$2000 catalytic converter

[Oldsquirt]

Not talking "Italian tune-up". I worked with a guy like that for a while. I'm surprised any of his customers ever got their cars back in one piece!
Just talking about a nice normal freeway drive where everything gets up to normal temp for a decent amount of time. And it is kind of a long shot......

 

[Faceaz]

Find someone with the same truck with good cats, within the 80k mile fed emissions warranty, swap
Cats, then have the TSB for exhaust ticking noise performed on the other guys truck to get the bad cats replaced. Is yours a v6 or a 4 cyl?.

During summers in school, I worked for a company that made sure manufacturers were supplying cats that met the intended lifespan (100k as I remember). Basically we'de solicit, pick up peoples cars, have them tested, return & pay them $500 for their troubles.

GMC was by far the worst, cats were lasting 75 to 100k
Ford was good usually going close to 150k
Japs were by far the best, Honda's & Toyota's were lasting close to 250k

But, this was 15 years ago, things change but I bet they still last as long as they did back then.

 

[pronstar]

Just talking about a nice normal freeway drive where everything gets up to normal temp for a decent amount of time. And it is kind of a long shot......

Yeah my BIL just went on one of those in his 911, one of those "nice freeway drives" that you're talking about
Popped the motor and it burned to the ground.
I posted pics of it, too

 

[OCMerrill]

GMC was by far the worst, cats were lasting 75 to 100k

02 GMC Yukon - Exactly 72k. Melted on Bank 1. I do think it was because we had a failed puel pressure regulator. No codes for that thing. The puffs of black smoke on start up gave it away. So I think it ran rich for a while and burned the cats down.

 

[28Eliminator]

Unfortunately, the P0420 code on a Toyota is "generally" a pretty accurate indication of a weak(not necessarily 'failed') cat. If all the shop did was pull the code and condemn the cat, I would take it elsewhere. If this shop performs smog checks they should be well aware of proper test procedures and you should ask if they did so.

Whether you take it to a Toyota dealer for further testing is really your decision. I know not everyone has the same opinion of dealerships. Not all dealers are the same and not all will approach this diagnosis the same way. Where I am( at least 400 miles north of where I suspect you are), we are required to provide substantial documentation for any diagnosis of a weak/failed cat.

Assuming the cat does test bad, I'm not too sure about that $2000 estimate. I replaced this exact item a couple weeks ago(for a different reason) and I don't think the cat and the two gaskets were anywhere near that even with labor(about an hour to install and retest to confirm repair). Did this estimate include both the A/F sensor and the heated o2 sensor? They do sometimes seize in the pipes, which would obviously require replacement, but there is no reason to replace them otherwise.

A final thought. If this truck doesn't get driven at freeway speed fairly regularly or if it gets turned on and off a lot while only being driven short distances, you might consider clearing the code, giving the vehicle some good "exercise" and "monitoring" the situation for a while. If the code is going to return it will happen in a fairly short time.

By the way, truck doesn't have a knock or rattle coming from the exhaust does it?

Thanks again for your help on this.

I called the shop, inquiring whether a test was actually performed on the cat, and they are saying "Probably". The guy that did the work is off for a couple days. I'm going to make an appt with the local Toyota dealer and have them look at it for me.

In regards to the driving habits, What your saying could be contributing to my problem. The truck spends 90% of it's life going between 15 and 20 mph running around the jobsite. Sits and idles for long periods of time in the 115 degree heat. It's only about 2 miles back and forth to my house, and that's about the extent of it's hiway miles. I'll try running it up and down the freeway as you suggest and clear the codes (how do I do that?), and see if it helps.

The exhaust doesn't make any noises at all, no rattling or knocking. Sounds fine??

Dave

 

[Oldsquirt]

Dave, with those operating conditions, I'd definitely clear the codes and do some normal driving and see what happens. Several ways to clear the codes, scan tool being the best choice. Lacking that, you could disconnect the negative battery cable for at least a minute(need a 10mm wrench). This method may well cost you your radio presets. To avoid that, you could pull the EFI(20 amp) and ETCS(10 amp) fuses in the fuse box under the hood for at least a minute. The two should be close to each other in a group of four at the front inner part of fuse box( if the data I have here is correct). I never have to do it this way since I get to play with a real fancy scan tool

The code in question sets with what we call "two-trip logic". ECU monitors(tests) the cats only once each "trip". Each "trip" has to start with the engine and intake air temps below a certain range, which usually requires vehicle to sit overnight. Not every "trip" will necessarily meet all the conditions for the ECU to run the monitor. I mention this so that you don't get too excited when the code doesn't set on the first drive after clearing it. It may actually take several drive cycles to reset if the cat is truly bad.

