2002 GS300 Catalytic converter needed and questions
05-30-09, 06:47 PM
#31
Like I said, give a chance and replace the oxygen sensors on both cats. Only replace the onces at the end of the cat which is sensor 2. Do that if the symptoms above doesn't matches or is alike.
P.S. - If you do get the cats, since you are not from California, get the Federal Aftermarket cats.
P.S. - If you do get the cats, since you are not from California, get the Federal Aftermarket cats.
05-30-09, 07:08 PM
#32
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AC emitts weird smell could be mildew. When was the last time you changed your AC filter? There is a DIY on this. Lag on acceleration is normal, everyone has that problem. Whistling noise, you gotta elborate more. When replacing the cats, yea, you probably want to replace it with the manifold too since it's together. Or you can have the cats cut off but it would look ugly. Symptoms of having a bad cat: really bad smell after the car has been warmed up and been driven at least 15 mins. You can literally smell it at a stopping point. It smell like those really old trucks out in the streets or those late 70's vehicle without a cat. Very distinctful smell. Or at idle rev the car up and down, see if you hear the cats rattling. Or open the hood wait when the car cools down, get a rubber hammer and lightly tap each cat a few times see if you hear rattling. But most commonly, if a cat is bad the smell when get your nose good when driving around or if it rattles. I hope that would help you somehow. GL.
05-30-09, 09:14 PM
#34
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ya, well i did pass the emissions after i had the CEL code reset and drove around 100 miles before the re-test, so i am not really in a hurry i guess, i just want to make sure though it doesn't do any damage to engine or anything else if its really a bad cat...
07-02-09, 02:06 PM
#36
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I know this is an old thread, but it's my issue now.
'02 GS300. Just passed emissions June 25th. Went on vacation and CEL came on. I've owned the car for a year and never had a CEL. Just recently had the ECU re-flashed by dealer. Apparently it was way out of date.
Anyway, CEL says P0420 (cat?) I also read that I should go with the post 02 sensor first. With it passing emissions only 2 days prior to the CEL I'm thinking it's probably not the cat (I hope), just a sensor went bad.
Any opinions, suggestions?
'02 GS300. Just passed emissions June 25th. Went on vacation and CEL came on. I've owned the car for a year and never had a CEL. Just recently had the ECU re-flashed by dealer. Apparently it was way out of date.
Anyway, CEL says P0420 (cat?) I also read that I should go with the post 02 sensor first. With it passing emissions only 2 days prior to the CEL I'm thinking it's probably not the cat (I hope), just a sensor went bad.
Any opinions, suggestions?
07-04-09, 04:36 PM
#38
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Update
I know this is an old thread, but it's my issue now.
'02 GS300. Just passed emissions June 25th. Went on vacation and CEL came on. I've owned the car for a year and never had a CEL. Just recently had the ECU re-flashed by dealer. Apparently it was way out of date.
Anyway, CEL says P0420 (cat?) I also read that I should go with the post 02 sensor first. With it passing emissions only 2 days prior to the CEL I'm thinking it's probably not the cat (I hope), just a sensor went bad.
Any opinions, suggestions?
'02 GS300. Just passed emissions June 25th. Went on vacation and CEL came on. I've owned the car for a year and never had a CEL. Just recently had the ECU re-flashed by dealer. Apparently it was way out of date.
Anyway, CEL says P0420 (cat?) I also read that I should go with the post 02 sensor first. With it passing emissions only 2 days prior to the CEL I'm thinking it's probably not the cat (I hope), just a sensor went bad.
Any opinions, suggestions?
I replaced both downstream O2 sensors. Very easy to do. Drove around a bit and . . . .wa-la! . . . no more CEL!
I must say that they really like these sensors, $124 & $119 at NAPA. But, that's better than a new cat.
So, if you get the P0420/P0430 codes, start with the downstream (after the cat) sensors.
10-25-09, 05:48 AM
#40
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UPDATE:
CEL returned in October. This time I replaced the downstream (post cat) O2's. Had to have a shop do the rear bank O2, I couldn't get to it . . special tool needed. But, between replacing the front one and having the rear one replaced, the CEL went OUT.
Wonderful . . . once the rear O2 was replaced, about a week later the CEL came back on.
So, now all 4 O2's are new and I'm getting the same code, Catalytic Converter. I am assuming I have no choice but to have them replaced now.
But, why would they be bad? Do Cat's go bad just from age? We've had the car (2002 GS300, 120K miles) almost 2 years, bought it with 90k on it, and it has always run good.
If the O2's went bad would that cause the Cat's to go bad?
CEL returned in October. This time I replaced the downstream (post cat) O2's. Had to have a shop do the rear bank O2, I couldn't get to it . . special tool needed. But, between replacing the front one and having the rear one replaced, the CEL went OUT.
Wonderful . . . once the rear O2 was replaced, about a week later the CEL came back on.
So, now all 4 O2's are new and I'm getting the same code, Catalytic Converter. I am assuming I have no choice but to have them replaced now.
But, why would they be bad? Do Cat's go bad just from age? We've had the car (2002 GS300, 120K miles) almost 2 years, bought it with 90k on it, and it has always run good.
If the O2's went bad would that cause the Cat's to go bad?
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