Quick advice, please: scant Service record

[Tom P.]

Friend Josh pointed me to a 2000 T4R, 193K mi., 4x4, manual. Ad says "need two O2 sensors." I looked up the VIN on the Toyota Owners site. No past service record but the following two. Please give me your advice. Thanks!

First Dealership -
11/17/2011 PERFORMANCE C/S CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON ? PULLED CODE PO135 AND P0141 HEATER MALFUNCTION

11/17/2011 DRIVEABILITY CUSTOMER HAD CATALYTIC CONVERTOR REPLACED AND THERE IS EXHAUST LEAK WHERE THEY WELDED MISSING WELD ON TOP, REPLACE 2 OXYGEN SENSORS ALL
PARTS
SENSOR, OXYGEN TO8946580035 1
SENSOR,OXYGEN TO8946539855 1

Second Dealership -
11/29/2011 *** OPCODE NOT ON REPORT *** C/S CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON; WENT TO NORTH TOYOTA STORE AND THEY REPLACE TWO OXYGEN SENSOR DID NOT REPAIR VEHICLE; SO THEY PUT BACK OLD ONES AND REFUNDED CUSTOMERS MONEY

BRAKE LININGS AT THIS TIME ARE G PERFORM A 27 POINT INSPECTION FO R THE CUSTOMER

RTIRE 11/29/2011 TIRE TREAD DEPTH READINGS ARE VE PERFORM A 27 POINT INSPECTION FO R THE CUSTOMER

GBATT 11/29/2011 BATTERY TEST AT THIS TIME REVEAL PERFORM A 27 POINT INSPECTION FO R THE CUSTOMER

MULTI-A 11/29/2011 PERFORM A 27 POINT INSPECTION FO PERFORM A 27 POINT INSPECTION FO R THE CUSTOMER

DIAG 11/29/2011 VEHICLE DIAGNOSIS FEE

DSEX 11/29/2011 RECOMMENDED SERVICE - EXHAUST SY RECOMMENDED SERVICE - CATALYTIC CONVERTER SYSTEM WITH BOTH OXYGEN SENSORS

DSEX 11/29/2011 RECOMMENDED SERVICE - EXHAUST SY RECOMMENDED SERVICE - AIR FILTER

DSEX 11/29/2011 RECOMMENDED SERVICE - EXHAUST SY RECOMMENDED SERVICE - TIRES

DSEX 11/29/2011 RECOMMENDED SERVICE - EXHAUST SY RECOMMENDED SERVICE - OIL LEAK

 

[broncosi]

I love how the second dealership recommended that the cat be replaced when it had been replaced already, 11 days earlier. I would test for exhaust leaks but would have also left the 2 new O2 sensors in, instead of removing them. Get it up on a lift and check the piping from the headers down to the tail pipe. That's just me though and I'm no expert. I'm sure someone else will chime in.

 

[Stick Figure]

11/17/2011 DRIVEABILITY CUSTOMER HAD CATALYTIC CONVERTOR REPLACED AND THERE IS EXHAUST LEAK WHERE THEY WELDED MISSING WELD ON TOP, REPLACE 2 OXYGEN SENSORS ALL
PARTS

Two things here, one an exhaust leak itself can cause issues with the codes, two if there is a weld from an aftermarket shop putting a cat in, that means its a universal POS which may not be keeping the o2's happy.

That usually will cause a different code though. The heater codes could simply be that they heaters are not getting power, and I don't have time this morning to pull the diagram to see what else is in line with those to check.

 

[JayRolla]

Two things here, one an exhaust leak itself can cause issues with the codes, two if there is a weld from an aftermarket shop putting a cat in, that means its a universal POS which may not be keeping the o2's happy.

That usually will cause a different code though. The heater codes could simply be that they heaters are not getting power, and I don't have time this morning to pull the diagram to see what else is in line with those to check.

You can take you cat out and be fine. And aftermarket cat won't change the afr reading too the o2s.

 

[PitbullRescuer]

You can do the O2 sensors for about $200 yourself. Exhaust leak shouldn't be a biggie.

I'm guessing both dealers were hammering him on these repairs, hence why he's selling it instead of fixing it. Use that to your advantage.

 

[BrianSD_42]

You can take you cat out and be fine. And aftermarket cat won't change the afr reading too the o2s.

If this is statement is correct then why is that SO MANY members who replace their cats with cheaper aftermarket ones get a code w/in weeks.

Perhaps I don't understand but I took your statement to imply that aftermarket CATs won't cause problems.


:guitar2:

 

[TheDurk]

If this is statement is correct then why is that SO MANY members who replace their cats with cheaper aftermarket ones get a code w/in weeks.

Perhaps I don't understand but I took your statement to imply that aftermarket CATs won't cause problems.


:guitar2:

He is correct in that the Air/Fuel ratio is set by the pre-cat sensor and the truck will run fine cat-less. He did not say there would not be a P0420 thrown. In his view, I guess, a lit MIL is a tolerable trade-off. Certainly not the case for those of us in emission controlled areas and a concern for anyone as other, more serious faults may go uncorrected.

Plus the issue of polluting the air we all breathe.

 

[Tom P.]

Could the catalytic converter be bad, and how much would that cost to fix? Anything else that could happen from two O2 sensors being 'bad' and new ones not fixing the problem?

I'm going to take a look at it soon, give it a drive, and see if anything else catches my eye.
Thanks!
Tom