jrdo410

hi everybody, long time reader but first time poster. I have a 2000 4runner sr5, 3.4L. I live in Idaho (in the one county that has emission testing), but it is a California car, with a CA cat.

One repair shop told me I have to replace it with a CA cat - because the computer will not recognize a Federal Cat. Another shop told me, it does not matter (as long as I'm registering here, not CA).

Any thoughts? It makes a $100 difference. ($800 v. $900)

vegaskurt

If you do not ever plan on registering it in CA, you can just get a 49 state cat and call it a day.

But $800 is horrid, you can get a magnaflow 49 state cat for well under $200.

jrdo410

How much to install though? I'm not at all qualified.

And by the way, that is to replace both cats, I guess there are two.

Thanks for the response.

Night-rider123

Im not familiar with emission test but you may get a CEL with different cat due to O2 sensors reading different then the computer thinks it should. The correct way is to get two new cats that designed for your truck from toyota.

Sensei

If the o2 sensor is upstream from the cat then it only reads pre-cat gases. Some vehicles have 2 sensors, one upstream and one downstream.

49 state cats have 2 beds, CA cats have 3 beds. If Idaho emissions fall under the 49 state rule ( which they do ) then get the cheaper cat.

irab88

iTrader: (4)

i have a cali '93 22r-e with a 49-state cat. no codes, and passed emissions like a prius

Night-rider123

Well give it a shot then. its just that i work as a tech and have learned a lesson of how picky some ecm's are with aftermarket cats so we only install oem cats on now.

jrdo410

So go with CA cats?

Inferno451

Universal catalytic converters are like $50 on Ebay. I don't imagine you'd have any trouble with a 49 state cat, but don't quote me on that.

Night-rider123

I would simply because you cant go wrong installing the correct part.

TheDurk

The two cat system on '99 and '00 CA 4Runners, and all 4Runners in '01 and '02 is a sensitive beast. A P0420 code is a virtual guarantee if you just slap a 49-state aftermarket cat in there. URDUSA.com sells a simulator that can solve that problem. Even an after market CA cat may set a code.

If you have emissions testing, even outside CA, the car is required to perform to specs as built under Federal Law and will never pass with a MIL light on. I'd get the CA cat(s).

vegaskurt

Take his advice, my experience is with the pre-99 years which are not picky at all. As long as the rear o2 sensor sees less emissions than the front its happy.

TheDurk

Just let me add, I did a quick check and Idaho DOES rely on the OBDII on-board diagnostics and it doesn't matter if tailpipe emissions are within 49-state standards. A quick look here is all it takes:

http://www.idahovip.org/site/faq.htm

So you need to perform to Cali. spec as determined by your on-board diagnostics or you need a sim (illegal, btw).

jrdo410

Thanks a lot - you guys have all been very helpful.