serious and didn't effect anything.

 

[quicksilvr]

P0420 is NOT a code to get rid of a vehicle over! Just because the computer thinks the cat isn't doing it's job well enough is not that big a deal. Do the spark plug non-fouler trick on the downstream O2 sensor, get a new high flow cat and use the O2 rear sensor sim from URD (Link to URD!, or just ignore it.

There are lots of options, and none of them warrant getting rid of a great 4Runner.

 

[snivilous]

I would replace the MAF. I had my MAF throw a code and I cleaned it and it fixed it for 300 miles then got another code, so I just replaced it at that point and no issues.

Sometimes I get fed up with shit going wrong on the truck, but I like it so I just tough it out and fix it and then it'll be fixed and good to go for the next 100k miles. Sometimes you just get a spurt of stuff that goes wrong, which may be a result of it all being related, but once it's fixed it's fixed and not worth the hassle of replacing the vehicle especially if you like it.

 

[liv2bike]

Right on. Thanks guys. I really dig the truck. I know y'all understand that part. It is just frustrating. I will see what my shop comes back with. They are only asking for $45 to really dig into it and get down to the bottom of it. I just don't want to throw parts at it unnecessarily. I don't mind just clearing the code as it pops up but that would get rather annoying if I keep having to do it over and over again. Every once in a while no biggie. Thanks.

 

[BrianSD_42]

So let's get this straight ...

$45 to diagnos

$300 for a new aftermarket cat.

Truck runs fine.

You are going to get rid of it.

Wow that is a sure fire plan to loose money. You loose out nearly every time you sell one car to buy another.

 

[fish0281]

I will bet you a sandwich that your cats are bad.

If you don't have to worry about an emissions test (the sniffer test might be fine, but if they read your ECU, you won't pass), then just clear the code every so often... but your cats are only going to get worse and it will eventually require a daily reset of the computer. That will also mean your truck is perpetually mapping the fuel/air ratios and the cats will slowly clog your exhaust flow (could lower your mpgs).

The alternative solution is that gizmo that gives your ECU moderated output from your O2 sensor (forgot the name of the product), thereby tricking it into thinking the CCs are fine. Again, using this depends on how rigorous emissions are in your area... and if you want to spend ~$100 on the gizmo without actually fixing anything.

At the end of the day, you should also be concerned with why your CCs went bad. Mine went at about 160k, but I am almost certain is was because I cooked them by dragging a trailer across the country, over mountains and through the desert, in the middle of July (120F). If you don't have a good reason (e.g., heavy use that causes your engine to run rich), then it's worth some investigation as to how healthy your engine actually is. It sounds fine though, you said your MPG's are normal...

 

[liv2bike]

Well I hope the toy/lex shop can get to the bottom of it and find the root cause. Should have mentioned truck has just over 180k miles on it. I don't think I want to put a bandaid on it and so the bypass thing. I want the truck to be right for the next owner if I decide to sell it down the road. I am in FL so no emissions/sniff tests.

Not looking for an excuse to dump it by any means. Trust me I don't want a payment. I will update when the shop sorts it out, hopefully tomorrow.

I will bet you a sandwich that your cats are bad.

If you don't have to worry about an emissions test (the sniffer test might be fine, but if they read your ECU, you won't pass), then just clear the code every so often... but your cats are only going to get worse and it will eventually require a daily reset of the computer. That will also mean your truck is perpetually mapping the fuel/air ratios and the cats will slowly clog your exhaust flow (could lower your mpgs).

The alternative solution is that gizmo that gives your ECU moderated output from your O2 sensor (forgot the name of the product), thereby tricking it into thinking the CCs are fine. Again, using this depends on how rigorous emissions are in your area... and if you want to spend ~$100 on the gizmo without actually fixing anything.

At the end of the day, you should also be concerned with why your CCs went bad. Mine went at about 160k, but I am almost certain is was because I cooked them by dragging a trailer across the country, over mountains and through the desert, in the middle of July (120F). If you don't have a good reason (e.g., heavy use that causes your engine to run rich), then it's worth some investigation as to how healthy your engine actually is. It sounds fine though, you said your MPG's are normal...

 

[BrandonF]

Truck runs fine, no bad smells, mpg is fine, no emission tests to worry about...

