I have just bought a used Solara V6 2001, just one month ago. Soon I had a check engine light on. The firtst mechanic changed the oxygen sensor, but the light went on again. Then I took it to a second mechanic. who told me that he made an update on the computer of the car, but maybe this wont fix the problem. HE WAS RIGHT!. He explained me that this SOLARA was constructed according California rules, and the chip (or computer) was not trained for cold climates (like OHIO's where I live).. He also said that TOYOTA had made an update to the chip, but apparently the previous owner(s) had done nothing about it. In the case the update was not enough then a catalytic convertor change is nessecary. Does anybody know anything about it? Should Toyota cover a convertor change?
My Solara has 80.000 miles on it, and I have to admitt that besides that is terrific.
^^ thats the first i've heard of any update to the chip. My best bet would be for you to NOT trust mechanics and do most of the research yourself. Check at the www.alldata.com and see if any of the recall/TSB's apply to your problem. Do your own research. Go to autozone and tell them to pull the codes for the checkengine lights. Its a free service (what i usually do is end up buying them lunch at the very least). Then comes back here with your code(s) and see what needs to be replaced/tuned.
does the car run right? if not, then gut the thing... cheaper than paying 100+ for a new cat... although a 2001 shouldnt have even had time to build up any blockage for the cat..
You got screwed in the ass... just so you know, unless you brought it to a Toyota Dealership, no one updated you computer or did anything of the sort.. how much did they charge you for the 'update'? they may have RESET the computer, but thats just a matter of pulling a fuse and putting it back in...
Go to a Toyota Dealer and ask them, that is your best bet...
does the car run right? if not, then gut the thing... cheaper than paying 100+ for a new cat... although a 2001 shouldnt have even had time to build up any blockage for the cat..
You got screwed in the ass... just so you know, unless you brought it to a Toyota Dealership, no one updated you computer or did anything of the sort.. how much did they charge you for the 'update'? they may have RESET the computer, but thats just a matter of pulling a fuse and putting it back in...
Go to a Toyota Dealer and ask them, that is your best bet...
The car is OK. It does not have any problem (as it seems at least) except of cource the check engine light. The mechanic did not seem to be "in fire" to get my money. He even told that I could stand without fixing the catalyst if I do not care about emmission problem. In Ohio that I leave we do not have emmission tests so I could not fix anything. I'll give details in next post.
First of all thank you all for your help. Let me give a more detailed description.
I bought the car three months ago. As I am new in the country(just came from Greece) I did not know I should have a warranty written for this kind of car. In Greece is common that the car dealers give you at least three months of service for whatever happens. Just in case and because they have checked the car before they sell it. Here was not the same case. I had the check engine light 30 miles after I bought it.
The dealer was clear that he would not cover it but he offered to help me with mechanic and other staff if we need it -we did not know what it was then.
The mechanic next to the dealer said that at first cleared something outside the catalyst and the light went off. But after 30 miles it was on again. I took it back, he charged more labour and he chamged the oxygen sensor at the back -as he said. The light went off and then it waw on again after 30-40 miles. Then the dealer advised me to take it to another mechanic. He is supposed to be good. He used to work for Toyota.
He explained that my car is California model so tha cold weather here in along with an error from Toyota maybe had caused problem with the catalyst. He told that Toyota had solved the problem "but obviously the previous owner had done nothing" (his words at least).
So he took the car to Toyota -as he had friends there and they make something like un update to the chip.
The receipt he gave me had this description
"Check engine light stays on"
P0420 code indicating failure in catalytic convertor system. Cleared code and had German reflash e.c.u. with update. If same code comes back on will have to replace convertor and both A/F sensors"
He also told me that he saw that the other mechanic had put a new oxygen sensor.
The check engine light came on after 70 miles.
I decided to repair this thing when I would have money.
I called Toyota, they were not helpful, thay said that they need to check it (43+taxes) and then they are going to tell what next.
