Things that Kill my Cub time.

[kmcconaughey]

Brian, you're looking at that wrong, it was Cub time that lead to the mud.

 

[bbranstetter]

LOL! Right on Kraig!

 

[bbranstetter]

Trying to wrap my head around the new forum. Oh no, we lost some of our custom emoji's...... rip.

 

[mfrade]

It's rumored that they'll be back..

 

[kmcconaughey]

I believe they will be added back somehow. If not I have all of the custom ones saved and most if not all of the others. I can post them for everyone to download and save in a folder where you can add them in as an attachment. I need to finish cleaning up the IH thumbs up and thumbs down so they have a white background rather than the old forum color.

 

[kmcconaughey]

Here's the cleaned up IH thumbs up/down:

 

[kmcconaughey]

How about two thumbs up? Jason W. made one like this some time ago, not sure I saved it apart from the post(s) he used it in so here's a reproduction with the white background.

 

[kmcconaughey]

Probably better a little closer together.

 

[mhomrighausen]

HI, Everyone. Please forgive me for this being off topic only I am at wits-end with this. My 2002 Toyota Tacoma a.k.a. "Toots" is giving me fits. Earlier this month the Check Engine Light came on. After three diagnostics readings each time stating to change the B1 Oxygen Sensor. So while changing that out I also had new spark plugs (NGK Platinum Double Tip) and OEM spark plug wires installed. With the CEL reset Toots ran great for not quite one hundred miles. Then once again the CEL came on and Toots gas mile dropped in half. Toots is a former California truck with the 3.4L V6. The code once again reads P0240 only this time the shops are saying that I need to replace the B1 (front) Catalytic Converter. I've been reading up on bad catalytic converter things to look for. The only problem I seem to have is the gas consumption. There is no sluggish take- off or acceleration. No hard starting. No misfire with the spark plugs.
Toots has 189,800 miles. Never driven hard and always serviced regularly. Two shops have so far told me that since there is one exhaust pipe and two inline catalytic converters that they can only guess as which one is bad. One garage suggested replacing the front or B1. The other garage suggested replacing the rear B2 Catalytic Converter. When I suggested a possible bad B2 Oxygen Sensor on the rear Converter both shops got silent. I asked both shops if the could check with a heat sensing gun and both said unfortunately isn't a heat sensing gun capable of doing such a high temperature reading.
Any and ALL help will be greatly appreciated. TIA Toots the truck and her namesake My late Best Friend..... Tootsie are both pictured below.

 

[snicklas]

Marlin,

I've had a Cat plug up. It was on an 83 F-150. This truck had the variable venturi carb and would DUMP fuel. You could feel the performance degrade, and the last trip it took with the plugged Cat, it wouldn't do 25 with your foot on the floor. We limped it back home, and to test, pulled the exhaust to make sure (this was in the days before all the sensors and computers, so no O2 sensors to worry about). Truck fired up and ran like it should. Fixed the carb issues and the exhaust..... and truck ran fine for a long time..... until it chucked a wrist pin (but that's another story and not related to the Cat).

I'd say it if runs fine and BAM, the CEL comes on and now it's in "limp mode" it's "electrical", not a bad cat. They don't just come and go, they plug and then you are on the side of the road. Was the replacement O2 sensor an OEM one? I have a transient CEL for an O2 sensor on my 07 Infiniti QX56 (no limp mode, caused by a tiny exhaust leak). One thing I've read over and over on posts about O2 sensors is only buy OEM Name Brand O2 sensors. The imports seem to be really sensitive to aftermarket O2 (well most any engine) sensors. I know many of the newer vehicles don't like aftermarket sensors (my 6.0 gets ONLY Ford/Motorcraft electronics).

My opinion is, it runs fine, no performance degradation, and CEL light comes on and now your fuel economy tanks, you have a sensor or wiring issue. The PCM isn't seeing what it expects (in this case, it thinks the engine is running really lean, it richens the air/fuel mixture trying to get the sensor reading within spec (which it can't), it throws a CEL and starts eating fuel.......

 

[mhomrighausen]

Marlin,

I've had a Cat plug up. It was on an 83 F-150. This truck had the variable venturi carb and would DUMP fuel. You could feel the performance degrade, and the last trip it took with the plugged Cat, it wouldn't do 25 with your foot on the floor. We limped it back home, and to test, pulled the exhaust to make sure (this was in the days before all the sensors and computers, so no O2 sensors to worry about). Truck fired up and ran like it should. Fixed the carb issues and the exhaust..... and truck ran fine for a long time..... until it chucked a wrist pin (but that's another story and not related to the Cat).