I checked on the price of the cat and gaskets and it turns out the price quoted was in the ball park with labor and taxes. Cat(which is actually two cats on one pipe) lists at $1595. Could have sworn the last one I did was more like $1000 and it was a 2006 w/4cyl like yours.

I asked about the noise as the cats I have replaced on that model Tacoma were all for noise issues caused by the catalyst substrate coming loose inside the pipe.

I don't suppose you have Toyota Extra Care or any other extended warranty?

 

[blackbart]

hope this works heres a list of CARB APPROVED IF U CAN WAIT A FEW MONTHS 05 SHOULD BE FOR SALE


ToyotaAcuraAudiBMWBuickCadillacChevroletChryslerDaewooDodgeEagleFordGMCGeoHondaHummerHyundaiInfinitiIsuzuJaguarJeepKiaLand RoverLexusLincolnMazdaMercedes-BenzMercuryMitsubishiMorganNissanOldsmobilePlymouthPontiacPorscheSaabSaturnScionSubaruSuzukiToyotaVolkswagenVolvo2004200520042003200220012000199919981997199619951994Tacoma4RunnerCelicaCorollaEchoHighlanderLand CruiserMatrixTacomaTundra3.42.42.73.4Search
Test Group Name Application Type Part Manufacturer Manufacturer Part Number Cert Standard Executive Order Exhaust Config Total Converters Catalyst Location Catalyst Part Type
4TYXT03.4VRH ALL Airtek, Inc. 314492 LEV1 LEV D-280-81 SINGLE 2 Front of the vehicle DIRECT FIT
4TYXT03.4VRH ALL Airtek, Inc. 310005R LEV1 LEV D-280-81 SINGLE 2 Rear of the vehicle UNIVERSAL
4TYXT03.4VRH ALL Airtek, Inc. 314693 LEV1 LEV D-280-81 SINGLE 2 Rear of the vehicle DIRECT FIT
4TYXT03.4VRH ALL Car Sound Exhaust System, Inc. 44075 LEV1 LEV D-193-65 SINGLE 2 Front of the vehicle UNIVERSAL
4TYXT03.4VRH ALL Car Sound Exhaust System, Inc. 44759 LEV1 LEV D-193-65 SINGLE 2 Front of the vehicle DIRECT FIT
4TYXT03.4VRH ALL Car Sound Exhaust System, Inc. 41005 LEV1 LEV D-193-65 SINGLE 2 Rear of the vehicle UNIVERSAL
4TYXT03.4VRH ALL Car Sound Exhaust System, Inc. 41770 LEV1 LEV D-193-65 SINGLE 2 Rear of the vehicle DIRECT FIT
4TYXT03.4VRH ALL Car Sound Exhaust System, Inc. 44075 LEV1 LEV D-193-90 SINGLE 2 Front of the vehicle UNIVERSAL
4TYXT03.4VRH ALL Car Sound Exhaust System, Inc. 44759 LEV1 LEV D-193-90 SINGLE 2 Front of the vehicle DIRECT FIT
4TYXT03.4VRH ALL Car Sound Exhaust System, Inc. 41005 LEV1 LEV D-193-90 SINGLE 2 Rear of the vehicle UNIVERSAL
4TYXT03.4VRH ALL Car Sound Exhaust System, Inc. 41770 LEV1 LEV D-193-90 SINGLE 2 Rear of the vehicle DIRECT FIT
4TYXT03.4VRH ALL Valina, Inc. 13130 LEV1 LEV D-562-44 SINGLE 2 Front of the vehicle UNIVERSAL
4TYXT03.4VRH ALL Valina, Inc. 13230 LEV1 LEV D-562-44 SINGLE 2 Rear of the vehicle UNIVERSAL
4TYXT03.4VRH ALL Valina, Inc. 111030 LEV1 LEV D-562-52 SINGLE 2 Front of the vehicle UNIVERSAL
4TYXT03.4VRH ALL Valina, Inc. 112030 LEV1 LEV D-562-52 SINGLE 2 Rear of the vehicle UNIVERSAL

 

[blackbart]

WELL UGGG

 

[Mini Kat]

I Love Havasu no smog checks needed. Cut it out and call it a day.:thumbsup