error code P0420 - hellllp !~!!!

[The Digital MagE]

Now the damn thing is coughing up a P0420 - supposed to be the catalytic converter is bad. But it's brand new...

Anybody solve this one before me? It's probably the rear ("downstream") o2 sensor?

I heard you could simply connect a resistor between the wires and eliminate the downstream sensor?

Does anybody know how to tell if your computer is going into lock-loop - and PLEASE don't say if the check engine light is off!

Any help appreciated...

[robcam13]

is your new cat a toyota part or aftermarket part.i have seen a lot of aftermarket converters not work and leave the light on.

[The Digital MagE]

The thing is a brand new set of header ("y") pipes, flex coupler and cat. It was on the car when I bought it, so I don't know what kind it is.

I do know I have a bosh 02 sensor in the rear bank (#1). Toyotas are said not to like bosh...? Autozone is willing to trade me for a denzo. If the light stays off, should I do that? I skin my arm up every time I have to r&r that thing - grrrrr

You're not going to get me anywhere near a dealership - for parts, or anything else. Don't have much money, and my daddy raised no fools!

The light went out today as I was passing 2 big trucks on a 2-lane blacktop. I think the cat was sorta fouled by the computer running out of locked-loop for quite a while, until I got up my nerve and fixed the trans, myself.

The car hauls... especially when you consider what it is. I flat like those cars and I've been trying to buy one... forever. I put a jdm motor/trans in it and a lot more $$$ for new parts (like 4 new quick struts!). I just like the way those cars look inside and how they drive. Now, u wanna talk about a sleeper - rofl

Have you heard of a set of bolts that go into the front strut mount holes (bottom) and allow adjustment of camber? I think the car has WAY too much negative camber!

This car is funny... in that the steering has a "dead zone" around going straight. If you turn it slightly, ither way, then let go of the wheel, it will not snap back into going straight? Even with the new struts in front.

Anyhow, everbody thinks I'm crazy for putting more than $6,000 so far (and I have done nothing to the body!) into this ancient car. But I keep telling them, hey, I'm ancient, too!

[robcam13]

yeah toyotas like denso. your steering wheel issue is a caster not camber problem. the bolts that you are talking about are called camber bolts.and not all dealers are bad. most are not cheap. did u get the car an alignment after replacing the front struts?

[The Digital MagE]

alignment? unless i'm missing something, the only thing that can be adjusted is the toe?

[The Digital MagE]

the saga continues....

today i realized that the actual code is temporary and intermittent. i canceled the code and light stayed off all day, just returning in the late evening. the thing is throwing the error very seldom and it hangs around due to the display time in the computer... or something like that.

tomorrow will trade the bosh o2 sensor in bank 1 for a denso (and rip hell out of my arm changing the damn thing again). if that doesn't work i think i'll just dummy the darn thing out. there's a post on here covering that. if the cat was really bad the error would be there all the time.