1. Welcome to Tacoma World!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tacoma discussion topics
    • Communicate privately with other Tacoma owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site
    Quick Links: Two issues on V-6; pinging under load with 91 octane and hesitating from idle (no load). Damn, just backed into a pole - rear bumper p/n? 04 dc v6 prerunner maintenance Tranny kick down cable??? Is there a model of Brake Power Bleeder that will work on a 1997? Bilstein 5100,OME 881 w/ a spacer possible ?

Catalytic converter keep going out

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by Icefsh, Oct 31, 2015.

Page 1 of 2
  1. Oct 31, 2015 at 6:36 PM
    #1
    Icefsh

    #1
    Icefsh [OP] Member

    Joined:
    Sep 11, 2011
    Member:
    #63292
    Messages:
    18
    Gender:
    Male
    Colorado
    Vehicle:
    99 SR5
    Have a 99 3.4L. Every 2 years my cat does not pass emissions. This is the third one I have put in. Now they have been the universal kind because they are so expensive.

    The first time it went out I had the O2 sensor replaced because of a cel light. Truck has 250,000 miles and the engine runs fine. The valve cover gaskets were leaking and I just had them replaced. Any ideas?
     
    Icefsh, Oct 31, 2015
    #1
  2. Oct 31, 2015 at 6:38 PM
    #2
    Styx586

    #2
    Styx586 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Apr 13, 2011
    Member:
    #54822
    Messages:
    2,150
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Terrance
    Lake Elsinore, Ca
    Vehicle:
    2013 Tacoma DCLB TRD Sport, 2001 Tacoma TRD Off-Road
    First off, cats don't die over time. They are killed by something. Even if there isn't a CEL there is probably something going on in your engine burning up the cats. Long story short take it to a competent technician familiar with smog related engine issues and have them diagnose your problem.
     
    Styx586, Oct 31, 2015
    #2
  3. Oct 31, 2015 at 6:47 PM
    #3
    Icefsh

    #3
    Icefsh [OP] Member

    Joined:
    Sep 11, 2011
    Member:
    #63292
    Messages:
    18
    Gender:
    Male
    Colorado
    Vehicle:
    99 SR5
    The tech at the muffler shop said it looked like it might be running rich. He said that he has not seen this situation before. If no ideas come up I will take it in.
     
    Icefsh, Oct 31, 2015
    #3
  4. Oct 31, 2015 at 6:51 PM
    #4
    Styx586

    #4
    Styx586 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Apr 13, 2011
    Member:
    #54822
    Messages:
    2,150
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Terrance
    Lake Elsinore, Ca
    Vehicle:
    2013 Tacoma DCLB TRD Sport, 2001 Tacoma TRD Off-Road
    It could be running rich, or burning oil. How often do you have to top off the oil? It would be a good idea to take a look at your spark plugs as well. Do you know the last time they were replaced?
     
    Styx586, Oct 31, 2015
    #4
  5. Oct 31, 2015 at 6:55 PM
    #5
    Icefsh

    #5
    Icefsh [OP] Member

    Joined:
    Sep 11, 2011
    Member:
    #63292
    Messages:
    18
    Gender:
    Male
    Colorado
    Vehicle:
    99 SR5
    Good point on the plugs. I think they have quit a few miles on them. Burns about a quart in 5000 miles.
     
    Icefsh, Oct 31, 2015
    #5
  6. Oct 31, 2015 at 6:57 PM
    #6
    Styx586

    #6
    Styx586 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Apr 13, 2011
    Member:
    #54822
    Messages:
    2,150
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Terrance
    Lake Elsinore, Ca
    Vehicle:
    2013 Tacoma DCLB TRD Sport, 2001 Tacoma TRD Off-Road
    The spec for plugs on the 3.4 is 30k miles, if it's been longer than that I'd change them for sure. And the condition of the plugs can be a good indicator of how the engine is running.
     
