Berryman's for catalytic converter?

[harkni]

I have a 2001 Corolla S with 82k miles on it, just got it about three weeks ago...

About two weeks ago, the Check Engine light came on; I stopped at an Autozone to check what it was and the guy said it was a clogged catalytic converter (I didn't get the code). The car has run fine since (I'm getting ~34 mpg), and money's really tight so I'd rather not pay to replace it...

A mechanically inclined friend of mine suggested putting in two cans of Berryman's B-12 Chemtool into a relatively empty gas tank and running it. I'm not an expert but it sounds a little weird to me. All that Berryman's says is that it's "safe" for the cat/O2 sensor. Any thoughts, suggestions, ideas?

[Flashmn]

Tell your mechanically inclined friend not to open his mouth when he has nothing smart to say. A clogged cat is a clogged cat and only way you can fix that is replacing it... or well... smacking the innards out.

[JohnO356]

Yeah, if you don't have emissions inspection, you can gut the cat, but if the car is running OK and you don't have inspection, just drive it and ignore the light.

[Flashmn]

a clogged cat can cause numerous problems, one is engine failure. just a heads up

[JohnO356]

I started getting the P0420 code on my 2000 Corolla when it onjly had 60,000 miles on it. I couldn't believe it was the cat going that early, so I changed the rear O2 sensor, cleaned the MAF, etc. The car was running perfectly, but I kept getting that code: on for a week, would go off for a while, come back, etc. Finally got tired of it at about 110,000, (plus the annual emissions inspection was coming up and I didn't want to take a chance on the light) decided it must be the cat, and put a new one on. Problem solved. There was absolutely no difference in the way the car ran, same MPG, etc. I have seen on several websites that the Corolla cats aren't lasting very long, they aren't plugging up, it's a breakdown in the chemicals. You can buy a new aftermarket cat for ~$50 and if you have a buddy that has a torch, it can be welded on in 10 minutes. Don't go to the dealer-- they want $1400-1500. Maybe the low mileage cats are a bone for the dealers, LOL.

[REN69]

$1400 for a cat.. you gotta be joking.

[JohnO356]

That's what a friend of mine said until he called Hendrick Toyota and they proved me right. If you're in the States, call a dealer and see what the cost is on a 2000 Corolla. Oh, that's the INSTALLED price. Make you feel any better? Didn't think so.

[REN69]

I got my cat replaced with an aftermarket cat for $175 CDN.

[94_Rolla_Guy]

dont punch out the guts the post converter O2 checks the converter is working right, if you punch it out the CEL will come on and stay on until you get a O2 simulator which tricks the ECU or you replace the O2

[falnfenix]

Originally Posted by JohnO356

That's what a friend of mine said until he called Hendrick Toyota and they proved me right. If you're in the States, call a dealer and see what the cost is on a 2000 Corolla. Oh, that's the INSTALLED price. Make you feel any better? Didn't think so.

find a REPUTABLE exhaust shop...they can redo EVERYTHING in your exhaust for generally around $150(if you provide parts). avoid the dealership as much as possible, especially now that your car is out of warranty.