Third Catalytic Converter Replacement

Looking for some advice on this one - I was planning on replacing my exhaust Y-pipe (the thing has a couple of holes and the mount for the O2 sensor is toast from rust) and I got told that the replacement section would be $1600 bucks since I've got a California exhaust with the third cat instead of a resonator.

No clue how my truck has one, since it was bought new in NJ and lived here it's entire life. Dealership told me that if I swapped it for a standard Y-pipe with a resonator that it might throw codes, and basically said go aftermarket.

Could I get away with just swapping it for a regular pipe section with a resonator? That looks to be only like $250 from Toyota.

 

Take it to a different shop, never seen a 3rd cat on our trucks

 

Yeah it seemed weird to me too, but it's definitely not a regular resonator. It's narrow and cylindrical like a cat. I'll get some pictures in a bit.

 

Not the best picture, the muffler is just out of frame on the left.

 

What you're looking at is someone's aftermarket repair. See my thread below for help with your exhaust:

https://www.tundras.com/threads/stock-exhaust-replacement-center-section.104552/

 

This is exactly what first tipped me off to it on mine as well - O2 sensor codes. This thread seems like its what I'm looking to do. I'm hoping the flanges on mine are good, if not then looks like I'll be bringing it somewhere to get fixed up then.

Still not sure why it was ever replaced from stock to begin with, but at least I know it's not an extra cat now. Thanks!

 

I found the same resonator underneath my truck too.

 

So wait is is stock then? Looks to be about the same dimensions as mine.

 

I don't think it is. I bought the truck in 2017.

 

I'm pretty sure that's a resonator? My truck has one too. And it's never had the exhaust done, from the factory.

 

I just couldn't find any replacement resonator that resembled this one, which I thought was weird and started my whole cat/resonator confusion. They all have a square chamber rather than a cylindrical one, even on the dealer parts website from Toyota.

 

I'll snap a pic of mine and upload in a bit when I get the hell out of my friend's brewery. Had to get out and fix a network issue, have lunch and a beer, and work the regular 9-5 a little bit. Horrible way to close out the work week, I know.

 

I may be wrong but I would bet your 03 came with the same/similar resonator as my 04 DC LTD came with !

my original resonator....

 

don’t work too hard

 

No rush man, brewery at lunch sounds pretty nice.

 

That's the one I keep seeing when I'm searching for replacements, and should have been OEM on everything but California cars as far as I can tell.

 

According to Cool Springs Toyota, the resonator is Intermediate Pipe - Toyota (17403-0F040) for an 03 or 04 Limited.

2003-2004 Toyota Tundra Intermediate Pipe 17403-0F040 | Toyota of Cool Springs vParts

 

Sweet, that seems to make a lot more sense than what my local Toyota told me. I'll probably just end up ordering this and then when I take the old one off I can see what it actually turns out to be inside.

 

$1,600?!?! Just buy the JBA y-pipe. Should bolt on unless you need to use that exhaust clamp to mate to the rest of your system.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/jba-2011sy/make/toyota/model/tundra/year/2006

 

Yeah I couldn't believe it when the guy told me that price, but it was under the assumption that it had the integrated cat. I'm not sure I'm willing to ditch a resonator to go JBA, I don't want it to drone or get too much louder.

 

Look into whether the emission requirement for USED trucks is more lenient than new. In MA, anything over 7500 miles is considered USED and tested to a different emission requirement. Only way you could own a diesel in MA back when they had the simplier system.

I got away with buying mine new in NH only because they didn't smog test it back at that time. Only hooked up the OBD2 and told me I was ready to go 5 minutes later after the typical safety check (lights, horn, brakes, directionals, backup, etc.). By the way, none of the pics look like a 3rd CAT at least on an 02 (and i'm guessing your 03).

Edit: Just looked at your pic, that's a resonator, not a CAT. (new in NJ = no CAT)

California and Massachusetts trucks sold new required them. EPA emission requirements for our trucks originally met 48 states back in the day.

 

Alright cool, I'm glad to hear the consensus is that it's a resonator. In that case, I'm almost definitely going to order the replacement that BubbaW recommended.

 

[Edit: I'm totally not right]

I have "50 state emissions", not CA emissions, but have the resonator.

 

Oh and I'm smoking crack apparently. My '06 definitely uses the part Bubba linked.

 

For whatever reason, your link is not working on my end.
What I can say about the link I posted and pics showing my resonator/Intermediate Pipe, that is what is on my 04, which also fits an 03

 

P/N 174030F040 is the OEM center section I used (see my link above). It only fits 2003/2004 AC. The resonator for other models appear similar, but they are different P/Ns