Catalytic Converters--any aftermarket ones you would recomend?

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, then 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 they 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.

HELP!

 

haven't got any issues on my catalytic converters, but have you checked the O2 sensors? also, got any leaks on your exhaust system?

I heard that sensor failure is often the cause of "bad" converters or that leaks sometimes contaminate O2 sensors readings, falsely telling you the converters are "bad"

 

I've had "Cat efficiency" codes more than once, and have been able to clear them up either by replacing the leaking gasket behind the downstream cat, or by replacing the upstream air/fuel sensor or the downstream O2 sensor. Still running the OEM cats on my CARB 2.7L at 170K.

Aftermarket CARB cats, while cheaper than OEM (usually by a long shot), are only required to last 50K miles. Less precious metals = less $. For our older trucks, that my be OK. I don't know if I'll own it, or be able drive it , more than 50K miles more.

 

So what is said code? PO420 perhaps? If it is, it could be a list of things. Not just the cats.

 

Are you turbo/supercharged? I have this issue with mine and my cats went toast because my truck was running way too lean most of the time it had the blower on, had to do some fuel mods to make it perform better. If you're running too lean or too rich it will burn up the cats prematurely, the fact that it happened so quickly after getting new ones makes me think you have an issue like that. Or your O2 sensors need replacing. I'm about to pull the trigger on a set of Magnaflow cats as well (Toyota near me wanted $3600 to install OEM ones, fuck that) so I'm hoping I don't run into the same issue.

 

What would be order of things you change with that code ?

 

There's no specific order. But things include. MAF sensor giving the wrong readings, misfires, plugs, wires, just a bad 02 sensor, faulty injectors. Pretty much anything that could make the AFR get off track will give the 02 sensors the incorrect reading and could pull the PO420. Not to say other codes wouldn't pop up as well. But a cat efficiency code could entail a lot of those things

 

Appreciate it

That’s what I hate about this code
I don’t know what to replace first

Should I start with 02? Then move to Cats?

My 01 2.7L
210 k miles

Runs fantastic
No issues

Aside from this recent code

 

I'd start with cleaning first. Clean MAF with MAF clearner, NOT electrical cleaner. Then remove 02 sensors and just spray them with compressed air. And if youd like run some injector cleaner through the fuel tank, and clean the throttle body out. Basically a small tune up.

 

And then if none of that works, before replacing parts. I'd remove the cats and do a visual inspection. Just hold up the cat to the sun and you should see all the light shining through each honeycomb. Here's an example.
Clean Cat
https://goo.gl/images/cz5UKo
Then a clogged cat.
https://goo.gl/images/8u7pxY

 

You rock

Thanks

 

No problem, always glad to help.

 

Wish you lived closer !!!!

 

Where are you located?

 

Hell = Los Angeles

 

Haha, fun. Move up here, it's much more mellow lol

 

I know

Wish I could

 

Maybe one day lol

 

FSM Diagnostic for DTC P0420 (Same for 4 & 6 cyl):

 

On my 2001 truck the mechanic and the muffler guy both say the code indicates it is "below threshold" even though there are two new CATS installed! Really don't want to install OEM CATS, so should the mechanic start checking the 02 sensors?

I know NOTHING about all of this, so I sure appreciate any ides or thoughts.