Hello, my prius started to lose engine coolant and i went to a car shop and they diagnosed that it is leaking at the catalytic, and i got a quote for almost $3,000 for catalytic replacement. I searched the internet and found out about coolant bypass as a fix is it a safe alternative long term? And is there a mechanic here in the bay area that you can recommend that can do a bypass? Thanks!
Welcome... The exhaust gas heat exchanger is part of the emissions control system. Under CARB rules, it's warrantied for 15 years or 150K miles, since it was originally sold as a PZEV. If you meet those specifications, it's a free repair. If your just over 150K miles, you can ask the dealership for a good-faith replacement, since there's a TSB out for this issue. It never hurts to ask; worse they could do is say, NO. California Vehicle and Emissions Warranty Periods | California Air Resources Board I'm looking at your three attachments and concerned about your middle one. The exhaust gas heat exchanger and catalytic converter is a one piece assembly; the $900+ labor dollars seems excessive. Also the heat exchanger is behind the catalytic converter, so leaks isn't going to damage it; but can cause the car to overheat - due to low coolant. I'd probably shop around. According to that estimate, you could buy the OEM part outright and pay any muffler shop a couple hundred to install it. 4-6 screws and gaskets; would take them less than an hour, unless there's a lot of rust on it. https://parts.olathetoyota.com/v-2017-toyota-prius--two-eco--1-8l-l4-electric-gas/exhaust--catalytic-converter FWIW; if you bypass that heat exchanger and the smog stations sees it - They can FAIL you and/or say you were tampering/bypassing emission control device. I don't know of any 'honest' mechanic that would do that, they could lose their license and/or get fined. Hope this helps.....
You could in theory bypass it, then put a catshield up to cover it a bit. Most SMOG stations don't get too busy under there and some don't even check under the hood these days.
It's way safer than what you are doing now by continuing to drive it. Your engine and head gasket are the big concern. I would bypass it as a diagnostic to verify no engine damage has occurred. A bypass will not damage the catalytic converter. A coolant leak can and will ruin your engine. There is a method to bypass it from the top although you have to remove the windshield wiper motor and base to access it. This video starts with the wiper cowl removed which is not hard. A no parts required fix you could do in your driveway. The alternative is replace which could be done later for thousands and not diy. Below Capture from Gasket Masters Gen4 Bypass No Parts Required Video
@BiomedO1 Hello, thanks for the detailed reply, my Prius is already over 170k miles so i dont know if they'll do the warranty. About buying an OEM parts i really dont have any experience or any knowledge in doing that. About the price, what do you think is the fair price for parts and labor? And for the smog test i just had a smog test a few months ago and i think its gonna be in another two years before i get to do that again, may be in that time ill be able to afford to do the catalytic replacement. I thought of doing the bypass myself and watched some youtube videos but its too complicated for a person who dont even know how to change oil hehe. Do you think it would be difficult to find someone to do it? Id rather pay someone $500 to do bypass than to pay $3000 at an auto shop.
I dont think i can do bypass myself i dont have any experience in doing it. If you live close the bay area lmk id rather pay you $500 than to pay $3000 for catalytic replacement hehe. I wish i could do the bypass myself but i dont have any tools or experience doing it. If you live near the bay area lmk ill rather pay you $500 than to pay $3000 for catalytic.
I believe Gasket Masters (one of the videos linked above by @rjparker) services “the bay area”. That said, the bypass they show is quite straightforward, for DIY. In the video that process starts around 3:00. They don't mention, but the wiper/motor and underlying metal cowl look to have been removed.
They hook up to the obd port and it’s done in five minutes including drive in and out. For cars 2000 and newer.
Depends on the SMOG station, and the person running it. I've had a guy take a mirror on a stick under the car and complain about my catshield...also pop the hood and complain about a visible oil catch can.
Take your car registration into any Toyota dealership and ask them for the part numbers of the catalytic converter assembly with the two gaskets that it requires to replace it. Take those part numbers and do an online search for best price, including shipping. Make sure it's Ca EPA compliant and OEM Toyota part, NOT a no-name replacement part. If you buy a OEM Toyota part, that should be Ca compliant. You can go back to the dealership and ask them to match the online price; sometimes they will. Take the car to any muffler shop, they'll charge you an hour to 1.5 hours labor to replace it. Don't quote me on this, but I believe bay area labor rates are around $150/hr???? That's why I was appalled at the $900+ your first shop wanted to charge you. Make sure you check the coolant levels every-time BEFORE you drive the car; so you don't damage the engine. Keep an eye on the coolant levels for a few weeks after the job is done; just in case someone screwed up.... Good Luck.....
They aren’t required to do that as far as I know. Two mins per car is the place I go. No hood popping, no looking. 96-99 measure gas at the tail pipe and do a visual all equipment is present and looks connected, maybe 10-15 mins. If they are required to do any visual then my station is cheating. They aren’t, it is a volume business for decades and it’s all they do, $52 out the door. Maybe it is because Prius gets cat theft and people do all kinds of things to get going again cheap. I don’t need to get mine smogged until 2028. Pretty sure the obd tells them everything.
Technically; they aren't required to do anything but make sure all the green lights pop up on their OBD2 scanner. But when that technician signs-off, they're saying that all OEM emissions control devices are intact and there's NO illegal modifications. If a few weeks passes and someone finds rusted-on illegal modifications (that's been on there for a long time) - that technician would be on the hook for that. But I may be a bit paranoid...... FWIW; the shop I go to always checks my gas filler neck and does a quick look under my hood. He's never jacked up my car or put a mirror under it.
