best place to get a cat for 98 4runner 2.7?

[FastOlds]

My 98 has thrown a p0420 code, and only after 178k miles. Where can i get a decent cat to replace the OEM one? Its a 4 cyl, auto, 4wd, and has a stock exhaust manifold on it. Looking for a direct replacement. Gonna check the local stores first, but need to know if there is an awesome replacement that is a "must have". I'm sure the OEM one is way out of my price range.

Thanks
Adam Friday
olds.gbody@comcast.net

[YotaFun]

did you check the o2 sensors to make sure its not the issue?

sometime it might be that easy....

[FastOlds]

well, its been my experience that a cat code is just that. now i have to admit that the sensors are oem, but usually, at least in GM world, when you get a p0420, you need a cat.

i'll check the data with the scanner tonight just to make sure.

thanks

[Small_words]

I did some pricing on cats because I have a rattle coming from the cat which I'm pretty sure means that one of the internal baffles is broken. The OEM one cost about $220 I think. You can get a Flowmaster version through LC Engineering for about $100 I think.

[Rock Slide]

I did some pricing on cats because I have a rattle coming from the cat which I'm pretty sure means that one of the internal baffles is broken. The OEM one cost about $220 I think. You can get a Flowmaster version through LC Engineering for about $100 I think.


I got a baffle broken inside of my ’02 4Runner too! Drives me nuts hearing it rattling around.

An OEM cat for $220 does not sound right. I just called my local dealer and they quoted me $1,700.00 for a new cat on a ’98 4Runner 4cyl. Can’t see it being different from one that fits a ’96?

I also called about the cat on my own 4Runner. My 4Runenr has 2 cats, but it’s the 2nd one inline that’s rattling. I was told it would cost $1,118.00. I don’t see myself getting a new oem cat anytime soon. No codes are being thrown, it just rattles to hell.

I did learn that the Gov’t will replace your OEM cat (up to $1,000) w/ a new OEM cat for only $200 if it is found that your stock cat has failed. It’s part of their “Go Green” campaign. They will be here in AL thru the end of the year. I went and had mine tested about 2 months ago, once I found where they would be, and guess what….my 4Runner had the cleanest emissions they had seen in 2 weeks!! They said they’ve seen more new cars with worse emissions than mine. Crap, so much for me getting a new OEM cat for only $318 installed.

[fenrisx]

Do you have anymore info on this Rock Slide? I'm throwing the same code and I just called the Walser Toyota in Minneaopolis and was quoted $175 in labor, and $1,036 for parts on my 2000 4Runner. He said they range from $400 to over $1000 in parts depending on the 4Runner. They needed my VIN to pull up the right one. I'm not sure if it would really matter though..




I did learn that the Gov’t will replace your OEM cat (up to $1,000) w/ a new OEM cat for only $200 if it is found that your stock cat has failed. It’s part of their “Go Green” campaign. They will be here in AL thru the end of the year. I went and had mine tested about 2 months ago, once I found where they would be, and guess what….my 4Runner had the cleanest emissions they had seen in 2 weeks!! They said they’ve seen more new cars with worse emissions than mine. Crap, so much for me getting a new OEM cat for only $318 installed.

[MTL_4runner]

If your truck is a 96-98 (4 or 6 cyl) then you can replace your cat with a single aftermarket one. The 99-02 (4 or 6 cyl) needs to have two cats installed but I haven't seen anyone try replacing with dual aftermarket cats.

If you're going to get an aftermarket cat, the best brand seems to be magnaflow but of course there are others as well. Each cat should be less than $200 typically about 1/10th the price of a new one at the dealer. Remember that if you have two cats, you'll need to install 2 replacement cats (failure to do so will almost assuredly give you a CEL).

[fenrisx]

There's a pretty long, and few year old, post on YT I found yesterday about someone going from 2 cats to 1. From what I gathered, keep in mind I was tired and I'm sick so my comprehension is a bit off, is you'll need a part from URD that makes the computer think one of the missing o2 sensors (from dropping to 1 cat) is within spec. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

So now I'm considering that option when tax time rolls around again. I can't afford the $1,100 to have the dealership do it.

[MTL_4runner]

There's a pretty long, and few year old, post on YT I found yesterday about someone going from 2 cats to 1. From what I gathered, keep in mind I was tired and I'm sick so my comprehension is a bit off, is you'll need a part from URD that makes the computer think one of the missing o2 sensors (from dropping to 1 cat) is within spec. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

So now I'm considering that option when tax time rolls around again. I can't afford the $1,100 to have the dealership do it.


I remember that post and yes you could try it but I've seen cases where the URD work around didn't stop the CEL from turing on. If I were you I'd get the two replacement Magnaflow converters (assuming you have two now) and replace them. Then if you still have a CEL, try the URD work around. It will be a heck of alot cheaper than the dealer. You may also try replacing the rear O2 sensor because if that is faulty, it may cause the P0420 code as could air leaks in the exhaust system before and between the converters (so check for those too).

[fenrisx]

Is there a way to see if there are two cats or not, other than looking under the 4Runner? By VIN number perhaps?

[MTL_4runner]

Is there a way to see if there are two cats or not, other than looking under the 4Runner? By VIN number perhaps?


Best method is to just go under the vehicle and look.

[Rock Slide]

fenrisx, this is a lengthy post, but here goes:

Link to the Alabama gov't sponsored replacement program: http://www.alabamacleanair.org/testing.html. You'll have to find something similar for your state.

To know 100% whether or not you have 2 cats or 1, the best bet is to look under your vehicle at your exhaust and see for yourself. The 1 cat system ran up and thru 2000 for 49 States. Cali vehicles got 2 cats.

In 2001, Toyota decided to go w/ a 50 state legal exhaust system (no more 2 cats for Cali and 1 for every other state.) Therefore, if you have a '01 - '02 4Runner, then you definitely have 2 cats. Being that you have a ’00, there’s a good chance you only have one cat. Just crawl under there and have a look see.

Before you go throwing money at your 4Runner, you may want to have either the dealer or a reputable shop diagnose the problem first (if you have not already done so). At least then you can decide what route to take to fix your problem. It may be a simple as a faulty o2 sensor.

BTW, magnaflow makes a universal "high flow" cat. You can usually find them online and on ebay for around $70. However, install one of these cats and I'll bet your 4Runner still throws a code. There's a reason why oem cats are over a $1,000. They have precious metals that excel at trapping exhaust gases...the cheaper knockoffs don't. Thus the reason they're so cheap. A reputable muffler shop here in town will not even install theses cats for run of the mill customers just for this very reason.

If you’re in for some light reading, check out my latest discovery w/ my own noisy cat and how my local dealer almost screwed me out of a $1.000! http://www.yotatech.com/f2/baffle-broken-inside-cat-converter-how-fix-187082/

If either or both of my cats ever fail, I’m going w/ the URD Simulator. As long as your o2 sensors are working properly, the URD Sim tricks the vehicle into thinking your have a working cat installed…when actually, you don’t.