Why are you whining about your truck running properly....?

Its a 12 year old vehicle. If there are some minor quarks, big deal.

 

[Millerad1651]

If it is your cat, check out Magnaflow hi-flow cats. Right before I bought mine (over 2 years ago) the owner had the cat stolen while parked at work. he bought a Magnaflow cat and had a shop weld it in. It cost him +-$300. I haven't had any problems since, and its been almost 40k miles.

 

[ChildrenOfBodom]

My 2.5" Magnaflow cat started throwing P0420 about 3 years after buying it. The warranty got me another one free through the people I bought it from (LC Engineering), it's only 4 bolts to swap cats so you could just keep replacing every time it goes bad. Just beware of the spot welded heat shields falling off, it started cooking the passenger floorboard.

 

[sportrunner2001]

Im sure this isn't your problem but when my 4Runner was brand new (my parents bought it in 01) we had a time where it would constantly throw P0420 codes. after a few months of resetting the computer, my dad took it to the dealer and said he didn't want it back until they solved the problem. after 2 weeks of them having it they found out one of the exhaust manifolds was warped. after that had been replaced, nothing bad happened after that. no codes, nothing. Again I highly doubt this is whats happening to you but its not harmful or worth getting rid of such an awesome vehicle for!

P.S. there was only one other account from toyota of this happening to the same exact optioned 4Runner in Maine of that year

 

[68dave]

I replaced both my o2 sensors almost 2 years ago and i still have a po420 code. Truck still performs great so i just ignore the light. When i had to take it in for the state's emission test i took a receipt from my work stating that i spent $450 total in parts and labor that was related to emission equipment and was given a 2 year waiver.

 

[MTD]

Not really realevant, but [MENTION=66727]liv2bike[/MENTION] is that a Trek Marlin in your avatar? JW I have the same bike if so lol good stuff

 

[vipergrhd]

Smog capital

This is just my opinion and don't take it personal,your in Florida with no smog test and no sniff test no hassle every 2 years getting it smoged.if you want something to complain about your vehicle or Check engine light being on move to KALIPORNIA and you will lose your hair and a hole in your pocket getting chit fix around here and not including possible smog failure every couple of years.If the problem is your Cat converters just live with it unless you want to spend the money on new Cats.:smash:

 

[threadlessclimber]

Bought mine over a year ago--after driving it home over 1500 miles and then another month--went to get it inspected and on the way the check engine light came on. I didn't bother with the test just had the guy check the code and it was the 0420. I changed the 02's (denso thanks t4r) and the light went out for months. Then I had to get an inspection again and about a week before my b-day (and inspection) the light came on again. Unplugged the battery and it passed inspection but the light came on as I drove home. Currently the light has been on for over 1,000 miles. Sometimes it shuts its self off but I'm at the point where I'm going to get the cat replaced. I think 4runners are sensitive to bad cats--I've had cats go on other cars without setting of CEL. Is this due to the duel O2's--I don't know. I'm interested to here how this works out for you. Good luck but don't sell the Runner over this.

 

[white_n_slow]

Lol, your CEL came on and you want to get rid of the truck.

I've known people who have driven a vehicle with the CEL on the entire duration of their ownership (we're talking 6 or 8 years) and never gave it a second thought. :rofl:

 

[Curtis f]

I will bet you a sandwich

I'm most certainly stealing this line , thanks .... haha:lmao:

 

[liv2bike]

Not really realevant, but [MENTION=66727]liv2bike[/MENTION] is that a Trek Marlin in your avatar? JW I have the same bike if so lol good stuff

Hey man. No not a Trek. It is a custom Ventana El Chiquillo made in Rancho Cordova, CA. Great group of folks making fantastic bikes here in the US of A. Sherwood knows how to weld some tubes together. His welds are beautiful and the bike is fantastic. Check them out...

Ventana USA | Custom-American Made Mountain Bikes

cheers

 

[liv2bike]

Lol, your CEL came on and you want to get rid of the truck.

I've known people who have driven a vehicle with the CEL on the entire duration of their ownership (we're talking 6 or 8 years) and never gave it a second thought. :rofl:

It is just the frustration with the repetitive nature of it.

Honestly, I am not going to dump the truck. I have just been frustrated with it coming on so frequently. That is all.