Need some advice

My 2006 trd recently popped up the dreaded P0430 error. Need all new cats according to the mechanic (4). Aftermarket parts would cost 4400, but I have heard those only make it a year or two which doesn’t seem worth it. OEM will be 6300. Truck only has 200k miles on it and is otherwise in decent shape, just not sure I can justify that investment in a 20 year old truck. Not exactly rich so need to make best decision between calling it quits on this truck or trying to keep it going. Suggestions?

 

Cheap o2 spacers

 

Doesn’t that just mask the issue? If the cats are actually clogged up won’t that lead to other damage to the engine due to back pressure?

 

Yea , basically it’s a 20 yr old truck with limited resale value. Investing another 4 to 6k to make something drivable for a limited time is not what most common sense people would consider a solid investment choice. But that doesn’t mean squat today evidently.

 

The P0420/P0430 doesn't mean the cats are plugged/restricted, it means they are no longer functioning effectively.
Can they still be restricted? Yes but there is no code for that, typically restricted cats show up as a severe performance loss.
The only way to check for restrictions is to do an exhaust backpressure test.

Aftermarket cats are a crapshoot, they may last a long time or they may throw codes soon after installing.


Your options essentially are:

Ignore the light and drive it.

Put spacers under the downstream O2 sensors which may or may not keep the code off depending on how far gone the cats are.

Gamble on Aftermarket cats.

Spend the coin on OE cats.

 

Another option is used cats from a wrecking yard, vehicle with much lower mileage.

Long shot probably, but worth a try.

 

"Toyotas are very common to throw p0442, p0420/p0430 codes. The EPA excessive standards put too much demand on the tune. It demands more oxygen saturaturation than is realistic in real world comditions, like hard hill pulls. More o2 saturation than the cats have avalible under certain high demand conditions. Depanding on cat health, it's a cure that will heip lessen and sometimes completely negate issues with CEL. The fix is to install cheap, simple o2 spacers. By making the o2 sensors slower to react It in essence "numbs" the hyper demand needed to satisfy the o.e. tune.

Damn environmentalist shot thier selves in the foot with this over stringent smog demand. Most peaple splurge needlessly into the checkbook to buy new cats. Often the aftermarket are worse than the (good) o.e.'s they replaced"

 

Toyota parts (no labour) should run you less than U$4k for all 4 cats, not including sensors. If you are replacing all 4, the only real works is in the exhaust manifold.

Whether it is worth it to put that money into the truck, depends on the condition of the rest of the truck and its maintenance history.

 

• What state/emmisions testing do you deal with?

Throw in a set of cheap o2 rear spacers. What do you have to loose?

 

The great thing about vehicles with long production runs like this one, is that Toyota made a bazillion of these trucks so the aftermarket support is great and the used parts resources are even better. I'd find some Grade A used exhaust manifolds off of an 05-11 Tacoma (car-part.com, LKQ online, ebay or support one of your local wreckers-they often have the best customer service) and knock out the install myself. Even with new manifold and exhaust pipe gaskets, new name brand replacement hardware and a boat load of consumables (PENATRATOR!), you'd be in and out the door for under $1000.

 

OP, before I would consider spending that ghastly amount of money I would try doing a real cat cleaning based on research in 2006 on how to rejuvenate aged (read old, worn-out cats). The following thread addresses the overall issue and details of the matter begin at post #31.

 

Start replacing dry rotted vacuum lines.