    Styx586, Oct 31, 2015
    #6
  7. Oct 31, 2015 at 6:58 PM
    #7
    keakar

    #7
    keakar Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2014
    Member:
    #139537
    Messages:
    5,258
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    karl
    louisiana
    Vehicle:
    2006 4runner sport 4.7L V8 (white)
    used to have - 99 2.4L I4 5 lug & 04 prerunner v6
    there you go, burning oil and running rich because plugs are fouled. you will also need o2 sensors that the burning oil has clogged up im sure.

    and when was the last time you cleaned the MAF sensor and throttle body? check the air filter too, that's about the best you can do short of engine rebuild and/or replacement
     
    keakar, Oct 31, 2015
    #7
  8. Oct 31, 2015 at 7:07 PM
    #8
    Blkvoodoo

    #8
    Blkvoodoo a Hooka smoking caterpillar has given me the call

    Joined:
    Jul 23, 2015
    Member:
    #160098
    Messages:
    4,187
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Kevin
    Near Clayton NC
    Vehicle:
    08 PreRunner SR5 DCSB
    loosing any coolant at all ? coolant will take out a cat and an O2 sensor in short order
     
    Blkvoodoo, Oct 31, 2015
    #8
  9. Oct 31, 2015 at 7:10 PM
    #9
    Icefsh

    #9
    Icefsh [OP] Member

    Joined:
    Sep 11, 2011
    Member:
    #63292
    Messages:
    18
    Gender:
    Male
    Colorado
    Vehicle:
    99 SR5
    Well now I am embarrassed. I bet those plugs have around 100,000 miles. Air filter gets changed often. Looks like I have a little maintenance to do. Thanks for all the quick replies everyone!
     
    Icefsh, Oct 31, 2015
    #9
  10. Oct 31, 2015 at 7:13 PM
    #10
    Icefsh

    #10
    Icefsh [OP] Member

    Joined:
    Sep 11, 2011
    Member:
    #63292
    Messages:
    18
    Gender:
    Male
    Colorado
    Vehicle:
    99 SR5
    Not loosing coolant.
     
    Icefsh, Oct 31, 2015
    #10
  11. Oct 31, 2015 at 7:13 PM
    #11
    Blkvoodoo

    #11
    Blkvoodoo a Hooka smoking caterpillar has given me the call

    Joined:
    Jul 23, 2015
    Member:
    #160098
    Messages:
    4,187
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Kevin
    Near Clayton NC
    Vehicle:
    08 PreRunner SR5 DCSB
    Blkvoodoo, Oct 31, 2015
    #11
  12. Oct 31, 2015 at 7:15 PM
    #12
    Styx586

    #12
    Styx586 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Apr 13, 2011
    Member:
    #54822
    Messages:
    2,150
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Terrance
    Lake Elsinore, Ca
    Vehicle:
    2013 Tacoma DCLB TRD Sport, 2001 Tacoma TRD Off-Road
    Styx586, Oct 31, 2015
    #12
  13. Oct 31, 2015 at 7:16 PM
    #13
    Icefsh

    #13
    Icefsh [OP] Member

    Joined:
    Sep 11, 2011
    Member:
    #63292
    Messages:
    18
    Gender:
    Male
    Colorado
    Vehicle:
    99 SR5
    You guys are awesome! Love all the comments.
     
    Icefsh, Oct 31, 2015
    #13
  14. Oct 31, 2015 at 7:20 PM
    #14
    Blkvoodoo

    #14
    Blkvoodoo a Hooka smoking caterpillar has given me the call

    Joined:
    Jul 23, 2015
    Member:
    #160098
    Messages:
    4,187
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Kevin
    Near Clayton NC
    Vehicle:
    08 PreRunner SR5 DCSB
    Rock auto would be good, cheaper than dealer or parts store, and look at the picture so you know what you're supposed to be getting, I've had them send the wrong ones in the past ( pulled by item stock number not part number ordered Denso, got NGK, totally different plug )
     
    Blkvoodoo, Oct 31, 2015
    #14
  15. Oct 31, 2015 at 7:26 PM
    #15
    12TRDTacoma

    #15
    12TRDTacoma Powered by Ford, GM, VW, and Mercedes

    Joined:
    Aug 20, 2012
    Member:
    #85133
    Messages:
    16,670
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Rob
    Concordia
    Vehicle:
    12 TRD Sport DCLB 4x4 Supercharged
    Boosted
    If you are not running at 14.7 afr at cruising you will kill your cat converter sooner then later.

