Sad taco story

Hi folks, I could use some advice.

About two years ago, I bought a 2006 Tacoma DCLB Prerunner with a bit over 200k miles for $10,000. It had a good carfax and maintenance looked up to date. I swapped in a new head unit, installed the shocks and stuts from a low-milage Gen 3 taco, and added new tires and I was good to go!

I put about 10k miles on it in two years, and one day last week the check engine light came on. I took it to my local shop, and they gave me the bad news: All four cats were bad and needed to be replaced; for about $4200. Plus about $1000 worth of other maintenance that I knew was coming due.

Notes from tech:

Scanned codes on arrival

P0012: Camshaft position "A" Timing Over-Retarded (Bank 1)

P0430: Catalyst System Efficiency Below Threshold (Bank 2)

These codes are not likely to be related as they are for different banks of the engine, Bank 1 vs Bank 2. Started engine and used scan tool to command VVT solenoids on. If working correctly the engine will run rough while activated. Confirmed engine runs rough when Bank 1 VVT solenoid is commanded on, did the same for Bank 2 and confirmed it has the same rough feeling and similar RPM drop. VVT system seems to be working at the moment. Oil change is not due for another 2k miles and oil is not low.

This code may have been caused by carbon buildup or other debris in oil. We will recommend an oil flush and clearing this code to see if it returns.

For P0430 code we let engine get to operating temp and then held Engine RPM at 2k rpm for 15 minutes to get cats all the way up to temp. While warming up engine monitored live data for o2 sensors, once vehicle entered closed loop the upstream o2 sensor before cats are acting similarly between banks but bank 2 downstream is not switching like the bank 1 sensor is. Once up to temp used infrared thermometer to check the EGT(Exhaust gas temperature) before and after each cat, this vehicle has four cats total with only the upstream cats of each bank being monitored. Ideally the EGT's should be approximately 100f hotter after the cat as it burns off excess hydrocarbons. If a cat has failed or is plugged it will be hotter before the cat.Before bank 1 first cat 688 fAfter bank 1 first cat 700+f(infrared thermometer stops at 700f)After second cat bank 1 583fBefore bank 2 first cat 683fAfter bank 2 first cat 420fAfter bank 2 second cat 408fThis test shows that the upstream bank 2 cat has failed as well as both downstream cats which are not monitored by o2 sensors. If we are replacing 3/4 cats on the vehicle it may make more sense to replace all 4 cats so we can provide warranty coverage for all of them and they will be the same age. Cat failure can be caused by lack of ignition system and or oil system maintenance, lack of oil maintenance can also lead to the P0012 code. It is possible that the lack of maintenance was not any time recently since it appears the last two times we changed the oil it was marked as full and no notes were made about being overdue. We also replaced the spark plugs at 8/22 and 204k miles.

Recommend replacing all 4 catalytic converters, with o2 sensors, and engine oil flush.

I'm having a hard time justifying putting $5000 into a $10k truck. But I can't really sell it as it has a CEL and it won't pass emissions, which are due in July.

So, help me out! Should I just donate it and take the tax write-off? Try to sell it as-is for $6000 or so? I'm in Portland, OR if that makes any difference.

Thanks in advance!

 

Aftermarket and do it yourself for a lot less? You probably have a Vvt solenoid that is sticking a bit, can change them both yourself and clean the screens.

 

There's other ways to skin that cat if you know what I mean.

 

rode dirty like this for years, finally sacked up and bought a new OEM cat for my 2.7 P0420 gone as soon as the first drive/computer cycle completed.

OP if you wanna save a couple grand Id start with clearing P0012 and then trying the non fouler trick pictured above.

Or fix the truck with OEM parts yourself and save money in the short term and long run, 2nd option is much better than taking on a car payment for 5+yrs.

The 1grfe exhaust manifold and cats are easy to remove/replace as long as your truck isn't rusty.

 

I’d replace the failing sensors and run it for now and see what happens, some guy pointing an IR thermometer at my exhaust isn’t enough evidence for me to drop 5k especially with no other drivability issues relating to plugged cats

Considering you’re in Portland they’ll probably get stolen by a tweaker soon enough so then your insurance can replace them

 

Not giving you a bad time but any time you buy an older vehicle with 200000 miles or more it’s a crap shoot. Sometimes you roll 7’s sometimes you don’t. In any event I’d get a second opinion from a different shop. And I agree with others, replace the O2 sensors and see what happens.

 

I vote sell it for $6k and let a the next guy looking for a project fix it.

 

Donate it to me! Thank you very much