Holy crap... $6,000 in repairs

[Sisente]

A friend of mine has a 2000, 2wd drive runner, with over 260k miles. He has had the check engine+Vsc trac/Vsc off lights for a while, and spent some pretty good money trying to get it fixed. After spending time and money, he gave up and took it to the stealers hip. They quoted him $6,172 to fix everything. It drives fine, but due to the check engine, won't pass inspection. Sux....

 

[Park]

A friend of mine has a 2000, 2wd drive runner, with over 260k miles. He has had the check engine+Vsc trac/Vsc off lights for a while, and spent some pretty good money trying to get it fixed. After spending time and money, he gave up and took it to the stealers hip. They quoted him $6,172 to fix everything. It drives fine, but due to the check engine, won't pass inspection. Sux....

Does the CEL come on immediately? If not tell your buddy to pick up a scantron and then have hime reset the computer right before getting the inspection. Or you can just unplug the battery.

 

[dmauldin]

Are catalytic converters the biggest part of that repair by chance?

If so, do some research on Walker cats. $386, 9 bolts and about an hour under the truck for me.

I had a similar freak out moment a couple months ago on my '01...

 

[Sisente]

Not sure. Haven't seen the paperwork, but I'll ask him for it. Thanks for the info.

 

[Sisente]

Does the CEL come on immediately? If not tell your buddy to pick up a scantron and then have hime reset the computer right before getting the inspection. Or you can just unplug the battery.

Most places can read that the computer has been reset, and will not inspect until you put 100 miles or more post-reset. At least they do here in Austin.

 

[hearno]

Yea, the computer has to reset to readiness. That way, if there is an actual fault, it will have time to come back after you clear it.

 

[Bigshankhank]

So what is it that the ECU is telling him? What is wrong? I've been through the same thing in Texas with my 96 Avalon and was usually able to replace an O2 sensor or evap device and get the engine light to clear long enough to pass inspection. It may only take a month or two and it comes back on, but the sticker is good for another year.

 

[Sisente]

Catalytic converters is one of the things on the list. He is going to take it to a recommended place and see about getting the cats done.

 

[Blue Seat Lyfe]

Sure am glad we dont have stupid inspections in Florida.

 

[dmauldin]

Cats were $4,200 on my "OMG" list. Was the stealership in Round Rock, by chance?

I've had the Walker cats on for a couple months with no problem.

Good luck with the rest!

I'm in Georgetown and would be willing to help if you want to order the parts from Amazon.

 

[MStudt]

All these posts and not a single person is asking what code(s) it's throwing?

The VSC and Trac Off lights are only triggered by a few things. All of which can be replaced on your own. I'm going to take a wild guess here, and say maybe P0442 is your code? If this is the case than it can any of the following:

Cats
O2 Sensors
Fuel Cap
Carbon Canister

 

[Sisente]

All these posts and not a single person is asking what codes it's throwing?

The VSC and Trac Off lights are only triggered by a few things. All of which can be replaced on your own. I'm going to take a wild guess here, and say maybe P0442 is your code? If this is the case than it can any of the following:

Cats
O2 Sensors
Fuel Cap
Carbon Canister

The issue has been going on for a while. Long before he and I began discussing it. He is not a mechanically savvy, so he has always taken it to different mechanics. The first attempts, he put about $1K into replacing all of the O2 sensors. Since the inspection is getting closer, he finally gave up and took it to the stealership. I haven't see the paperwork yet.

What I know has been done.
Fuel Cap
O2 sensors
Carbon canister

What I know has not been done
Cats

 

[MStudt]

The issue has been going on for a while. Long before he and I began discussing it. He is not a mechanically savvy, so he has always taken it to different mechanics. The first attempts, he put about $1K into replacing all of the O2 sensors. Since the inspection is getting closer, he finally gave up and took it to the stealership. I haven't see the paperwork yet.

What I know has been done.
Fuel Cap
O2 sensors
Carbon canister

What I know has not been done
Cats

These codes come and go all the time. I had P0442 come up on mine 3 years, replaced the gas cap, and it didn't come back until last month. This can be a vacuum leak from the exhaust system as well. Chances are it's something to do with emissions, but kind of hard to pinpoint without a code.

 

[KidVermicious]

Toyota charges a long dollar for OEM cats. They're extremely good cats, which is why they cost so much and why they get ripped off all the time, but if cats are the problem and he doesn't wanna fix it himself, send him to a muffler shop instead of the dealer.

 

[Bigshankhank]

All these posts and not a single person is asking what code(s) it's throwing?

Hmmph, see my post above yours...

Its remarkable that his mechanic spent over $1k of his customer's money and failed to diagnose this. Charcoal canister and evap stuff would be a different code than an O2 sensor, and the canister and evap switches can actually be tested to determine if they are still functional (simple vacuum testing you can do with a straw and your own mouth). Almost seems like Mr Mechanic was hoping to sell this guy an entire new emissions systems...

Also, as a piece of advice for your friend, and this is something I have striven to teach my kids who have grown up watching Dear Old Dad keep cars well beyond 250k miles; its not economical to drive an high mileage car if you don't know how to work on them yourself so don't go out and buy that hipster VW Type II notchback and think it'll just run run run forever. If you're not mechanically inclined, don't buy an old car.

 

[Bigshankhank]

Sure am glad we dont have stupid inspections in Florida.

Honestly having lived in Texas and been through it, I would prefer to have state inspections. I see too many dangerous vehicles on the road, blacked out head/taillights, obscured plates, train horns, blowing smoke etc al down here in Florida. Not that inspectors catch all of it, but they sure as hell help to keep the roads clear of deathtraps.

That being said, the whole CEL means FAIL is bullshit, but it is what it is...

 

[Sisente]

Had a conversation (over text) with my friend. He took his runner to someone he trusts, and was told that even if he did 1/2 the work himself, the cost for the needed repairs is going to run close to 3k. Given it is only 2 wheel drive, the resale is not quite as high. He has decided he is going to get a 4x4 sequoia. He recently added another kid to the family. (Total 3 now) and needs/wants the space. Not sure what he will do with the runner. Blue book is about 5k, but with the needed repairs, not sure what he can get.