Failed inspection

I am new to this forum and just bought recently a used 2006 tacoma from a person with 118k miles. Recently I took it to get inspected and it failed the inspection. They told me it was the catalytic converters but i am being told that for that to be a problem the engine light should be on. The truck does need a oil change not severely but it does need it. I was told the previous owner could have disabled the engine light to sell it Quick. Also could it just be a bad sensor? Could it be that the need for the oil change is causing problems with the catalytic converters? Any advice on this issue? Could I just need catalytic converters even though they look okay and I don’t have any odd symptoms for them?

 

When you turn the key on (not start), does the engine light work?

 

Could have been reset (by previous power) and is in a “testing” period of some amount of miles too test if the issue was fixed... so I would put some miles on it to see if it comes back on, also try changing the O2 seniors before the cats.

 

Last time I checked I didn’t see the engine light pop up. The one that stays on right now is the tire pressure one. We already inflated the tires and for some reason it still stays on.

 

The engine light doesn't always come on for failed converters, ask me how I know (from experience).

My CEL came on one day for a P0420 code which is usually indicative of bad catalytic converters. I cleared the code and it stayed off, so I figured it was a fluke. The code stayed off for 6 months until one day I took it into Toyota for a check up on something else and they told me the cats were bad. Sure enough, about a week later the code popped up again.

If you do get new cats, go with Magnaflow. I got 2 new Magnaflow CARB approved cats installed for $675 at a muffler shop. Toyota wanted $3600 for 2 new OEM cats installed, no thank you.

 

Also, sometime the code won't set off a check engine light but it will set off a "pending code", which you can only read with a code reader. Mine was a pending code for a long time before it turned into an actual code (check engine light).

 

You have to manually reset it. Look under the steering wheel at the end of the dash, I’ll go grab a pick for you

 

Right here

 

I also wanted to add that even when I start the truck the engine light never pops up

 

Yea i already tried resetting it and it doesn’t dissapear

 

The builb has most likely been removed then

 

Could be a faulty sensor

 

Yea I started thinking the previous owner removed it to sell it quick, ugh this sucks

 

Yeah sorry, at least you came to the right place to learn how to take you dash apart too

 

Alrighty thank you

 

No prob any time

 

Sad if you got ripped off. People suck!

On the bright side, you got a whole site full of members that won’t rip you off ( the tenured members).

 

Any tire shop can reset your tire pressure sensors if they're good. You can also buy new ones.

Go to an auto parts store and ask them to read your codes. It's a free service. That's your starting point on the cat issue.

 

Let us know how it goes. There are a lot of good folks on here willing to give good advice.

Also, please go to the top right and click on thread tools. Change the title to failed inspection.

We reserve "need help" for those who are stranded and need someone to come help them.

Thank you, and welcome to the family.