Sulfur Smell after TSB performed

[WhiteSE]

Hello all,

I know this topic will never end. but Im in a pickle with Toyota Motor Co. and their dealerships. Ive been searching this forum and others but have yet to find any solutions to my problen. I need as much help as possible.

I've had the TSB done on my 05 SE two months ago. just recently I've started getting the same smell as if the TSB was never performed. I went back to the dealership who replaced the exhaust and they told me that there is nothing further they can do for me. Since they have already performed the repair under the TSB, they will not perform another. The Service Advisor Manager advised that i complain to Toytoa Motor Co.

Has anyone had the similar problem? If so what did you do to fix it

Thanks in advance,

 

[toto]

For that TSB, they replace the catalytic converter(s) with ones specially designed for lower odor. These low-odor cats are not standard on the assembly line - they're reserved for the TSB for when people complain. (That implies that they are more expensive than the factory parts!)

If you aren't satisfied with the factory cats or the TSB cats, then the dealer probably has no idea what to do next.

You probably should contact Toyota corporate and discuss it. Get the paperwork from the repair and let them help you verify that the dealer did in fact use the correct cats for the job - the special parts for the TSB, and not the factory parts.

I've only got the TSB's for 2006 handy - here are the part numbers. Both engines have 2 cats in 2006.

V6 Engine:
Factory - 17410-31450, 17450-31030
TSB Low Odor - 17410-31600, 17450-31060

V8 Engine:
Factory - 17410-50450, 17450-50121
TSB Low Odor - 17410-50490, 17450-50131

 

[sharp4runr]

Yeah my truck has the Sulfur TSB done and it still has some of the smell some of the time. It is no where near as bad as it was before the TSB was done though.

It is an otherwise great truck so I'll put up with it. To be honest, I haven't smelled it in a while either.

Oh yeah, did the fully do the TSB? Others have mentioned that the dealer will flash the ECU only to see if that fixes the problem first, before replacing the CATs. Then if you come back and say it is the same, only then will they order the CATs and do the TSB the right way.

 

[WhiteSE]

The smell is just as bad as it was before the TSB was done. I will go back to the dealer and ask for the paperwork and what was done. I'll double check on the ECU reflash.

If all work was done correctly, then i guess im gonna have to try and get a petition going, so Toyota will look into the problem.

i love the car, especially here in socal, to have the back window down was a major reason way i purchased the car. But to not be able to use that function without feelin sick kinda sucks.

well thanks for the response guys.

 

[00328]

Like sharp4runr, I also had the TSB done and although it is 10X better than what it was, I still get a little stink now and again. It's liveable.

 

[biglatka]

i love the car, especially here in socal, to have the back window down was a major reason way i purchased the car. But to not be able to use that function without feelin sick kinda sucks.

well thanks for the response guys.

If you drive with the back window down you're going to get the odor. It's just Physics, you're creating a vacuum at the back of your truck as you move forward. The air molecules (including exhaust) are rushing in to feel the space (from high pressure to lower pressure). Racecar drivers utilize this phenomenon when they "draft".

 

[00328]

The whole point is, we shouldn't be getting the sulfer smell period! Doesn't matter if the rear window is up or down.

 

[biglatka]

The whole point is, we shouldn't be getting the sulfer smell period! Doesn't matter if the rear window is up or down.

You're asking for the impossible then, unless you drastically change the chemistry of the fuel being used. In either case you're still getting carbon monoxide (which is odorless) sucked into the truck, and that is probably what gets most people sick. The rotten egg odor just stinks and a catalytic converter that could prevent that odor (with the window open) would either be prohibitively expensive or be so restrictive that you wouldn't want it anyway. Maybe with E85 fuel this all becomes a moot point, but the carbon monoxide is probably still there. Please don't shoot the messenger!

 

[00328]

You're asking for the impossible then, unless you drastically change the chemistry of the fuel being used. In either case you're still getting carbon monoxide (which is odorless) sucked into the truck, and that is probably what gets most people sick. The rotten egg odor just stinks and a catalytic converter that could prevent that odor (with the window open) would either be prohibitively expensive or be so restrictive that you wouldn't want it anyway. Maybe with E85 fuel this all becomes a moot point, but the carbon monoxide is probably still there. Please don't shoot the messenger!

I understand what you are saying and have no intention of taking it out on the messenger. All I'm saying is that most vehicles on the road don't put out the sulfur stink that the 4R does, what makes the 4R different and why can't Toyota figure this out?
BTW - I don't think the 4R is set up to run on E85.

