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P0606 code: Engine light on, Dealer says replace entire exhaust for $7,000

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by BChops, Aug 22, 2016.

  1. Aug 22, 2016 at 12:50 PM
    #1
    BChops

    BChops [OP] Active Member

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    New to this forum and not great at fixing cars, however the quote from the dealer forced my hand on this one. Long story short: 2005, v6, 4wd, 106,000 miles.

    Toyota says the engine light was on because of an exhaust leak. They also verbally stated the O2 sensors were "fine". They determined that the entire exhaust system needed to be replaced front to back.

    "E** RECOMMED RECOMMEND COMPLETE EXHAUST INCLUDING BOTH MANIFOLDS AND O2 SENSORS. ALL TOYOTA $6758, SOME AFTERMARKET $5807 (5.0 MIN) "

    I went to a local guy to get a second opinion. He said he "scanned" it and came up with a P0606 code, which he suggested meant a bad computer. He said that needed to be replaced first by the dealer before he could diagnose any further.

    My question is: wouldn't the Toyota dealer also have come up with a P0606 BEFORE being able to determine a leaky exhaust was causing issue? Would the dealer have temporarily replaced the computer in order to get a diagnosis; and THEN determined the leaky exhaust was the issue? or do they have other ways of bypassing the bad computer to get a diagnosis?

    I crawled under the truck, and it all looks fairly solid to me, it's not like the pipes are hanging off the car or anything. I can't hear anything like a leak either. No visible holes or gaps or any of that stuff.

    I had read a previous thread that suggested that you should replace rear O2 sensors first thing as they can tend to short out and give the bad computer code.

    Anyone have a suggestion on what to do next? I was going to replace the O2 sensors at risk of that being difficult as they may be rusted in and I've never done that before but I think I can pull it off if I'm careful.

    Bottom line, I just want to pass inspection.

    Thanks if you can help.

    JF
     
  2. Aug 22, 2016 at 12:56 PM
    #2
    98tacoma27

    98tacoma27 is going full "SANDWICH" Moderator

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    Some stuff. Not a lot, just some.
    Have you tried pulling the neg battery cable to see if it resets? Usually takes a couple minutes. If it comes back on I would take it to Autozone and see if you can get a printout of the code(s). 106k and they want to replace the entire exhaust system? Sounds fishy...
     
    AdventureKid, ManBeast and bblake00 like this.
  3. Aug 22, 2016 at 1:00 PM
    #3
    BChops

    BChops [OP] Active Member

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    The 2nd opinion guy suggested pulling the neg battery cable and waiting to see how long it took for the engine light to come back on. I did that leaving it off for about 2 hours, then the light came back within 5 miles and it is now on. The light DOES go off sometimes. He said I might be able to try and take it in for inspection during one of those times the light was off. I'm not sure that he was sure that would work.

    So your saying Autozone would do a better job of putting out all the codes? I am unfamiliar with all this, but they 2nd opinion guy said he already did that. Were there more codes that he could have gotten out of it, or are you saying wait till after I reset it, and THEN get the code scan from Autozone?
     
  4. Aug 22, 2016 at 1:02 PM
    #4
    O906

    O906 Well-Known Member

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    That dealer is out of his F****** mind. You can get all the parts to replace the entire exhaust yourself for less than $1000 and what you more than likely need to replace are just the exhaust gaskets or possibly one section of the exhaust. How do these places even get people to pay that much for something like this?

    CRAZY
     
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  5. Aug 22, 2016 at 1:05 PM
    #5
    127.0.0.1

    127.0.0.1 AKA ::1

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    you are getting the run around MAYBE

    troubleshoot the p0606 code FIRST. p0606 means the ecu self-check failed
    OR could be glitchy o2 sensors

    http://www.iatn.net/forums/13/55176/toyota-p0606-dont-replace-the-ecm

    "It seems that problems with the O2 sensors can cause this code to set. I set my scanner to graph the rear O2's. With the car running I start wiggling and tugging on the sensor wires. When I move the wire just right on B2S2 this happens rear o2 glitch"

    so the dealer may know some inside info here and it really is the after-cat
    sensors.....replacing those is cheaper than a new exhaust, could clear the p0606 code,
    and if not, and the exhaust does need replacing, you already have new sensors so won't
    need them
     
    Jimmyh likes this.
  6. Aug 22, 2016 at 1:05 PM
    #6
    signalbobby

    signalbobby Well-Known Member

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    I would just buy headers/manifolds from a yard. Paying that much and r&r is a really screwing you.
     
  7. Aug 22, 2016 at 1:16 PM
    #7
    BChops

    BChops [OP] Active Member

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    I read a previous thread that suggested the REAR O2 sensors would be the ones to replace. Any opinion on that front?
     
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  8. Aug 22, 2016 at 1:16 PM
    #8
    127.0.0.1

    127.0.0.1 AKA ::1

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    more people saying look for other suspects before blaming ECU for blowing up (it may have)


    https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/p0606-always-bad-ecm-brian-mann


    if p0606 is false, it is usually because some circuit somewhere is throwing crazy voltage anomalies
    like the crossed up wires in a bad O2 connector, or as above, a bad taillight !
     