To be honest I do not trust official dealers because sometimes their services suck and they just charge great amount of money for nothing. But maybe at least I will check again the engine to let them explain to me what I can do.
QUOTE "apply to your problem. Do your own research. Go to autozone and tell them to pull the codes for the checkengine lights. Its a free service (what i usually do is end up buying them lunch at the very least). Then comes back here with your code(s) and see what needs to be replaced/tuned." QUOTE
The code you saw it up there. I do not know what jhbhatia means by saying go to autozone and tell them to pull the codes. How is this done? You mean by the internet?
I also checked the recal. I cannot clear if something applies to my problem. There is some recals about emmission thing and oxygen sensors but I am not sure I belong in that category.That's all.
The code P0420 means Catalyst System, Bank1 Efficiency Below Threshold
Catalyst System Efficiency Below Threshold (Bank 1)
One way to reset the computer is to leave the negative off the battery cable and reconnect it in 10 minutes. Trust me, your check engine light (CEL) will be off, but it may come back indicating you have a problem. If the dealerships (mechanics) have just being resetting the ecu and give you the car back, then they are not doing their job (and trust me, when i was a ford owner, domestic car dealers are really notorious for doing such). Get a few qutos for replacing the catalyst system then go from there.
By the way: Autozone is franchised parts shop. It has shops all across america. You can take your car to them and then they connect your car to a diagnostic machine and pull the codes OFF your ecu to their machine. Its a FREE service. its not over the internet, and you don't have to know about cars to know whats wrong. (hence my comment, since its a free service, least you could do would buy them lunch)...By going that route, you would have been able to pull the code and not paid a dime. All that money you spend on labor thus far could have gone towards repairs the car, versus what you have done thus far is spent on finding out what is wrong with the car! good luck!
The code P0420 means Catalyst System, Bank1 Efficiency Below Threshold
Catalyst System Efficiency Below Threshold (Bank 1)
One way to reset the computer is to leave the negative off the battery cable and reconnect it in 10 minutes. Trust me, your check engine light (CEL) will be off, but it may come back indicating you have a problem. If the dealerships (mechanics) have just being resetting the ecu and give you the car back, then they are not doing their job (and trust me, when i was a ford owner, domestic car dealers are really notorious for doing such). Get a few qutos for replacing the catalyst system then go from there.
By the way: Autozone is franchised parts shop. It has shops all across america. You can take your car to them and then they connect your car to a diagnostic machine and pull the codes OFF your ecu to their machine. Its a FREE service. its not over the internet, and you don't have to know about cars to know whats wrong. (hence my comment, since its a free service, least you could do would buy them lunch)...By going that route, you would have been able to pull the code and not paid a dime. All that money you spend on labor thus far could have gone towards repairs the car, versus what you have done thus far is spent on finding out what is wrong with the car! good luck!
OK thank's man! You are right that I spent money and time just working out to find the problem. But as I was told for replacing the catalyst system it could go up to $1300, so I do not know yet. Also that thing with the california specifications car annoys me. When I ask for quotes for catalysts the first question is if I have california specifications car and then they inform me that they do not have catalyst for that. Of course elsewhere I have found catalysts and etc...
That is why I am thinking to spend some more money ($50 or something) to ask also a TOYOTA authorised service dealer (This is the price to put the car in diagnosting) and give me an answer if I should look for "californian" catalyst or "domestic" one. Or maybe I could go to an autozone parts shop and maybe they could give me some details if they know something more.
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Solara V6 catalytic converter problem
. He explained me that this SOLARA was constructed according California rules, and the chip (or computer) was not trained for cold climates (like OHIO's where I live).. He also said that TOYOTA had made an update to the chip, but apparently the previous owner(s) had done nothing about it. In the case the update was not enough then a catalytic convertor change is nessecary. Does anybody know anything about it? Should Toyota cover a convertor change? 
Desi Toyota Dude Here!!!
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