Yesterday I got my check engine light. Went to autozone and they pulled code PO420 (Catalyst Efficiency below threshold (Bank 1) )
Now here are my questions:

1. could it be just an O2 sensor malfunctioning?
2. Is it the whole catalytic convertor shot?

I have done the folowing things withing the past three monts.

1. Sea foam through pcv hose
2. Deck plate mod
3. Cleaned Intake butterfly with the carb cleaner
4. Replaced PCV valve with an after market AC Delco one which was sold by autozone and said it was the right one for my 2002 2wd 4runner (More on that later).

When I checked on this code it said that one of the possible causes was a vacum leak, due to poor pcv valve performance. Well...a few days after installing that AC Delco pvc valve I had noticed this buzzing sound coming from somewhere but could not pin point where it was coming from. Today I found out that the buzzing sound was coming from the pcv valve and when trying to remove it it was loose and basically came apart. So my guess is that this valve was faulty because of the buzzing.

Do you guys think that this faulty pcv valve could have caused damage to the catalytic system??

Now I know that the emission system is covered by a 80k warranty or 8 years. But before I deal with the Stealer I want to try to get an original toyota pcv valve and clean the O2 sensor with a sensor cleaning product and also run this product
http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/P...p-3201/c-10101
and then clear the code and see if it appears again.

Do you guys think this is a good idea before arguing about a warranty claim the the stealer??

would you think they would give me hell if they find out I got the deck plate mode and use it as an excuse for not paying for my catalytic convertor??

thanks for your help

 

lots of views but no one have chimed in yet. C'mon guys help me out

 

The deckplate mod isn't going to affect your cat whatsoever. Using crappy parts probably won't either. It may cause a little blowby and might screw up some stuff long term. The correct pcv valve isn't expensive and I would never touch an AC Delco part for my Toyota and it's 15 years old. Not too sure that using an aftermarket pcv valve is going to grenade your cat either. I wouldn't waste you time or money with the "cleaner/deodorizer". Take the o2 sensor and check it with an ohm meter and see what you have to deal with there first.

 

You didn't mention what year your rig is, but this may help regarding the code:

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/show...ighlight=p0420

 

Hard to see, but vehicle info was in his first post.

What's your mileage? If you are still under warranty, then take it in (with the deckplate closed to avoid hassle).

If not, then get a FSM and start testing parts with a multi-meter. No sense in throwing parts at it without checking things first.

 

People have ahd problems with Seafoam and the O2 Sensor see here:

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/show...hlight=Seafoam

 

[QUOTE=<96 Runner>]Hard to see, but vehicle info was in his first post...QUOTE]

Me bad. One day I'll learn to read...

 

[QUOTE=Rick F.]I almost missed it too.

 

UPDATE:
Went to the stealership, and they told me my catalytic converter is shot and that they would replace it free of charge under warranty. But here is the good story:

They told me my MAF sensor needed replacement and that an intake throttle cleaning was needed in order to make sure everything would stay fine. The wanted to charge me $350 dolaers for those 2 extra things (MAF AND CLEANING)

I did not believe on my MAF being bad because I haven't got a CEL on it and the first thing I did to my car after joining Yotatech was to clean my intake/throtle with carb cleaning and also seafomed thru pcv hose. So I refused to get those two things done after much arguing.

The try to rip you off!!

THANKS TO YOTATECH AND YOU GUYS I HAVE BECAME MUCH MORE SAAVY ABOUT MY CAR, YOU GUYS ARE A VALUABE ASSET.

Thank you!!!

Ps: I know the Toyota dealer can pul more info on a code but could they pull codes that the regular machines dont pull???

thanks to all of you

 

Dude, I wonder if Seafoam smoked your cat?

 

no I dont think seafoam did it....I think it was the faulty after market pcv beacuse it was buzzing badly