What would you do?

I have a 2007 crew max with the 5.7 that I bought new and love, however, I had a check engine light that was diagnosed as a bad catalytic converter. Not having to register & smog check until July (I live in CA) I keep driving it as it didn't change the performance of the engine. But now there was a rattling noise and Toyota says it's the other side's catalytic converter that's bad and it's $6300 and a 5-month wait. Is there another option or is it time to buy a new Tundra? I don't want to have another $1200 payment but putting that much into it doesn't seem good either. I read the Magnaflow ones won't pass smog testing, but if anyone has a link where I can read up on all the logistics I would appreciate it.

 

Not knowing anything about how the requirements and testing are where you are, are there and reputable aftermarket cats that might do what you need to pass? Any alternatives if you don’t pass? In WA, at last near me where it’s required, often you can take it to a shop and spend $xxx and if that still doesn’t pass they give it a waiver because you spent a “reasonable fee in good faith” to get it to pass and it still didn’t.

Seems bullshit to be faced with the alternatives of a) spend $7k and 5-month wait or b) buy a whole new vehicle when you’ve got something that is still probably burning cleaner than 50% of the shitboxes on the road today.

 

I know there used to be something like that where they couldn't force you to spend over a certain amount but I don't know. I've seen a couple of posts saying that aftermarket ones are failing the test. I'll keep researching because my truck although having 240,000 miles on it runs really strong, it does need some other things done like tires, some body damage and the auto door locks on the passenger side don't work but the new truck I looked at (Tundra 1794) was $71,587 MSRP then the dealers asking price was $80,762.

 

Here are a couple of options try sparksparts.com They had them listed on their website for $300 for both sides and didn't mention anything about being back ordered.

or you can try partshotline.com and have a local muffler shop install them, I did a quick search and they had several used ones from trucks with 80k-150k miles on them.

 

According to Magna Flow, their replacement cats are CARB compliant and labeled as such........Get your installer to "guarantee" smog compliance or reinstallation of your old cats. A friend of mine had a cat replaced with a Magna Flow unit, and his light went off (after reset), albeit in a non smog check state. He decided on the aftermarket cat, because of the backorder and OE pricing. (his insurance picked up the costs after his deductible)

 

Not sure how you compare a potential $7,000 cost to an $80,000 cost. One is 10x more expensive than the other.

If it’s me I’m probably telling the Toyota dealer to hit the road. $7,000 for cats and steepppp. Dealers love making money off people.

I would be calling every wrecking yard around looking for a set of cats off a Tundra. Most probably won’t have it but if you find a decent guy and have cash he might call you next time a freshly wrecked tundra rolls in. He might have a guy he sells cats to already so your going to need some persuasion but these guys love cash money.

Im saying a little bit of work hunting, $1,000 cash and a day of work in the driveway you are good to go.

 

Put a set of aftermarket cats on it, and drive it till it dies. That's what I would do.

Also it's illegal for a wrecking yard to sell used cats. You'd have to find a person selling his for some reason.

 

I looked at Sparks and they were from $1150-$1500 not sure where you saw the $300 at.

 

I checked the Magna Flow site and theirs are $2085.00 for fronts and $1253.00 for the rear, and Tundra's have two fronts and two rear so the total is around $6400.00 then I still need to get them installed! This sucks

 

You're right it doesn't compare but what I was thinking is $7000 into a truck with 240000 miles on it there will be more repairs coming and the time taking off work, you know all that shit.

 

My apology, I thought that I wrote $3000 not $300.

 

Apparently, you were not insured, or, your insurance company didn't cover the theft. Mine does under comprehensive, less deductible. Stories like this just reinforce my decision to carry comp on my vehicles - a few hundred bucks a year on the policy, against thousands for a cat replacement..........no brainer. My insurer still offers $100 deductible on my 17 yr old Tundra for just a few bucks more than a $500 or $1,000 deductible policy.
If you had insurance coverage, this price discussion would be mute. The issue would then be part availability.

 

Did you even read the OPs original post?

His CATs are not stolen.

Rendering a discussion or lecture on comprehensive insurance moot.

 

Magnaflow cats are good for CA. Apples to oranges, I got my Celica's cat replaced at a muffler shop in Santa Clara a few years ago after it failed the smog test. Its been good passing smog with no issues ever since 2020. I would check your sensors first, since I have the same year engine as you, 5.7L and 271k, and I have no smog issues with cats or sensors. If you have a code, clear the code swap the sensors and see if the code changes, if it does then its sensors, not cats.... Sensors are cheaper than cats, odds are sensors are the issue.

 

Is it the cats on the underside that are easy to get to or the ones more toward the engine?

Try calling Keith at dirty deeds, since you are in cali, he may have recently had a customer that went long tube headers or something and have a set of cats laying around.

Or if you know someone else with a tundra, maybe offer to pay them for "borrowing" their cats for the smog then giving it back to them after.

OR find a smog place with a wider than average range of morals that could "find" a way to pass it as is. It may cost you $500 for their special knowledge, but its better than 8k or 80k.

 

OOP's thought I read it - hell getting old...... so many posts about stolen cats....I need a drink......

 

If you paid a little more, cash in hand, to the facility inspecting your vehicle for smog requirements, I wonder if they'd do a more thorough inspection and find out that your cats aren't actually bad.

I'd try that first.

 

They were not stolen just worn out and throwing a check engine light and rattling due to the internal stuff is breaking down (per Toyota's service dept). And I have to register it in July and will need to pass a smog test, which I doubt I will.

 

Yes, I think I should get a second opinion other than Toyota.

 

Previous posts suggest that BAR certified check stations are not all "created equal". You might want to check around.

 

OP - has your engine ever had fuel or ignition related failures that would have dumped unburned volumes of fuel in the exhaust? That could explain why they are damaged.

Chances are you only need the upstream CATs. The upstream O2 sensors (B1S1 & B2S1) are for engine performance while the downstream O2 sensors (B1S2 & B2S2) are looking at the upstream CAT efficiency.

Downstream CATs are not monitored for efficiency.

PS you could take the vehicle in sooner, see if it passes smog (seeing you will be out of town a for a few months when it comes due ).

 

find a salvage yard?

 

Thanks for that information I have zero knowledge in this subject so this will help when searching for and speaking to mechanics. Do you know if the rattling I now hear can be coming from the bad converter as I was told by the dealer it is the inside honeycomb material coming apart?