 

[WhiteSE]

the point is that the car shouldn't be making the smell. and like i said the smell is just as bad as before the TSB was preformed.

has anyone heard of the current tacomas getting this sulfur smell. i mean, arent their a lot of similarities with the tacomas and the 4runners. i guess i'll have to do some part number matching between the two models. if there is no solution then im gonna have to get rid of the car

thanks again everyone

 

[BC4Runner]

the point is that the car shouldn't be making the smell. and like i said the smell is just as bad as before the TSB was preformed.

has anyone heard of the current tacomas getting this sulfur smell. i mean, arent their a lot of similarities with the tacomas and the 4runners. i guess i'll have to do some part number matching between the two models. if there is no solution then im gonna have to get rid of the car

thanks again everyone

While I haven't had this problem with mine and I do drive with the rear window down sometimes, I wonder how far you'll get with Toyota as the owners manual clearly states not to drive with the rear window down while the vehicle is in motion.

 

[sharp4runr]

While I haven't had this problem with mine and I do drive with the rear window down sometimes, I wonder how far you'll get with Toyota as the owners manual clearly states not to drive with the rear window down while the vehicle is in motion.

On mine, the smell came with all the windows up. It didn't matter at all what the window configuration was. There are actually vents in the rear wheel well area, and it seems that is where the fart smell is permeating through...

 

[biglatka]

I think all 4Runners have this odor problem to some degree or another. I believe the odor problem is a product of the fuel composition, how it's burned, and how well the catalytic converter removes most of the sulfur. In my 4Runner I rarely smell the odor if the back window is up but its down, especially under hard acceleration, it really begins to stink in the truck.

There are vents in the rear that probably can suck in some exhaust, but because of their location not be to same degree as when the window is down.

So I guess Toyota has been able to reduce the odor enough in many 4Runners with the ECU flash and catalytic converter swap, but asking them to eliminate it entirely when you ride with the back window down is probably more than they can do or want to spend to fix the problem. Some owners on this forum have minimized the odor by experimenting with switching brands of gas. I sympathize with the problem but I think you

 

[WhiteSE]

While I haven't had this problem with mine and I do drive with the rear window down sometimes, I wonder how far you'll get with Toyota as the owners manual clearly states not to drive with the rear window down while the vehicle is in motion.

sorry guys, i wasn't aware of this in the manual. but still upsetting to purchase the and not be able to use everything the car has to offer. well, it wont hurt to try to dispute this with Toyota Motor Co.

 

[00328]

It does state in the owners manual not to drive with the window down. I think that is more about the carbon monoxide being drawn in rather than the sulfur smell.

I believe that Toyota puts this in the manual to do nothing more than to cover their ass. Some people just do not use common sense. If you drive with the rear window down and all your other windows up, then yes, you probably will have a problem because you will be drawing in carbon monoxide. If you drive with the rear window down and your front windows down then it is not even an issue.
Rear window up or down, different makes of gas, it shouldn't matter. The 4R still should NOT be putting out the sulfur smell!

 

[Scuba4Runner]

I'm going to have the TSB done for the sulfur smell next week. I have an 06 Sport V8. I'll let you guys know if I notice any smell once the TSB is complete.

 

[ThatsRicci]

I believe that Toyota puts this in the manual to do nothing more than to cover their ass. Some people just do not use common sense. If you drive with the rear window down and all your other windows up, then yes, you probably will have a problem because you will be drawing in carbon monoxide. If you drive with the rear window down and your front windows down then it is not even an issue.

it would seem so, huh?

Next time you go driving try different configuration of open/closed windows and feel the differences of air flowing through the car (especially when changing configurations). I recommend putting a balloon in your car when you do this so you can actually see what direction the air is flowing.
tie it to the center console, or shifter and watch where it moves.


I think you will be surprised to see you may not get the results you expect!

 

[WhiteSE]

well spoke with the dealership today in regards to the ECU. They told me they did that during replacement of the original exhaust. as for driving with the passengers windows up and down. i still smell the sulfur either way. im just upset at the fact that i like to drive the car with all the windows down, but i cant cuz i have to deal with the smell. to purchase a product from a well known and respectable company such as Toyota Motor Co. and not be able to have the problem fixed is just really dissapointing. well, all that i can do now is write Toyota Motor Co a letter of complaint and hope for the best. More than likely i would get the run around from them like the dealership, but cant hurt to try.

Thanks again everyone!