P0420 Code Catalytic Converter Failure 2005 Prius CA

I had a magnaflo aftermarket cat sent to a friend in another state then sent to me in Cali. Installed myself. Two smog checks and nobody looked under the car. Not legal but it functions like it should be. Bs California.
Otherwise deal with it until you have to. But changing the rear o2 may also fix it but I never tried it.

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O2 Sensor Spacer Adapter Extender should get rid of the error code and the last smog inspector I used only looked at the forward end of the catalytic converter to see if it was California certified.
Another solution is to take the car to a neighboring state where you can replace the converter at a reasonable price and sell it there.

The california emmission control warranty in 2007 was and probably still is 15 year or 150,000 miles and includes salvage tiles. The car manufactures have to pay for this somehow. California approves very few aftermarket Catalytic converter. My suspicion is that this is so the manufactures can get reimbursed by selling their OEM products after the warranty expires.

 

Here is another solution. From my experience with an 2001 and 2007 Prius (same engine) the engine start to burn oil between 150k and 200k. When that happens the catalytic converters get gummed up and start to fail. So you can try the products that clean the catalytic converter and then use oil additives that prevent oil consumption.

 

No gumming of my original cat. Looks clean. But 225,000 miles on it when I got the code.

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Offer great warranty to the newer buyer but screw the guy who keeps the car past the warranty.

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I think this is what Bernie posted above......I cannot add anything nor have I tried this....

 

Correct, New cars get 15yr/150,000miles warranty. Commercial vehicles have a different warranty duration.

INCORRECT, vehicles with a salvage title are NOT eligible for ANY manufacture warranty and recalls!
Why would you think otherwise?

Imagine a vehicle was involved in a flood, fire, sever accident. Insurance will write the car off and sell it at autction to a dismantler or an unscropulous rebuilder. If you were an automaker, would you accept warranty and recall liability for such a vehicle?

SALVAGE = NO warranty, NO recalls, majority of the time a horrible purchase mistake.

INCORRECT. California’s Air Resource Board required Catalytic Converter manufactures to submit testing data proving that their replacement converters provided the same level or lower levels of polution compared to the OEM part. Also, the replacement part is required to be warranted for a far longer period than one year/unlimited miles. The aftermarket manufactures don’t want to pay for the testing and provide the longer warranty. Thus only the OEM Catalytic Converters are the only approved replacement parts.

Speculation that is incorrect is incorrect.

I remember reading someone who used a magnaflow outside of California. Unfortunately for that person, the Cat only lasted one year, just after warranty. This happend twice for the unlucky guy. In his case, you get what you pay for.

 

I've ran a magnaflo on mine for two years on the Prius and probably 8 years on my S10, no problems. Magnaflo a better quality as far as I'm concerned.

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A four leaf clover.

No oil additives prevent oil consumption. Not driving is the only thing to prevent oil consumption; engine not moving=not wearing out. The engine is consuming oil b/c the piston rings and/or valve seal guidaes are worn out, which contributes to the death of the Cat. I also assume the Cat was not physically damaged (ie road debris), or the precious metals in the Cat not being worn out; both possibilities easy to check.

Yes some people swear by “snake oil additive A,”or other products like Sea Foam. And yes these same snakes have “testing” that shows it works for them, (but not for you). Remember, some one will win the lotto, just not you, or me. These products sell well because of the allure and appeal of spending a few dollars to avoid spending hunderds if not a few thousand.

Replacement of the Cat is usu required, but it too will die early if the engine is consuming a lot of oil. Fixing the oil consumption (engine replacement new/used, engine rebuilding, or ring/guide replacement) is the best long term solution (pricey fix if you have to pay for labor). Yes, many attempt to replace the O2 sensor of hoping this will avoid the inevitible.

 

How many miles have you driven it? Takes 30-50 miles or so to see if code will come back.

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Unless they tested the tail pipe emissions. Even at that with two cats tough to tell.

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Hi there
Have a good used ca cat off a 07 to take care of the p0420