Help with Replacing Stolen Cat - New York

[chrismgon]

Hi all,

Spent about a day going through this awesome forum searching for stolen cat and replacement advice. Also online for repair manuals. Seems like a simple job. Geico is making me pay $700 out of pocket so I say screw them I'll do it myself and cancel Geico after my 6 month period is over.

FYI, Pipes were cut.

My questions are, especially if you are from New York or have similar emission laws:

- What is the cheapest Cat Converter I can buy and still pass the inspection?
- Might as well replace muffler, found this page with cheap options for mufflers. Look okay?
Catalytic Converter - Catalytic Convereter | E-Catalytic Converter -
- How many O2 sensors do I need, 1 or 2 for a SR5 Standard V6?
- Do I need any electronic tools after installing sensors or is it plug and play?

If anyone has done this job and has tips for me I'd greatly appreciate!

Thanks very much!
Chris

 

[Pikeman]

Well there are a few varialbes here. What year vehicle? Is it a CA model or a 48 state model? You can tell the second by looking at your emissions tag under the hood. That should also give you a routing diagram to include how many O2 sensors you have. I know most if not all of ours ran 2 sensors. One pre-cat and one after. Some people have gone with the Magnaflow cat and ended up throwing codes, however I am partly inclined to think it takes a little time to burn the Cat in and most have said it stops giving codes after a while. This would confirm the, it needs time to burn in theory. Walker Dynomax also makes replacement Cats and are usually a good product. Most will however tell you pay the big money for Toyota cats due to previously mentioned issue.

O2 Sensors- stick with Denso and get direct fit OEM replacement line instead of the universal ones. Stay away from Bosch products on our trucks as Toyotas just simply dont like them at all.

 

[bikerjosh]

Speaking of cats

I just replaced a magnaflow cat that was a 49 state but wasn't clean enough, put in a Walker (can be had for as cheap as $150 universal weld in, online) and passed. Not sure how strict NY's emissions laws are but I live in the land of the CARB ogres and it sucks big time.
josh

 

[Pikeman]

Bikerjosh- is your 4Runner a CA model or the 49 state? I really dont think they would change the computer programming but I think it is more in the material or design of the CAT. Also I may be mistaken but I believe most CA models had dual cats. I know the 01-02 all had dual CATS. Both Magnaflow and Walker make 49 state and CA specific models.

 

[chrismgon]

It is a 1997 SR5, not Limited.

I'll have to look at emissions tag but I am pretty sure it is the 48 state.

I'll take a look at the Walker Dynomax cats thanks.

How about in regards to plug and play with new o2 sensors?

Anyone have knowledge of Eastern Cat Converters? Found a direct fit for $192 on RockAuto.com

Chris

 

[TheDurk]

It is a 1997 SR5, not Limited.

I'll have to look at emissions tag but I am pretty sure it is the 48 state.

I'll take a look at the Walker Dynomax cats thanks.

How about in regards to plug and play with new o2 sensors?

Chris

'97 models pre-date the Cali. silliness; you have a single-cat 50-state exhaust and it uses two O2 sensors.

I don't know what you mean by 'plug and play'. The Denso aftermarket sensors (identical to OEM) you want are direct fit, which means just plug them in to the harness and bolt them up to the pipe. They also make universal fit that you have to reuse the old plug and solder it to the wires of the new one.

 

[bikerjosh]

Bikerjosh- is your 4Runner a CA model or the 49 state? I really dont think they would change the computer programming but I think it is more in the material or design of the CAT. Also I may be mistaken but I believe most CA models had dual cats. I know the 01-02 all had dual CATS. Both Magnaflow and Walker make 49 state and CA specific models.

Yep, the 4runner was originally sold in AZ. 1998 single cat, two 02 sensors and a wide band for the AFR guage in the cabin. Got the Cali model, then had to prove that it was the right one by bringing in the page from CARBs website, for the muffler guy and the smog guy.
Josh

 

[chrismgon]

'97 models pre-date the Cali. silliness; you have a single-cat 50-state exhaust and it uses two O2 sensors.

I don't know what you mean by 'plug and play'. The Denso aftermarket sensors (identical to OEM) you want are direct fit, which means just plug them in to the harness and bolt them up to the pipe. They also make universal fit that you have to reuse the old plug and solder it to the wires of the new one.

Hi Durk,

By plug and play I mean just connecting the new sensors in the right place and not needing any electronic equipment to program or read codes etc..

 

[TheDurk]

Hi Durk,

By plug and play I mean just connecting the new sensors in the right place and not needing any electronic equipment to program or read codes etc..

Ok, so they are 'plug'n'play. If you have a lit MIL(aka CEL), just pull the battery negative cable for a minute or so to reset the ECM and clear the code(s). They should actually clear themselves, but it can take quite a while.

 

[JohnsD90]

Ok, so they are 'plug'n'play. If you have a lit MIL(aka CEL), just pull the battery negative cable for a minute or so to reset the ECM and clear the code(s). They should actually clear themselves, but it can take quite a while.

Gotta give it atleast a couple miles before you get it sniffed, you can fail the NY emmisions test if the car was reset too soon to test, i know i was sweating it out when i got mine sniffed, cause if not i couldnt get it tested in CT (long story).

 

[chrismgon]

After alot more research, I managed to put together a list of items for under $400.

If you know the parts I need, or if you could take a quick look to see if I missed anything, it would really help.

Just a reminder.
1997 4Runner SR5 V6 Engine
Cat Stolen, cut pipes, so seems easier for me to replace with a full direct fit Cat and Muffler replacement to avoid welding.

