P0430 and P0420 at the same time!

[Runner4u]

Took my 2003 4runner to dealer for CEL, vsc trac and vsc off lights. All on at same time. Was told it was a code P0420 and that I needed a new cat converter.

Took the vehicle to another dealer and was told it was a code P0430 and that I needed a new cat converter in Bank 2.

I'm confused. Do I have a bad cat? Do I have TWO bad cats? The 2nd dealer doesn't know I got a P0420 code from the first dealer.

Vehicle now has 82000 miles, so we're beyond the emissions warranty.

First dealer quoted $1600 to fix the P0420 code. Second dealer quoted $1200 to fixe the P0430 code and were willing to give me a $500 credit since I'm so close to the warranty deadline. But if I go with dealer #2, will I still have a problem from the P0240 code at the first dealer and end up needed a second cat replaced?

What caused the cat (or cats) to go bad. Car has been well maintained always and now suddenly I have a bad cat (or two?)!

Any help is appreciated!

 

[atomicbob]

Dealers are quick to solve the headache by cutting off the head. Before you swap out your cat(s) make sure you find out what caused the cat to fail in the first place. Cats rarely fail on their own.

All Catalytic Converters - Catalytic Converter Failure

 

[playtimeover]

Hi atomicbob. I agree. That's totally and absolutely right.

 

[Runner4u]

P0420 or P0430: Which is it!!

Well, the saga continues. The first dealer tells me the scanner indicates
P0420 (cat/Bank 1). Second dealer scans and gets a P0430 (cat/bank 2). Second dealer never does get a P0420 -- we had him do the scan twice a few weeks apart to be sure. Does it makes sense that we could get 2 different codes like this from 2 different dealers? How many "bad" cats do I have?!

 

[Acidmeld]

You seem to have two bad cats. The bank 2 cat is just more degraded than bank 1 and showing its failure more consistantly. Which one failed first doesnt really make any difference. Fix bank 2 to get rid of the 430 code but bank 1 will fail again sooner or later. If they give u a discount to do both banks take it.

 

[fivegear]

Don't forget you can get a bad cat error from other issues, it can sometimes be a bad reading from an O2 sensor. It can also be as simple as a sticking PCV valve or a leak in the exhaust system between O2 sensors. There is no sensor in the cat, the system is comparing readings from the O2 sensors to determine what it sees as a bad cat.

 

[Runner4u]

Update: I had the 4runner back up to the dealer for an unrelated matter and asked them to check the codes again, since I had previously gotten a P0420 from them and a P0430 from the other dealer. Now suddenly the tell me the original P0420 is not showing up. Instead we have a C1336, zero point calib. They did the zero point calib. This was a week ago and so far no lights have come on. Any thoughts? Is it over? Thanks!

 

[Acidmeld]

Could have been bad gas...