The flex pipe on my wife's 2000 4 cyl Camry LE (166k) wore out. Instead of having a new flex section welded in, I found (on Amazon) an entire new front exhaust pipe (incl. cat converter) for about the same price- specs said it couldn't be shipped to California (okay, since I live in Washington State).
Removal of old front pipe went well, except forward flange nuts- even with PB Blaster, torch, impact wrench, and long breaker bar, they wouldn't budge. Fearing snapping off a stud, I brought the car, with new front pipe in the trunk, to local mechanic, who replaced pipe- understandably, he couldn't warranty product.
Check engine light came on in less than a week: P0420 code (catalyst efficiency below threshold). (First time ever to have a CEL!) In hindsight, turns out the car- which we bought when we lived in New York State) is (or was) California compliant.
I know that there's a difference in the front O2 sensor with CA compliant Camrys, but does anyone know whether there's a difference in the catalytic converter specs. As far as I can tell, in 2009 California changed requirements for converters (hence the limitation on shipping). Did I screw myself by not paying an arm and a leg for a CARB compliant front pipe?
It's my understanding that a bad O2 sensor can also cause a P0420 code. I'm planning on buying a new O2 sensor, just in case the old one was damaged when the mechanic removed it from the old front pipe- thinking of Denso 234-4137, but I sure hate to have to put in a whole new (and much more expensive) front pipe.
Any suggestions?
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