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Catalytic Converter Replacement
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| | #1 |
| Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bay Area CA
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Friends: 0 | '01 Prius. Well maintained. 132,000 on the clock. Check engine light came on and dealer said it was for the catalytic converter needing to be replaced for $2,100.00 !! Midas said $1,800.00. Is there a cheaper option even if the car is a little "less green"? I know it will pass the smog check even with a straight pipe! Has anyone put on a universal replacement??Thanks! Jay |
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| | #2 | |
| High Fiber Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: South OC So Cal & the Flathead Valley MT
Posts: 7,140
My Car: 2004 Prius Model: N/A Package: #9 Thanks: 126
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Friends: 24 | [quote=bluejayrover @ Sep 8 2007, 04:03 PM) [snapback]509173[/snapback]</div> Quote:
From the death of my Daughter's Chevy Caviler Cat Converter] 82K miles, I learned the hard way, more than I ever wanted to know on the topic: 1) What I learned applies to CA, and your avatar shows the Bay area so this is applicable 2) Even older cars in CA with only 12K or 36K factory warranties, still have an 80K warranty on the Cat Converter. 3) Hybrid systems in CA (and a few other states) are warranted longer than most states, and as part of the broader topic of "emissions controls" - that system is warranted to 150K. But I don't know if they include the Cat Converter with the broader topic of the hybrid / emissions system. I'd find out if it applies. Even if it does apply, if the car was originally bought out of state, all bets are off. Other state's cut off at 100K. 4) There are modular sensors in front of, and behind the Cat Converter that die, and more than one dealer has wrongly diagnosed the Converter as being dead, when sometimes it's just the front sensor (lots of heat there) With that in mind, and at a cost of maybe $80 or so, it may be worth changing that out (when pulled, they look crispy some times), and seeing if the emission system can then be reset. For some cars, that's as simple as pulling the battery terminal off. Others need the scan tool. Lastly, since hybrids are exempt from smog system inspections every 2 years in CA ... at least for now, you're not going to have to worry about getting your registration when it comes up for renewal. Good luck! | |
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| | #3 |
| Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: SW-Side of Chicago, IL
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My Car: 2010 Prius Model: IV Package: Solar Roof Thanks: 1
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Friends: 13 | It may not be the converter that needs replacing. Your generation Prius had a HC (hydrocarbon) adsorber with a valve that gets corroded. However, if the valve can't be freed-up you will need to replace the entire assembly. Wayne |
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| | #4 |
| mostly benevolent Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: MD
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Friends: 27 | the pipe is about $1500, maybe $1800. but if you get charged more than an hour and a half labor to install, you're getting screwed. |
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| | #5 | |||||
| Senior Member Join Date: May 2005
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Friends: 0 | Let's take a step back, and see if we can supply this person with more accurate information... <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(hill @ Sep 8 2007, 05:16 PM) [snapback]509188[/snapback]</div> Quote:
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(hill @ Sep 8 2007, 05:16 PM) [snapback]509188[/snapback]</div> Quote:
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(hill @ Sep 8 2007, 05:16 PM) [snapback]509188[/snapback]</div> Quote:
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(hill @ Sep 8 2007, 05:16 PM) [snapback]509188[/snapback]</div> Quote:
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(hill @ Sep 8 2007, 05:16 PM) [snapback]509188[/snapback]</div> Quote:
If the original poster can supply codes, that may be helpful. | |||||
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| | #6 |
| Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Kunming Yunnan China
Posts: 3,163
My Car: 2001 Prius Model: Package: Pioneer #1 Thanks: 5
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Friends: 16 | Early on, sticky HCAC valves were somewhat common in classic Prius (At least in winter road salt areas). Indeed the only exhaust system TSBs relate to this. A very appropriate early step would be to verify function of the HCAC valve. [attachmentid=11296] [attachmentid=11297] Under the above TSBs, paid coverage would be limited to 80k miles per federal, or by negotiation with Toyota. Generic DTCs related to the O2 sensors would be in the P0130 to P0141 range, approximately. Jay, I would dissuade you from even considering a straight pipe exhaust modification. Prius engine gets some critical operational info from the exhaust system sensors. Probably you were just kidding
__________________ DAS Tochatihu, the Hopi hummingbird kachina |
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| | #7 |
| Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Austin, TX
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Friends: 0 | I'm having a similar problem on my 2001 Prius. The engine light came on, so I took it in and they said it was the catalytic converter and said it would cost me $1700 + two gaskets + 2.5 hours of labor to total $2186. The diagnostic code they gave was the typical P0420. However, I question that the Toyota techs actually did anything except hook it up to the computer and get the code. They did not mention anything about checking any of the O2 sensors or checking anything. If it turns out it is the catalytic converter, what would the disadvantage be to buying a $100 generic one and sticking it on the car? $2100 is a bit of an obnoxious price. |
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| | #8 |
| Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: kansas
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My Car: 2002 Prius Model: Package: Base Thanks: 11
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Friends: 0 | Hello, My '02 Prius has the 420 (my, that sounds suspicious!). 280k miles, and the old girl DOES burn a little oil, so I am thinking the catconv may in fact have a little congestion. Some things I have tried, or plan to: -crawling underneath and checking the hcac valve. That one was kind of grey-area- I didn't know what to check for other than absolute frozen status. I was reluctant to force the thing back and forth, so I just jiggled it and it seemed free. -New spark plugs. That actually helped for a while, believe it or not. I am guessing that the improved combustion raised overall efficiency juuuuust enough to meet the onboard computer's standards? It didn't last, and the CE light came back on after a while. But that indicated proper operation of the hcac valve and the fore and aft sensors, right? -sensors. The good ones are not super cheap, and they come with the front-pipe assembly if I end up buying one of those expensive bastards after all. I am not one to throw parts at a problem, unless they are cheap ones. These sensors are not real easy to swap out, either. Am I thinking straight here? -reading and clearing that CE light every now and then, just to make sure the catconv is the only issue. Things wear out after a quarter million miles! |
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| | #9 |
| Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Whitesboro, NY
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My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #9 Thanks: 0
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Friends: 0 | I have a 2004 Prius and P0420 coming up from time to time. I'm not sure if it's o2 sensor or catalytic converter. I live in New York state and I'm wondering if it might be covered by 150,000 mile warranty. Can anyone explain? I found this: " Coverage in California Emission Warranty States is up to 10-Years / 150,000-Miles. States include: California, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania and Vermont." |
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| | #10 | |
| Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: SF Bay Area, CA
Posts: 8,447
My Car: 2006 Prius Model: N/A Package: #7 Thanks: 1,521
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Friends: 8 | Quote:
You should notice that in your warranty booklet manual, the cat is covered for 15 years/150K miles in CARB states. Last edited by cwerdna; 03-20-2011 at 06:50 AM. | |
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| catalytic, converter, replacement |
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'01 Prius. Well maintained. 132,000 on the clock. Check engine light came on and dealer said it was for the catalytic converter needing to be replaced for $2,100.00 !! Midas said $1,800.00. Is there a cheaper option even if the car is a little "less green"? I know it will pass the smog check even with a straight pipe! Has anyone put on a universal replacement??