I'd say it if runs fine and BAM, the CEL comes on and now it's in "limp mode" it's "electrical", not a bad cat. They don't just come and go, they plug and then you are on the side of the road. Was the replacement O2 sensor an OEM one? I have a transient CEL for an O2 sensor on my 07 Infiniti QX56 (no limp mode, caused by a tiny exhaust leak). One thing I've read over and over on posts about O2 sensors is only buy OEM Name Brand O2 sensors. The imports seem to be really sensitive to aftermarket O2 (well most any engine) sensors. I know many of the newer vehicles don't like aftermarket sensors (my 6.0 gets ONLY Ford/Motorcraft electronics).

My opinion is, it runs fine, no performance degradation, and CEL light comes on and now your fuel economy tanks, you have a sensor or wiring issue. The PCM isn't seeing what it expects (in this case, it thinks the engine is running really lean, it richens the air/fuel mixture trying to get the sensor reading within spec (which it can't), it throws a CEL and starts eating fuel.......

Yes, It has an OEM Denso oxygen sensor. I wonder if I got a bad one. Darn thing cost $190 through an Auto Parts Store. I noticed that I can buy another OEM from Amazon or Fleabay for a lot less. How can I check the sensor that I just i had installed? My gut has been telling me that I got a bad sensor. The parts store won't take it back once installed. To take Toots to the Toyota dealer is asking for to spend big $$$ that I don't have. Would I be safe buying an OEM DENSO from Amazon or fleabay?

 

[kmcconaughey]

Marlin, another thing to check for is exhaust leaks upstream from the catalytic converters. How old is the air filter? Here's some good info:

Addressing some common misnomers of the P0420 code

 

[mhomrighausen]

Marlin, another thing to check for is exhaust leaks upstream from the catalytic converters. How old is the air filter? Here's some good info:

Addressing some common misnomers of the P0420 code

The air filter was new this spring. I am also wondering about the vacuum hoses. Sad thing here is what I saw at a local muffler shop. They showed me the dealer's ticket of what they charged a woman with a Camry with the same engine just to check her CEL. It said that she needed her Converter changed. They ran it on the same type of scanner the Auto Parts and muffler shop used. $126.00. And her vehicle ran just as smooth as Toots. So I definitely don't want to take it to the dealer. I am going to read what you've posted. I know there are two gaskets one the front converter. If I can just find a shop that isn't wanting to put on a new converter without doing further tests. It's sad that even the Auto Parts Stores aren't as informed on things.

 

[mfrade]

I am surprised that at a minimum your muffler shop didn't want to try a test pipe in place of the cat that they suspect.

"IF" they suspect it's clogged, that's an easy one - O2 sensors need to provide a set range of voltage, they should be able to read that with a VOM.

 

[bkattner]

Are you sure the DTC is P0240 and not P0420?

If it's 420 I think you're going to need a cat. I usually quote both up and downstream O2s when I do one (a new downsteam with an old upstream can give you faulty readings due to deterioration of the older sensor).

The downstream O2 is only for monitoring the catalytic converter- it doesn't affect driveability. I've had cats plug up, but it'll be sluggish, have poor reving ability/acceleration, and possibly run warmer than normal. Following the fuel adaptives with a scan tool should be able to give you a good idea if it's blocked up or not. The countermen at AutoZone aren't going to be able to diagnose that, and I doubt one of their cats would last more than a year or 2.

 

[twthompson]

Here is a thought on the Tacoma. Our daughter lives in the San Fran Bay Area. She has a Prius. I have not met this person but she has a mechanic that seem to be very good. He and his son operate a very small garage. They only work and Toyota brand. Our daughter really likes him and he seems very good, fair and knowledgeable. My experience with young women taking a car in for repair is that they are often taken advantages of. In the reviews people actually say that they buy Toyotas just so this person will service them. My guess is that he will talk to you via phone and provide solid advise. It not an add, I have not met the gentleman. Here is the link: Toy Auto Clinic Toyota Lexus Scion Specialists

 

[mhomrighausen]

Here is a thought on the Tacoma. Our daughter lives in the San Fran Bay Area. She has a Prius. I have not met this person but she has a mechanic that seem to be very good. He and his son operate a very small garage. They only work and Toyota brand. Our daughter really likes him and he seems very good, fair and knowledgeable. My experience with young women taking a car in for repair is that they are often taken advantages of. In the reviews people actually say that they buy Toyotas just so this person will service them. My guess is that he will talk to you via phone and provide solid advise. It not an add, I have not met the gentleman. Here is the link: Toy Auto Clinic Toyota Lexus Scion Specialists

Thank YOU. I will be calling them. My son has given some suggestions. Apparently those codes can be pretty generic.

 

[pdorow]

Things that kill my Cub time... restoring my 68 Firebird & upkeep on the motorhome.

 

[kzintner]

Daily life kills some if my Cub time. At least we still have the cognitive and physical properties to complain. Have a great weekend to all.

 

[Beltrack]

Daily life kills some if my Cub time. At least we still have the cognitive and physical properties to complain. Have a great weekend to all.

What a nice, nice looking shop! Have a soft spot for the early Firebirds. What year, engine and transmission?