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Cat Converter Problem in 2008 Prius II

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by Mattdr28, Jul 17, 2024 at 12:34 PM.

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  1. Mattdr28

    Mattdr28 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 20, 2014
    28
    2
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    Location:
    Washington, DC
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    My cat converter was stolen about 3 years ago and I had it replaced with after market kind. About a month ago the check engine light code came on and the OBE reader showed code P0420. About a day late it suddenly went off. Took the car to the dealer and the service manager (who ostensibly owns the same model) told me it's the cat. He told me these after market cats only last a few years. He also told me it won't hurt to drive the car as-is, just the emission quality will go down. I live in DC and they don't check emissions on a hybrid. Yesterday the P0420 code came on again. Thinking about replacing with a Walker or Magna flow. Don't want to spend $1000 on another converter given that the car has 175K mi on it and if these after market models only last a couple years why should I invest that kind of money in it?
    Thoughts?
    Anyone have concerns about driving with a degraded or bad cat? Does it hurt the car?
    What about Magnaflow or Walker brand cats? Any experience with these?
     
    #1 Mattdr28, Jul 17, 2024 at 12:34 PM
    bisco likes this.
  2. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 29, 2020
    9,096
    1,576
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    Location:
    Durham NC
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    Base
    I live in a non-emissions county in North Carolina I don't have to have anything done except honk the horn and pump the brakes turn signals if option. I would enjoy my time living that way. If you really want to get another converter and stick it on the car that is obviously completely up to you currently If you move to Virginia and other states you will have to do this at great cost so I would say stay in DC where you are and enjoy the car I've had the PO420 up on my '09 for 5 years and when I got the car it was getting 47 mi to the gallon
     
    #2 Tombukt2, Jul 17, 2024 at 3:13 PM
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