Best aftermarket cat. converter?

If you live in a state that does not require an OEM unit from Toyota, then any reputable "Muffler Shop" can hook you up. The local market will determine fair price, but $500 and less is not unheard of for a generic aftermarket unit in Texas. I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but last I heard your screwed in California. Click on you screen name and update your location to help us better help you.

 

This is not true. Some modification may be required for a generic unit to fit, but a reputable shop includes that in their cost. This is just the Dealership "Service Adviser" just trying to scare you into paying their outrageous price, part of which he or she makes a commission from.

 

What codes were retrieved for the replacement of the cat? As often the O2 censer in the exhaust can give this problem. Also what millage is on the car, and how much oil do you have to use to top up?

John (Britprius)

 

Cats don't last forever. Also, I would shop around for an installer instead of just going to the place recommended by the Adviser...but I'm sure you already knew that.

 

Just thought it worth checking, but at that millage, and with some oil use I guess the cat is likely. It is notable that the Prius does tend to use oil at reasonably high millage. However a qt in 5000 miles is not considered high.
My own car is not using any measurable oil using 0w-20 oil at 10,000 mile oil changes at 112,000 miles. I do keep a close eye on the level just in case.

John (Britprius)

 

The biggest problem is removing the 2 censers to change the cat. These often seize in due to the heat cycles of the exhaust and require thin wall sockets to get to them.

John (Britprius)

 

We can not speculate your boyfriends abilities and tooling so that's your call. This is a federally regulated smog item though, so consider your options accordingly. Some pipe welding "may" be required, as it was on my truck when I had a shop install an aftermarket Cat.

 

I should have added there is no specific electrical problem when changing the cat but it would be prudent to disconnect the 12 volt battery.

John (Britprius)

 

What mileage are people seeing cat failures?

 

exhaust system is the same as any other modern car. if he knows how to use an acetylene torch, it will not be difficult for him.

 

My friend Tom has 145000 miles now, but I believe his CEL illuminated sometime around 115,000 miles with the dreaded bad catalytic converter code.

I have 95500 miles and Im still good (knocks on wood), but when I check the live data on Techstream, it doesnt seem the catalyst is very efficient - there is a data field that measures efficiency of the catalyst and the number was really low IMO. I wouldnt be surprised if mine went bad in the next 20000 miles.

 

Has anybody tried to connect capacitor parallel to second o2-sensor (maybe also resistor in between sensor and capacitor) to get that catalyst capacity (calculation) up?

 

How does the Prius drive when it needs a new cat? Is passing gov. tests the reason why a cat has to be replaced, or can they just keep on going indefinitely with a bad cat??

 

Bad catalytic converter doesn’t effect drivability or fuel consumption unless it’s clogged up. If it’s still cleaning exhaust but just not enough for ecu then it’s not clogged.

If it’s really clogged you ca drill hole thought it. Even with hole drilled through it can still probably pass some sort of emission test as long as you can find a way to get rid of fault code.