Catalytic Converter and O2 Sensor both replaced

had two bad O2 sensors on my Tundra, LH sensor one and RH sensor 2 no cat problems though. It's entirely possible that the cat was defective from the get go. mean it's just made by a machine and as long as it passes inspection it's on to the production floor. Was it changed under warranty or did they try and stick you with the cost?

 

wife had a Chrysler Sebring and when the O2 sensor packed it in it would intermittently shut down to an idle and wouldn't accelerate. No CEL either and then about a week later the CEL comes on. Dang near got hit trying to cross a busy street when it did it.

 

Similar thing happened to my husband and a few years ago in his Celica. Check engine light intermittantly came on, would always go away again. Probably should have taken it in immediately, but it was fresh out of warranty... needed O2 sensor and catalytic converter replaced when all was said and done. Actually why we're getting the extended warranty - it gives me a few more miles per year to drive, and means I don't have to worry about stuff like this for 7 years instead of three. Glad to hear they got it fixed (if slowly) and gave you a decent rental car. Sorry you didn't like the Camry - glad your car is back on the road

 

I'm sure a handful of O2 sensors will fail early. As Frank mentioned, anything made will statistically follow certain failure modes. There is an entire branch of math devoted to this: FMECA (Failure Mode Effect and Criticality Analysis).

A bad O2 sensor can cause a motor to run too rich, and that will quickly overheat and ruin a catalytic converter. A tank of contaminated gas, especially with high levels of metal additives like MMT (Methylcyclopentadienyl Manganese Tricarbonyl) or tetraethyl lead, can quickly ruin an O2 sensor.

At one time, it was considered Preventative Maintenance to replace an O2 sensor every 50,000-70,000 miles. Not sure if that now applies, O2 sensors are way more expensive.

 

the heated O2 sensors on the Tundra were famous for not heating in the required time and the computer put the CEL on. There was a TSB on it but Toyota wouldn't change them once the initial warranty period was over. PMO because the second one failed 2800 Km past the end of the warranty period. That's when I found out about the TSB and took it to Toyota and they said to bad your past the warranty. Sent a letter to consumer and corporate affairs but no reply ever. Replace that one with an after market Bosch and shortly after sold the truck.

 

Frank:

Geez does that bite.

My 2000 GMC Sierra with Vortec 5.3 had 4 O2 sensors: one before each catalytic converter, and one downstream of the catalytic converter.

For giggles I asked the idiot GMC garage where I bought the damn thing from what it would cost to replace all 4: $940 dollars.

Jay

 

ya the Tundra had 4 as well 2 upstream and 2 down stream and they were $112 each. The Bosch was $87 and you changed the connector from the old Toyata sensor on to the wires on it and the Bosch worked fine. In the TSB it stated that the O2 sensor didn't heat (pre-heat) fast enough to satisify the computer. As most O2 sensors are heated types nowadays to get the system into trim faster things have gotten more expensive and complicated. No more $28 O2 sensors.

 

Toyota O2 sensors cheaper than GMC O2 sensors?

Hmmmm.

 

Since you live in California, I thought all emissions-related components (O2 sensor, Catalytic converter, etc) were covered for 10 years or 150,000 miles?

 

is this for the classic prius or new?