Bad cat = screwed! ;(...but their is a silver lining in this!
03-25-10, 11:54 AM
#1
Bad cat = screwed! ;(...but their is a silver lining in this!
Well, I dropped my car off at my local shop a couple of days ago for an oil change and diff fluid change. I supplied Royal Purple for both.
I also, mentioned to them that I had a CEL code spring up on me about 2 months ago and it went off about 2 weeks ago...but I had a funny feeling it was still running in the ECU; so I asked them to check on it. It is a PO430 code - catalyst inefficiency. I had this SAME code pop up last year and changed all my O2 sensors because of it; it DID satisfy the problem but obviously temporarily.
So, now my shop says that eventhough they are finding the right front cat to be the culprit they want to replace both of them because they feel that the front left cat could be on it's way as well. In order for them to perform this service and warranty all they want to replace both...to the tune of $1100 EACH! Plus a couple of hour of labor; so, I am looking at a $2500 bill.
Then, I call Carson Toyota/Lexus...they can get the parts for around $860 each...a good amount of savings but my shop said that they are against installing and warrantying parts that they do not order directly. So, this may be out...unless I can "ask" them to order the OEM cats directly from Carson Toyota/Lexus.
I HAD NO IDEA that a broken/blocked cat can cause transmission problems as well! They told me this and then I researched it; it holds true. The backpressure gets so messed up that it effects the shifting of the tranny which can lead to failure. Plus, not to mention that with a blown cat you get BAD gas mileage (which I am getting).
Silver lining = better gas mileage, assured that my tranny won't F-up because of it and perhaps better performance.
Are there any suggestions or different routes that you guys can recommend?
I also, mentioned to them that I had a CEL code spring up on me about 2 months ago and it went off about 2 weeks ago...but I had a funny feeling it was still running in the ECU; so I asked them to check on it. It is a PO430 code - catalyst inefficiency. I had this SAME code pop up last year and changed all my O2 sensors because of it; it DID satisfy the problem but obviously temporarily.So, now my shop says that eventhough they are finding the right front cat to be the culprit they want to replace both of them because they feel that the front left cat could be on it's way as well. In order for them to perform this service and warranty all they want to replace both...to the tune of $1100 EACH! Plus a couple of hour of labor; so, I am looking at a $2500 bill.
Then, I call Carson Toyota/Lexus...they can get the parts for around $860 each...a good amount of savings but my shop said that they are against installing and warrantying parts that they do not order directly. So, this may be out...unless I can "ask" them to order the OEM cats directly from Carson Toyota/Lexus.
I HAD NO IDEA that a broken/blocked cat can cause transmission problems as well! They told me this and then I researched it; it holds true. The backpressure gets so messed up that it effects the shifting of the tranny which can lead to failure. Plus, not to mention that with a blown cat you get BAD gas mileage (which I am getting).
Silver lining = better gas mileage, assured that my tranny won't F-up because of it and perhaps better performance.
Are there any suggestions or different routes that you guys can recommend?
Trending Topics
03-25-10, 12:19 PM
#8
The thing is I read up on and spoke to some (experienced) CL members here such as Jbrady and I recall him mentioning that more often than none, the OEM cats are almost ALWAYS higher flowing units than the so-called "high performance" hi-flo AFTERMARKET cats. Plus, there is NO guarantee that the codes will be cleared when an aftermarket cat is installed...then I would need to install an oem anyways. 
03-25-10, 12:26 PM
#9
The thing is I read up on and spoke to some (experienced) CL members here such as Jbrady and I recall him mentioning that more often than none, the OEM cats are almost ALWAYS higher flowing units than the so-called "high performance" hi-flo AFTERMARKET cats. Plus, there is NO guarantee that the codes will be cleared when an aftermarket cat is installed...then I would need to install an oem anyways.
