P0420 Code

less expepensive cats are less expensive for a reason, there is just less of the expensive internal material inside of them. Factory cats had to meet the federal emmissions waranty period so there is just more of what makes it work inside... what is emmisions warranty now, 8 years - 80k?

 

Would it be advisable to go to a junk yard and get cats instead of the aftermarket ones?

 

They can't legally sell them. Just buy the new ones. They have to be CARB approved here in California. The CARB label on them certifies they have a certain amount of precious metals in them so they last longer than the el cheapo ones pre CARB certification.

 

I see.

Wil chat with you on the phone a bit later today and get the dirt on them

 

I've been talking it over with some guys in a local thread, one of whom works for an auto parts company and tells me that if you can't go OEM because of the price then Magnaflow is the next best option. Basically nothing compares in quality to OEM cats but Magnaflow makes really good aftermarket ones that are CARB certified as well. Think I may go that route and buy them myself (about $500) and have that local shop put them on for me.

 

$500 each or $500 for both?

 

for both, might be closer to $600 or so with tax. Got a quote from Gunny in his thread for OEM replacements and the best price he could do was at $1k per cat, no thank you.

 

If you buy them, please post where you ended up getting them from.

I am gonna go RESET the light now, and see when it comes back. Then see if I want to do the same thing in JAN or not, or actually spend money replacing cats.

 

Mine was reset and the truck is running well now, but Toyota told me that the smog techs use the same equipment to diagnose the emissions that tells them the cat is failed regardless of the code popping up or not, so it will likely still fail a smog test. I've heard tell of others though saying that depending on the timing of the emissions cycle it could still actually pass, but I'd rather not be sweating bullets with my fingers crossed when I take it in for the test...I've already got enough to worry about making me fail like my 7th injector kit which is technically not smog-certified, haha. I have to get registered by the end of the year so I'll probably pull the trigger on the cats in the next week or so, I'll let you know

 

appreciate it

Mine will need Cat
And dealer said I have 2MM remaining on my rear brake shoes

Probably do both at same time

 

I recently bought a 2001 Tacoma double cab TRD 4x4 with 183,000 miles on it. it has a stock 3.4 V-6 engine.

When I bought it, the check engine light was on. The previous owner said it needed both catalytic converters replaced and they were a couple hundred dollars at Auto Zone.

I took the truck to Auto Zone, they hooked it and said yes, it is the converters.

So I take the truck to a local reputable muffler shop, the owner hooks it up to his gadget and yep, says it needs BOTH converters replaced.

Says he installs Magnaflow, which he says are equal to OEM converters, but much less money.

Total cost to replace, $550 and he says that will solve the problem with the check engine light.

Ok, so I have him replace them. Two new ones are installed, guy gets paid, and then truck goes straight to another shop to get carrier bearing replaced, brakes and rotors, rear axle seal replaced...That outfit has truck two weeks.

Then I take the truck to go on a 40 mile trip. On the way check engine light comes on.

Back to muffler shop. Guy says BOTH converters are plugged up, he replaces the back one and says he won't pay for the front one that I have an engine issue, and not a converter issue.

Both new converters have a purple color, muffler guy says they should be gold colored and that purple means they are getting hot due to lots of fuel being dumped into them.

He says never had the issue with Magnaflow mufflers before, and Magnaflow won't warranty them even though they are less than a month old, cause they're not defective, truck is!

So my question is this? Anyone else have this kind of issue? OEM Converters are $1700 at the local Toyota store.

The code is saying "operating below threshold" whatever that means.

HELP!

 

how much oil does she burn?

do not know what state you are in... In CA the seller is responsible for the smog.

 

Truck burns 0 oil, and runs great! Ordered a Denso 02 sensor, will try that, as that check engine light on all the time is aggravating!

 

Will be following you

I cleared my code yesterday
80 miles
Not back yet
I am sure it will be back soon

Will order 02 in November

 

@Awoguide are you supercharged?

 

Yep, I bought two Magnaflow cats because I just bought a Magnaflow Catback exhaust and the rear one I could install but the forward one wouldn’t mount up to my TRD header Y-pipe. Brought it to a shop and he after cutting the cat, couldn’t get it to fit. I replaced both o2 sensors and the p0420 code cleared for a few months and now it’s back. I’m not about to drop $2k on a 14 year old truck on two oem cats, hence why Im possibly considering on selling her.

 

I have seen some local 300-450k mike gen 1

Owners always sell them for emission

 

So guys my code just come on an 1hr ago need help with this is it o2 sensors or cat ?? I was reading the tread but just got confuse with all the different anwers here .

Fyi . My gas was on low ligth went it came on .

 

Start with a fresh tank of gas, clear the code... pull battery cable. If it comes back check plugs, coils and o2 sensor, mass air flow, throttle body, then move on to the cats.
The cats are the most expensive part but if there is a problem before the cat them it will ruin that expensive part just like one of the experiences above.

 

Its most likely the cats, the sensors usually throw a different code. A muffler shop can confirm for you by looking at the cats.