NW WA Meet / BS Thread

Haha I'm gonna do that to people n not tell em

 

So my 99 Tacoma got a P0420 code. I will need to clean my catalytic converters.

 

It looks like there are a few possible issues for a P0420 code.

•Leaded fuel was used where unleaded was called for
•A damaged or failed oxygen sensor (HO2S)
•Downstream oxygen sensor (HO2S) wiring damaged or connected improperly
•The engine coolant temperature sensor is not working properly
•Damaged or leaking exhaust manifold / catalytic converter / muffler / exhaust pipe
•Retarded spark timing
•The oxygen sensors in front and behind the converter are reporting too similar of readings
•Leaking fuel injector or high fuel pressure
•Cylinder misfire
•Oil contamination

 

Hahahahahaha. Andrew. That's the funniest thing I've seen this week. I couldn't help but watch the whole thing.

That would be a great practical joke.

 

I found several YouTube videos where you soak your converter overnight in dishsoap and water. It cleans them right up.

 

Jose, have you thought about using seafoam to help clean out your motor to help keep it cleaner before getting to the cat? I have used seafoam on a few different cars, and everybody that had it done noticed a difference afterward. figure to do it right, you need 2 full cans of seafoam, and it is helpful to also have seafoam deep creep. the deep creep is good for cleaning out your air plenum. it is an aerosol spray. take your air intake off enough to get a the throttle body, open the throttle body by hand and liberally spray inside as much as you can reach. let it sit for 15 minutes as you put your air intake back together, then start the truck up. when i do seafoam, i pour a full can into the gas tank (using a funnel, because the cans are pretty horrible to try and pour directly in). make sure you are getting low on gas, but not out to get the maximum benefit of it. on the can, it says how much to use to pour into your oil, as i recall, it is about 2/3 of a can. if you put seafoam into your oil, again use a funnel. also make sure your truck is cold. pouring cold, or even room temperature flammable liquid into a hot engine can cause a fire (not so likely), but can go to cause anything it touches going down to rapidly cool down, which can lead to warping or cracking of some internals. once you pour seafoam into your oil, drive your truck 100-250 miles before an oil change. doesn't have to be one trip. this stuff in your oil pulls a lot of crap loose, and works your oil filter hard. depending on how dirty inside your motor is determines how much crap this stuff pulls out and how fast it plugs up your oil filter. when you do this oil change, it should be some nasty black sludge coming out, worse than normal. the last little bit of seafoam left goes good to clean out your head. you will want a friend to help out on this one. find a good vacuum line from the head, and take the hose loose from the end away from the motor, so you end up with an open vacuum line going to the motor. cover it with your thumb or a finger and have the friend start your truck for you. once running, have your friend keep it revved up a bit, from 2-3k rpm, then you uncover the vacuum line and slowly pour in the seafoam. if you pour too fast, the truck will choke and shut off. as you get to the very end of the seafoam, pour fast to intentionally choke the truck out. if that doesn't work, shut the truck off. let it sit 15 minutes or so, then turn the truck on. give it enough time to get the oil flowing around the motor again, and get on the gas and keep rpms up to 4-5k until the excessive smoke quits pouring out. you can also take you truck for a very spirited drive to blow the smoke out. WARNING!!!! make sure you are in a very well ventilated outdoor area when doing this. these fumes can be toxic if contained in a garage with you.

when i did this to my stepmoms car, one of the neighbors thought there was an engine fire because of all the smoke coming out.

i suppose i gave some instructions in a bad order above. here is the recap in order:
1. buy seafoam
2. pour correct amount into the oil while motor is cold
3. go to the store and buy beer
4. once back, suck seafoam into the head and choke it out
5. seafoam deep creep behind the throttle body
6. put it all back together, have a beer
7. start the truck which will run very rough at first, and let the smoke pour out.
8. whenever gas is low, pour a full can into gas tank.

 

I know my brother recently removed the oil pan and clean it out to replace the seal. I know I also have to replace the head cover gasket. I leave my old Tacoma with family for 9 years and it gets abuse.

 

Probably a good time to start discussing the Lost Corner Exploration trip. I started a thread for it here.

 

Anyone going to the 4x4 swap meet in Puyallup tomorrow?

 

I'm going in the morning, hoping to find a 4.88 v6 diff for my '87.

In the mean time, I've spent most of the day looking at front bumper pics for my Tacoma. I'm ready to pull the trigger on one, but most pics don't show close up fit and finish shots. If I'm going to drop $1K plus, I want it to look good. The Demello has my vote right now, but I hate how the end pieces fall short of coming even with the flares.

 

talk to somebody else that makes them. Tallon (55chevy05taco) has some skill in bumper making, at least for the rear. Jake (jeverich) has left several people happy with his metal work. i think it was the BS thread that somebody else found a new place in SW WA that was making front bumpers, but wasn't big yet.

 

I see this guys add on CL and called to ask if they will weld the kits together for more $$. He said they won't sell them complete. The price is decent, but I don't trust my welding to assemble one.
http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/ptd/4332341610.html

 

I see those listings all the time. Seems like a decent place to start. I heard front bumpers aren't too hard to do.

 

I'd be more than happy to work out a design with you; only downside is that I'm going to be up in Kodiak until May.

Totally understand that it's a long wait... But, I'm pretty sure we could come up with something better and a little less $$ than Demello..

Shoot me a PM if you're interested..

 

Thank you Jake! I'll send a PM when I get to my home computer. I like the NWT kits well enough, but I think it would be best to weld it together while moching it up on the truck to get the fit just right? Maybe I should buy one and have you weld/modify it with some headlight hoops like the demello?

 

For sure.. I've seen his kits, and they seem like they're a pretty good deal.

As far as fitment; I wouldn't imagine it would be overly important to weld it up on the truck - since your mounting points are already lines out with the cut bumper pieces..

Just finished up the season in the Bering Sea, buying a bender/bandsaw with the "fun" money that I've budgeted myself!

I'd definitely appreciate your business, but as I said - going to be around May!

- jake (Hold Fast Fab)

 

Hey Jake, when you get back I am hoping to have some money saved for a set of sliders. I am definitely happy with the sliders so far but they haven't gotten a good beating yet.

 

Double sliders?

Thinking skids..

 

WOW... Yes, you are very correct. I meant to say skids.

 

Sweet, I'm going, don't know what I really want/need But hoping to find something cool.