I have attached a screenshot of the list of items. Just not sure how it will work with a Walker Muffler and Eastern Cat, hopefully everything bolts onto each other since it is direct oem fit? Also ordered gaskets as needed.

Now that I think about it, sounds like these parts do not come with nuts/bolts and those are gone so might have to order as well.

Also, From the images I see of the Cat's, I only notice 1 place where the O2 sensor could go. Is the other sensor on the Muffler pipe aka After the Cat? I have not had a chance to get to the car (parked in a garage) but will double check about the sensor from under the hood as mentioned.

Thanks again for all your help! I hope to get this sorted asap so I can let Geico know to drop the claim.

FYI, parts are from http://www.rockauto.com

Chris

 

[chrismgon]

anyone? :moping:

 

[Hollis]

anyone? :moping:

Man, I wish someone knew about the Eastern, My Cat was Jacked last night.

 

[DEKA3]

Sorry to hear about the jerk-off that stole your cat. Hope you got your problem fixed!

What part of NY are you in?

Hi all,

Spent about a day going through this awesome forum searching for stolen cat and replacement advice. Also online for repair manuals. Seems like a simple job. Geico is making me pay $700 out of pocket so I say screw them I'll do it myself and cancel Geico after my 6 month period is over.

FYI, Pipes were cut.

My questions are, especially if you are from New York or have similar emission laws:

- What is the cheapest Cat Converter I can buy and still pass the inspection?
- Might as well replace muffler, found this page with cheap options for mufflers. Look okay?
Catalytic Converter - Catalytic Convereter | E-Catalytic Converter -
- How many O2 sensors do I need, 1 or 2 for a SR5 Standard V6?
- Do I need any electronic tools after installing sensors or is it plug and play?

If anyone has done this job and has tips for me I'd greatly appreciate!

Thanks very much!
Chris

 

[Singtoe]

I have a complete used OEM Cat with o2 sensor. Just bolt on. No welding, no cutting or clamping. $100

 

[chrismgon]

Im in Queens.

Singtoe, thanks but already got all the parts.

It took me a long time, especially to get damn 14 year old rusted nuts off out of a tight spot. Used Impact Wrench and Liquid Wrench and finally had to go buy Damaged Bolt Removers from Crafstman. Came out! Removing the old parts also required sawing off pipe due to badly, i mean badly rusted bolts that were no longer bolts.

Installed an Eastern Catalytic Converter, Walker Muffler, and Bosal Tail Pipe today, went to dealer to pickup some bolts/nuts to replaced stripped ones.

Sensors were never taken fyi, so bought new gaskets and reused them.

Started the car up, sounds purrry again, not like a Harley. No Check Engine light so far, smells like burning though, probably cause of the new stuff?

I turned it on, let it run for a few minutes, and off again. Did that a few times. Noticed that on one of those times, it would not start so easily unless I gave it a bit of gas (never had to do that before). then it went back to normal after doing the same thing a few more times.

Did not ride it yet, want to see how it starts up in the morning.

Wish me luck! I plan on taking to Meineke tomorrow AM just to have a look over.

This was a great learning experiencing in wrenching, however, if I had the money, I'd have it done professionally. Just no $$$ for that these days. Hope I do not regret it. All in all, Muffler/Tail Pipe/Cat and misc gaskets/bolts/nuts came out to just about $400. Geico quoted me $700 to fix. Maybe I should have gone OEM for the extra $300, but like I said, great learning experience. Frustrating, but learned alot and should help in the long run.

 

[heykathy]

Lessons learned

See my thread - catalytic converter theft - lessons learned.

 

[DEKA3]

Glad to hear everything is better. Good luck with Meineke. Btw, I'm in Queens too.

Im in Queens.

Singtoe, thanks but already got all the parts.

It took me a long time, especially to get damn 14 year old rusted nuts off out of a tight spot. Used Impact Wrench and Liquid Wrench and finally had to go buy Damaged Bolt Removers from Crafstman. Came out! Removing the old parts also required sawing off pipe due to badly, i mean badly rusted bolts that were no longer bolts.

Installed an Eastern Catalytic Converter, Walker Muffler, and Bosal Tail Pipe today, went to dealer to pickup some bolts/nuts to replaced stripped ones.

Sensors were never taken fyi, so bought new gaskets and reused them.

Started the car up, sounds purrry again, not like a Harley. No Check Engine light so far, smells like burning though, probably cause of the new stuff?

I turned it on, let it run for a few minutes, and off again. Did that a few times. Noticed that on one of those times, it would not start so easily unless I gave it a bit of gas (never had to do that before). then it went back to normal after doing the same thing a few more times.

Did not ride it yet, want to see how it starts up in the morning.

Wish me luck! I plan on taking to Meineke tomorrow AM just to have a look over.

This was a great learning experiencing in wrenching, however, if I had the money, I'd have it done professionally. Just no $$$ for that these days. Hope I do not regret it. All in all, Muffler/Tail Pipe/Cat and misc gaskets/bolts/nuts came out to just about $400. Geico quoted me $700 to fix. Maybe I should have gone OEM for the extra $300, but like I said, great learning experience. Frustrating, but learned alot and should help in the long run.

 

[Trub]

I replaced the converter on my sister-in-law's VW Passat with a Eastern and with in 3 months the Check Engine light came on due to the converter not doing it's job. In my county our emission test on 96 and up doesn't actually sniff exaust gas only checks PCM. So I put a spark plug anti-fouler on the end of the post O2 to fake out the PCM.

Hope you have a different experience.