    Last edited: Aug 22, 2016
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  9. Aug 22, 2016 at 1:18 PM
    #9
    127.0.0.1

    127.0.0.1 AKA ::1

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    there are only rear o2 sensors. after the cats

    the front sensors (in front of the cats) are air fuel sensors not o2 sensors.

    similar, but not same, function... but big difference in engine management role
     
    R0dzilla75 and 98tacoma27 like this.
  10. Aug 22, 2016 at 2:34 PM
    #10
    Blacktaco2042

    Blacktaco2042 Well-Known Member

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    p0606 usually is a shorted out o2 sensor. its pretty common in the yotas
     
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  11. Aug 22, 2016 at 2:41 PM
    #11
    Sandman614

    Sandman614 Ex-Snarky TWSS elf, Travis #hotsavannahdotcom

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    @BChops yes, take your truck to an autoparts store(advance, autozone, napa, checkers, depending on your area) and tell them your check engine light is on and ask if they can read the codes and give you a print out. Most parts stores will do this for free. Don't worry about any "diagnosing" that they might offer, some of the workers know something but most don't. Come back here with more info.
     
  12. Aug 22, 2016 at 5:34 PM
    #12
    mmcarbo

    mmcarbo Well-Known Member

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    Access to a scan tool that will read oxygen sensor impedance will help you greatly. The ECM will more than likely not be the issue. Check your O2 sensors. On a scan tool, if one of the sensors reads 21,000 ohms with an engine temp of 180, it is no good.
     
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  13. Aug 22, 2016 at 5:39 PM
    #13
    Murdered Out Tacoma

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    Thats a steal.....
     
  14. Aug 22, 2016 at 5:48 PM
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    Mr.Gadget

    Mr.Gadget Well-Known Member

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    Every time I go into get service they try to take me to the cleaners.
    Sounds like the normal.toyota snow job.

    Try to take money from people one day at a time.
     
  15. Aug 22, 2016 at 7:00 PM
    #15
    03f5sp

    03f5sp Well-Known Member

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    That dealer is trying to wring your wallet dry. Under no normal circumstances would a 12 year old truck need an entire exhaust replaced. Even if it did there's no reason it would cost almost $7k. I wouldn't do business with a company who does that to their customers.
     
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  16. Aug 24, 2016 at 11:34 AM
    #16
    BChops

    BChops [OP] Active Member

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    Hey Black Taco, I saw on a previous thread that your a Toyota mechanic. I was wondering if you could answer the following. The dealer said "the o2 sensors are fine". The issue they said was a leaky exhaust. I DID find a leak in the pipe that goes back to the muffler, looks easy to fix.

    But my question is, HOW would the dealer have gotten past the P0606 error to get to the supposed exhaust leak error? Would they have temporarily been able to bypass the P0606 or did they possibly just lie to me? I do like to give the benefit of doubt sometimes. I do work on computers, and my common sense would tell me they have a way to bypass the P0606 to get to the actual issue. I am going to replace the O2 sensors but am curious about why they would be so certain they were "fine" as the stated. Thanks, you guys have all been a big help. What a great resource here.
     
  17. Aug 24, 2016 at 11:44 AM
    #17
    Blacktaco2042

    Blacktaco2042 Well-Known Member

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    Most times it's a rear o2 sensor that is shorted out. Hard to tell with out data from the truck to help fix it
     
  18. Oct 17, 2016 at 6:50 AM
    #18
    BChops

    BChops [OP] Active Member

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    I ended up attaching two new (rear) O2 sensors and just zip tying them to the frame. The light went off!!! I then had local mechanic bolt them in after some minor trouble getting them out. Fantastic! Thanks to this forum for what should have been an obvious answer from Toyota Dealer.

    JF
     
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  19. Oct 17, 2016 at 8:29 AM
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    Tex-Tac

    Tex-Tac Well-Known Member

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    Installed Overhead Compass and Temperature Display along with outside temperature sensor and wiring; LED lights reverse backup; LED license plate lights; Added GTA Bluetooth Audio kit to stock radio for iphone audio; Spare tire steel braided air hose extension connection to rear bumper; Installed new headlights along with new bulbs PIAA H4 XTreme and for fog lights PIAA H10 XTreme bulbs. Installed new hood with "hood-scoop". Installed Predator Side Steps. Replaced front chrome grill with customized color matched (Desert Sand Mica) grill with added TOYOTA lettering (also in matched color), installed and secured tailgate anti-theft devices. Also installed a new external TPMS monitor for all 4 tires.
    Great!

    Good that you were able to solve that particular problem! I would much rather spend a few hundred bucks than a few thousand dollars anytime!

    Cool that you were able to at least save yourself $$$$ by not going with what the fuck'in dealership was recommending. The dealership is only there for one main reason and that's to have the customer bend over so that they can screw them and get as much $ out of them as possible and that's all (that is if we let them). That's everything from selling a vehicle to fixing a vehicle and everything else in between.

    Always keep in mind that the dealerships main purpose is to make money-not loose money.

    Fuck the Dealership!
     
    Last edited: Oct 17, 2016
    wilcam47 likes this.
  20. Oct 17, 2016 at 9:40 AM
    #20
    R0dzilla75

    R0dzilla75 Well-Known Member

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    I was going to say that being asked by a dealer to put out 7 grand for a new exhaust wh n all that you needed was a couple of o2 sensors is beyond reprieve to me. Pick up a socket and two new sensors for under 100 bucks. Wow! I hope others read this and question dealerships attempting highway robbery.
     

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