Catalyc Converter

[twesam]

Hi Camryans,

Hope all is well! Question for the board, I have a 2005 Camry SE and failed an MD emission test in 2009 at 80k miles and got my dealership to change the catalyc converter, fast forward 2011, I'm having the same issue at 146k miles, I'm having the same issue. I'm up to date on the upkeep and 85% of my miles are highway miles.
Did the dealership do "something wrong" or I should be getting used this at every 60k - 80k miles.
I don't want to buy a new car until this old faithful hits 200k.

Your advice is greatly appreciated, have a great day!

[Punks_Not_Dead5]

They have more than just the one Cat. It could possibly be one of the other ones, or almost anything i suppose. Has your dealer or mechanic that preformed the test said what it is or given any ideas?

[leakyseals]

Please provide more detail.

Did your inspection get rejected? What for?
Do you have a CEL/MIL light? What is the code?

Need the basics otherwise its a complete guess the cat is the problem.

[ImJustMe55]

Seeing as how a Catalytic Converter is a Catalyst, by definition under normal circumstances it should never break down. So if it is you should have someone search to find out what else is wrong with the car that is causing the Catalytic Converter to break down otherwise when you replace the Cat it will break down again from the same problem. Or it could just be that one or more of your O2 sensors have gone bad, but Leakyseals right. Unless you can describe the symptoms the only answers that you'll get will be guesses.

[twesam]

I'll get the code and post as soon as I get home, thanks so much for your advice and help.

[twesam]

Hi all...the code was P0420, "Catalyst System efficiency below Threshold 1"

[leakyseals]

Originally Posted by twesam

Hi all...the code was P0420, "Catalyst System efficiency below Threshold 1"

Likely the front manifold cat again...few more questions

You had the dealer replace the front manifold cat last time on the 80k TSB? (replacement of the cat and ECM reprogram to expand efficiency range)

Have you replaced any of the o2 sensors?

Does the car burn oil? How much? valve seal issues?

Any use of fuel system cleaners? what kind?

[twesam]

Originally Posted by leakyseals

Likely the front manifold cat again...few more questions

You had the dealer replace the front manifold cat last time on the 80k TSB? (replacement of the cat and ECM reprogram to expand efficiency range)

Have you replaced any of the o2 sensors?

Does the car burn oil? How much? valve seal issues?

Any use of fuel system cleaners? what kind?

Yes to the first question and no to the rest.

[leakyseals]

Supposedly the TSB included an upgraded catalyst media. No way of knowing if the reprogramming actually happened. On the surface this seems to blow a hole in many claims that aftermarket cats are a bad idea. If it were me I'd start with a replacement of the downstream o2, see what happens. Use a Denso.