Help with Catalytic Converter failure w/out check engine light

First time here on this Forum. I've owned my taco for the last year, it's been a great relationship so far. Thanks in advance for any help.

So problems began with rattling exhaust noise which slowly got louder. Then also on steep hills on the highway, under load, when rpms reach 4 thousand I get a gas escaping sound and loss of power.

I took it to a reputable mechanic and tells me that the catalytic converter is falling apart. But because it is still performing it's function, no engine light has come on. Apparently there are pieces of the converter blocking exhaust, which only effects engine power when I'm pushing it.

Mechanic tells me that it should be covered by Toyota, but because the engine light has officially not come on, they are trying to NOT cover it.

Has anyone else experienced a similar situation? How did they deal with it? My mechanic was going to try talking to Toyota today, and if it doesn't work he recommends that I write a letter to Toyota?

Its a 2005 Access Cab 4cyl. manual trans.

Please Advise, thanks
Tomas

 

Throw seafoam through your engine, it'll clean crap out and hopefully mess up the rest of you cat. That's usually the only problem people have with seafoam so the situation you're in it may put your cat overthe edge and throw the CEL.

 

Same thing happened to me the other day. I had to take it (2007 tacoma) in for the recall notice this morning, and asked them to check it out. They called about an hour ago and said it was the catalytic converter but its covered under warranty.

 

The dealer wants a 1000 a piece for em'. 2006 taco 4.0.

Advanced auto wants 250 a piece.

What to do. I wish I new someone that would sale me a used ones.

 

Catalytic converter is covered under a federally mandated 80,000mile emissions equipment warranty. so if youre under 80k then take it to the dealer.

Print that so you have some ammo when they give you the run around about it.

http://www.epa.gov/oms/consumer/warr95fs.txt

 

Nice find!

 

It seems to me it reads that the vehicle first has to fail a federally mandated vehicle emissions inspection. That could be what Toyota is saying: since the light's not on, it passes emissions test so no defect under the emissions equipment warranty.

 

I have a 2012 Tacoma with 36k on it and just started to experience excessive exhaust noise and loss of power while going up hill without a check eng light on. Being an ex Honda technician I can tell it's excessive back pressure on the engine causing exhaust leaks at higher RPM's. Going to take it to the dealership to see what they come up with.

 

If you want to get a CEL Unplug the rear O2 Sensor on the side giving you trouble. That will give you a proper CEL and just plug it back in just before you get to the dealership.

 

Sure...that'll show an 02 sensor code but once Toyota looks at the codes, clears the codes, and run some tests...they won't be able to duplicate the error.

 

All well and good, but some are lazy and will not do further testing. If they are in a state that doesn't have smog test they may not even have the equipment to test. Hey its a shot. Worst that could happen is they say no. Eh.

 

Good thing I speak dealership lingo, I know that Toyota like Honda, takes customer complaints seriously. Any negative contact to Customer Care does have negative impacts on the individual dealership. I usually play the loyalty card due to the fact that this is my 4th Tacoma, 1 Tundra, and 1 Sequoia. Great products, I have never had any major problems at such low miles.

 

8 yr 80k mi warranty from the feds for emissions.

OP you are SOL. luckily you are NOT in CA and can order aftermarket cats at pennys on the dollar compared to OEM ones.