Catalytic Converter question

[shuvelhead]

Scenario. Engine light on Toyota Tundra 2000(+/-) with 160,000 miles came on. Took to dealer. Service department said the catalytic converter needed to be replaced. $4,000 later, done. A couple days later, engine light back on. Back to dealer who said the sensor was bad. $400 later I'm wondering if the catalytic converter was a problem in the first place. I have it in my possession. Is there any way to tell, or can anyone tell me by looking, if it actually needed replacing at all, and if it could have just been the sensor? I have had no problems with the truck and have kept it well-maintained since buying it new way back when.

 

[Beta]

Scenario. Engine light on Toyota Tundra 2000(+/-) with 160,000 miles came on. Took to dealer. Service department said the catalytic converter needed to be replaced. $4,000 later, done. A couple days later, engine light back on. Back to dealer who said the sensor was bad. $400 later I'm wondering if the catalytic converter was a problem in the first place. I have it in my possession. Is there any way to tell, or can anyone tell me by looking, if it actually needed replacing at all, and if it could have just been the sensor? I have had no problems with the truck and have kept it well-maintained since buying it new way back when.

I found your problem --> you went to the dealer, where they treat you like a 1-time customer and try to rip you off (especially the one down here, they tried to rip me off and I've never been back). The catalytic converter/O2 sensor engine light is one of the biggest pains in the rear because there are so many possible issues. It can be as simple of a fix as wiping some little doohicky that's covered in crap (sorry, I'm not really a car person so I forget the name) to a bad sensor to the catalytic converter. I have a similar vehicle with a similar amount of mileage that has the check engine light on and I'm working my way through things. BY THE WAY -- the only real issue (with what I've been told) is you may get slightly worse mileage, but to this point I haven't noticed much of an impact.

Have you driven long enough to see if the sensor is the issue? I'd consider talking to the dealer, maybe a manager. If the $400 sensor magically fixed it then odds are you didn't have both malfunction at the same time so they should be sensible enough to realize the catalytic converter wasn't the problem.

Also, do you know what code(s) came up with your check engine light?

 

[limblips]

Scenario. Engine light on Toyota Tundra 2000(+/-) with 160,000 miles came on. Took to dealer. Service department said the catalytic converter needed to be replaced. $4,000 later, done. A couple days later, engine light back on. Back to dealer who said the sensor was bad. $400 later I'm wondering if the catalytic converter was a problem in the first place. I have it in my possession. Is there any way to tell, or can anyone tell me by looking, if it actually needed replacing at all, and if it could have just been the sensor? I have had no problems with the truck and have kept it well-maintained since buying it new way back when.

$4000 for a catalytic converter? You were completely ripped off. That is (at retail) maybe a $400 part. Online I found it quickly for less than $300. Even with labor, that job should not cost over $700-$800. They must have done something else, like an engine replacement! If all they did was the CC replacement and diagnostic, you were ripped off and should take action.

 

[limblips]

$4000 for a catalytic converter? You were completely ripped off. That is (at retail) maybe a $400 part. Online I found it quickly for less than $300. Even with labor, that job should not cost over $700-$800. They must have done something else, like an engine replacement! If all they did was the CC replacement and diagnostic, you were ripped off and should take action.

More research: http://community.cartalk.com/discussion/2280263/4k-for-catalytic-converter-replacement/p2
From this it appears Toyota OEM converters are VERY pricey! If you have 2, then if they used OEM parts, I guess the number could be defended but I would want proof they used OEM parts. Personally, I never take an out of warranty vehicle to the dealer.

 

[RPMDAD]

Doesn't sound like that dealer did you any favors at all that price sounds way to high to me. I doubt the Cat went out followed by a sensor a day or 2 later.

 

[Vince]

$4000 for a catalytic converter? You were completely ripped off. That is (at retail) maybe a $400 part. Online I found it quickly for less than $300. Even with labor, that job should not cost over $700-$800. They must have done something else, like an engine replacement! If all they did was the CC replacement and diagnostic, you were ripped off and should take action.

I wouldn't pay $4000 for an entire exhaust system including the catalytic converter. No way.

 

[Checkered_Flag]

Its possible to replace a cat, put the old O2 sensors in a new cat, then the O2 sensors fail soon after. It's good idea to just put new O2 sensors in a new cat anyway.

 

[PeoplesElbow]

I had a Toyota and I was told the catalytic converter had a life time warranty and mine was replaced free of charge on an 8 year old Toyota.

 

[Checkered_Flag]

PeoplesElbow:More than likely it wasn't a lifetime warranty on the converter. By law the manufacturer has to cover certain emissions parts (converter, ECU, OBD) for 8 years or 80,000 miles, whichever comes first.
http://www.epa.gov/obd/pubs/420f09048.pdf