03 Throwing CEL. - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

xx03Camryxx · 06-01-2010, 11:05 AM

Alright, the first time the CEL came on I told my dad about it and he said it probably was just the exhaust. So after a week or two it went away. Then I went snowboarding and on the trip home it came up again. It didn't really bug me that much because the car was running fine. It went away after a week or two. Now, today it turns on yet again. I'm beginning to think this is a problem I should fix...but what's the usual scenario for this? Or do I have to get a scanner that can tell me the code? lol

Thanks.

LoudCamry · 06-01-2010, 12:21 PM

you will need a scanner to tell you the code.

RickF · 06-01-2010, 12:29 PM

Yep, you need a scanner to tell what exactly is wrong. It could be something as simple as not tightening the gas cap good enough at your last fill up - which is something my mother-in-law (age 85) has done a few times.

xx03Camryxx · 06-01-2010, 01:29 PM

Damn, you guys know if I can pick this up at Autozone or pep boys?

xx03Camryxx · 06-02-2010, 02:47 PM

Lol so I went to Autozone and got the code.

P0420..I'm thinkin the cat is bad.

RickF · 06-02-2010, 03:02 PM

You might be in luck if you have less than 80K miles. The Cat and ECU are covered under the 8 years/80,000 miles federal emissions warranty.

See this discussion for some possible alternatives if over 80K:
Secret extended warranty for Catalytic Converter???

xx03Camryxx · 06-02-2010, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickF

You might be in luck if you have less than 80K miles. The Cat and ECU are covered under the 8 years/80,000 miles federal emissions warranty.

See this discussion for some possible alternatives if over 80K:
Secret extended warranty for Catalytic Converter???

Lol the car is at 135k. I'm not willing to drive all the way down to California for this...I do however have good ties with a Meinike here in vegas. I'll probably be buying an aftermarket cat and muffler. Was planning on getting the muffler anyways. Thanks

RickF · 06-02-2010, 03:26 PM

You're welcome.

BTW, my wife's '05 Camry had to have the Cat replaced last year for the same code. Thankfully it was under warranty with 48K miles. Can't believe the Cat failed that fast. I made sure they ran diagnostics to be sure the car wasn't running too rich (something that can cause the Cat to burn out prematurely).

Hope you get a good deal with Meinike.

xx03Camryxx · 06-02-2010, 03:36 PM

Ah yeah thankfully you had the warranty.

Well, I called them up they said if they buy the cat it will be warrantied under the shop. OR I just buy an aftermarket catback w/o warranty. Decisions decisions....

xx03Camryxx · 06-03-2010, 01:17 PM

Well, they want $1k to replace the cat.

Pawel062 · 06-03-2010, 09:40 PM

thats not the cat btw. it's under the car. get a high flo cat and custom piping while u at it.

xx03Camryxx · 06-03-2010, 09:57 PM

Lol after 2+ hours reading it is the cat bro. Toyota put the cat in the exhaust manifold. There is an o2 sensor below that. There are two cats one in the front and one at the end.

camryen08 · 06-03-2010, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickF

BTW, my wife's '05 Camry had to have the Cat replaced last year for the same code. Thankfully it was under warranty with 48K miles. Can't believe the Cat failed that fast. I made sure they ran diagnostics to be sure the car wasn't running too rich (something that can cause the Cat to burn out prematurely).

My 08 LE got CEL on yesterday. autozone in california don't do it for free any more.

I will borrow a scanner from my friend this saturday to pull the code.

other than too rich, is there any other reason may causes p0420 or Cat fail?
And will it causes any damage to other parts if i do not replace it immediately?

Thanks.

xx03Camryxx · 06-03-2010, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by camryen08

My 08 LE got CEL on yesterday. autozone in california don't do it for free any more.

I will borrow a scanner from my friend this saturday to pull the code.

other than too rich, is there any other reason may causes p0420 or Cat fail?
And will it causes any damage to other parts if i do not replace it immediately?

Thanks.

Yeah, your o2 sensors might be sluggish. There's a whole lot of problems with this code. There is no real solution. I read about someone changing both cats and all the sensors and there was still a problem. Cost him 1800 bucks. There is no real solution, but start cheap. You can get a anti-fouler and try that. It makes it so the o2 sensor isn't as hot and keeps it cool and the it wont throw a CEL.

camryen08 · 06-03-2010, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xx03Camryxx

Lol after 2+ hours reading it is the cat bro. Toyota put the cat in the exhaust manifold. There is an o2 sensor below that. There are two cats one in the front and one at the end.

You mean gen5/gen6 has two cats, or two O2 sensor, or both?
When people say replace cat, do they replace O2 sensor together?
Or O2 sensor could be still ok, and no need to replace?
did 1k includes O2 sensor?
Sorry for ask so many question one time