Federal vs CARB catalytic converters (1st Gen)

So, I have a CARB 2006 DC SR5 Tundra that had it's cats stolen recently (I live in Houston, it's bad here.) and I put the federal rated cats on it. (I'm cheap and I figure they'll get stolen again). I have absolutely NO plans to move away from Texas, so I don't care for them to be CARB compliant. It's not throwing a check engine light, but when I hook up the code reader, it shows some soft (yellow) lights. It's all because of the exhaust system. Does anyone know if the federals will pass a TX emissions test with this? Can I tune the truck to work with the federal cats? Any help would be greatful!

 

I did this to a 07 Camry with a bad rear cat and the check engine light went away going on 5 years no issues.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxUya70kkQk

 

I had luck with o2 spaces on my rear sensors after i lost my rear cats on the titan.

i'd give em away if i could.

 

That's impressive. Guess I know what I'll be doing this weekend. Thanks!

 

Haha, nice

 

@Tundra2 used similar O2 defoulers on his truck with success, if my brain's working right.

@threeroundpro this trucks are finicky with cats. So far, we have confirmation from other members that the cats from Magnaflow, Summit Racing (their store brand), and Walker (including the universal clamp/weld-on) will work w/o throwing codes.

If you're got yellow bangs pending on your exhaust/emissions, can you let us know exactly which brand/part num you bought, so others like me, who have mandatory emissions testing, know to avoid that brand?

 

Just gotta make friends with the right shop. Breakfast burritos and they'll run their own car under your vin. Hell, my nova ran ET streets for over a year with the bands showing.

 

Sure. I absolutely went the cheapest route and bought from Ebay, eek. They are good quality though and manufactured in Canada.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/283462009124

I know the Tundra needs to be driven for a while for all the systems to do regular checks, so I will hook up the truck tomorrow when I return home and see if they're still there.
I did have to replace the resonator section as well since the thief cut on that, instead of before it. It's Walker brand, so I hope I don't have any issues there.

 

Shit, I didn't think of that. I do have a friend who owns a shop off Telephone. I'll have to give him a call

 

Oh yea, have you done a 15 min ecu reset?

 

Uhhhhh.... nope. lol.

I assume, disconnect the battery and wait 15 min?

 

Yea, and i know i've touched the battery leads on the titan and the jeep, but i dont know if thats cool for the tundra.

 

Right on, thanks! I give that a try tomorrow and update soon.

 

A quick google for URD O2 simulators came up nill. Looks like they've been pistol braced.

theres a way to fool it with resistors, but the specifics are above my pay grade.

 

Just pop off the ground, it's sufficient. Then no worries about touching the leads.

10 mins with the neg batt cable off will reset ECU on these trucks.

 

Couple of thoughts here.
If the soft (yellow) lights are for the system monitors then it may well be that you just need to complete the drive cycles so the monitors can complete their test cycles.
If you mean pending codes is P0420 pending?

 

I thought about that also. I just did a reset today, so I'm gonna drive it for a while and see how it does and if it throws anymore codes. So, so good.

It was showing a soft p0420 code, but it's not showing any now since the reset

 

I've been running double spark plug arrestors for 10k miles, total 195k on the original cats. If you just need to get passed emission try the arrestors and also only run 91-93 octane, entire tank. When I mix 87 I get a CEL, but once I purge it out with high-test, my CEL turns off and stays off.

 

Something is wrong if you need to run 91 octane to not throw a cel.

 

Agreed. Something is wrong...and it's my cat! The plug fouler and high octane get me through emissions testing till I have time and money to change it out.

 

I found this Tundra drive cycle to reset the monitors. Good luck finding a road where you can do this.

It is very important to make sure your Toyota Tundra has only between 1/4 and 3/4 of fuel in the gas tank. Some of the monitors (particularly the EVAP monitor) will not run while your truck has any amount of fuel other than 1/4 to 3/4 tank.

• Start the engine. Idle the engine in drive for two and a half minutes with the A/C and rear defroster (If so equipped) on.
• Turn the A/C and rear defrost off, and accelerate to 55 mph at half throttle.
• Hold at a steady speed of 55 mph for three minutes.
• Decelerate (coast down) to 20 mph without braking.
• Accelerate back to 55 to 60 mph at ¾ throttle.
• Hold at a steady speed of 55 to 60 mph for five minutes.
• Decelerate (coast down) to a stop without braking.

If all other emissions systems are functioning properly, completing the drive cycle above should set the emission monitors required to pass the smog test. We recommend performing the drive cycle 2 or 3 times before the smog inspection. Using a scan tool check which monitors have become ready after each drive cycle.

 

So, an update. I did the double spark plug fowler trick a few weeks ago. During that time, I monitored the OBD and it continued to show a "Pending 0420" code. I decided to just continue driving the truck so that the drive cycles could happen. I decided to unplug the OBD monitor and just drive the truck. (Figured I'd just wait to see if the CEL would come one).

Well... it did, a few days ago. I plugged in the reader and it was a P0420 code, bank 1. So, I think I'm back to the original question.

My Tundra is a CARB compliant truck, with the CARB compliant catalytic converters from factory. Did that mean, no matter what I do, it's only tuned to use CARB converters? Just curious if anyone knows this? I'm probably not going to change them out for CARB converters, but was wondering if these CARB Tundras were tuned to be CARB compliant and can only use those converters? I assume so

Thanks in advance.

 

Good ole California ruining things one vote at a time. Too bad a big earthquake doesn’t drop the whole state into the pacific.

 

If you're going to change out the cats, my advice is to go with Magnaflow. They require the VIN from your truck to make sure you get the right parts. So far (knock on wood) mine are doing great.

 

I think that's going to be the plan. I'm just going to run these aftermarket Fed ones, until I save up the money and buy the CARB ones so I don't get anymore codes. I suppose the CARB tundra's are tainted meat...

Still love my truck though, lol

I was thinking about it also, I bought this truck when the great migration (Cali to Tx) starting getting big, and I bet that's how it got to Texas...

Either way, I'm glad we're not a super strict emissions state and I have ways to get around a vehicle inspection should this take a year to get properly fixed.

 

This worked for my 2018 when it was straight piped because of cat theft. Also worked on a friend's 2007 with aftermarket cats.