    Additionally, a rich situation will not kill a cat converter anywhere near as soon as a lean situation would. Fuel being dumped through the cats actually provides a cooling situation to them so I would not necessarily rule out an overly rich situation but I wouldn't be looking that way first. Oil burning would hurt the cats so hopefully you aren't burning oil.

    Fact of the matter is that universal cats are not a proper solution for a cat converter replacement when it comes down to it. On certain vehicles they sometimes don't even provide emission compliance. I know this is not what you want to hear, but if you want to do this correctly and not have to worry about it again for a while, fix the AFR issue you are having, have the shop working on your vehicle or testing it test emissions before the cats to ensure that it is within acceptable ranges (hell, it could just be a tune up you need) and replace the cat converter(s) with OE.
     
    12TRDTacoma, Oct 31, 2015
    #15
  16. Oct 31, 2015 at 7:28 PM
    #16
    amain

    #16
    amain Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 18, 2011
    Member:
    #63744
    Messages:
    162
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Brian
    Anacortes, Washington USA
    Vehicle:
    07 SC TRD FJ - The Black Lemon
    Fender Cracks
    Save your money and don't buy from Rock Auto. The use cheap generic parts and they have zero customer service. I used to support these guys and after a couple of bad experiences I would recommend anyone other than these guys.
     
    amain, Oct 31, 2015
    #16
  17. Oct 31, 2015 at 7:28 PM
    #17
    Blkvoodoo

    #17
    Blkvoodoo a Hooka smoking caterpillar has given me the call

    Joined:
    Jul 23, 2015
    Member:
    #160098
    Messages:
    4,187
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Kevin
    Near Clayton NC
    Vehicle:
    08 PreRunner SR5 DCSB
    Blkvoodoo, Oct 31, 2015
    #17
  18. Oct 31, 2015 at 7:30 PM
    #18
    Caligula

    #18
    Caligula Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 14, 2010
    Member:
    #43228
    Messages:
    2,108
    Gender:
    Male
    Los Angeles, CA
    Vehicle:
    2000 Ext. Cab Prerunner 2.7L
    Youre running rich, i dont know how, could be a chronic misfire, but id put it at 90% likely. Thats the only thing that will kill a catalytic that rapidly.
     
    Caligula, Oct 31, 2015
    #18
  19. Oct 31, 2015 at 7:31 PM
    #19
    Blkvoodoo

    #19
    Blkvoodoo a Hooka smoking caterpillar has given me the call

    Joined:
    Jul 23, 2015
    Member:
    #160098
    Messages:
    4,187
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Kevin
    Near Clayton NC
    Vehicle:
    08 PreRunner SR5 DCSB
    I can't say that, ordered radiator, was crushed in transit, new radiator next business day, no return nessesary, same with the plugs, made the call, took all of 4 minutes once I realized what had happened ( item stock number confusion )

    and they don't sell any cheaper of parts than any other parts store, and you have the choice of what you want in many cases. sometimes offering OEM manufacture parts as well ( Denso and Aisin in Toyota's case )
     
    Last edited: Oct 31, 2015
    Blkvoodoo, Oct 31, 2015
    #19
  20. Oct 31, 2015 at 7:33 PM
    #20
    Aught2TaCO

    #20
    Aught2TaCO Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 25, 2012
    Member:
    #89813
    Messages:
    388
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Troy
    Wheat Ridge, CO
    Vehicle:
    '02 Taco TRD, aka Pearly
    Billie 5100's, new leafs, Falken WILDPEAK A/T 3W, 265/75/16E
    Make sure you replace your PVC valve and grommet if you're consuming oil, they will plug up. Plus, do a Sea Foam treatment on the truck before you work on it. It will help you out with cleaning injectors, upper cylinder heads and freeing up possible sticky piston rings, because burning a quart every 5K would bother me. Just my .02cents.
     
    Aught2TaCO, Oct 31, 2015
    #20
    Blkvoodoo likes this.
Page 1 of 2

Products Discussed in

NGK Spark Plug Stock # 3967
$7.99
Denso (3194) K16TR11 Spark Plugs, Pack of 4
$17.25
To Top