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P0420 on 2007 Prius

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by MelanieS, Jul 21, 2011.

  1. MelanieS

    MelanieS New Member

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    The dealer says I need to change the catalytic converter and the good news is that it is all under warranty. (65,000 miles on 2007 Prius).

    I'm wondering if I should do the repair.

    The backstory: On a recent road trip, I found myself on a very steep hill. Going up, the car put itself into the B mode and I made it up though the car struggled some. Less than 1/2 an hour later, I noticed that the check engine light was on. Shoot! I was 8 hours away from home in a far away from civilization location.

    Luckily, the next morning I started up the car and the light was no longer on. A few days later, I drove the 8 hours home.

    Two days after I returned, the light came on again and has remained on. I went to Auto Zone and the pulled the code as P0420 and printed out the possibilities for me. I saw here and in my manual that if that code was accurate, it was catalytic converter/air sensor emissions related and should be covered by warranty, so headed to dealer.

    Dealer charges $109 for diagnosis, which I balk a bit about. They need to charge me to tell me what is wrong with the car they made and sold me? Seems ethically wrong, even though it's standard procedure. Got the guy to state that the fee would be waived for anything under warranty. I knew the code, but didn't tell them about my own investigation.

    They later came back to ask me when the car had run out of gas as that was in it's history. That was last summer, and it struck me as odd that something so sophisticated as to record my running out of gas could not also document the time or mileage when that occurred....

    Later he returned with three pages of print out of info stored on my car and said they would order a new catalytic converter, everything under warranty, wait for their call. They also reset the light.

    So my hesitation is, if the sensor was reset and it doesn't go off again, couldn't this be a fluke? Or am I really just better off getting the catalytic converter changed now before I pass the 80,000 mile marker?

    Thoughts?
     
    #1 MelanieS, Jul 21, 2011
  2. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    Yes, if they are willing to replace the catalytic converter at no charge, then there is no downside for you.

    It is customary to quote an hour of labor time if you want the dealer's service dept to investigate a problem. The reason for the policy is to encourage you not to report a problem until you have one that can be demonstrated upon request, thus not wasting the tech's time (and yours, for that matter.)
     
    #2 Patrick Wong, Jul 21, 2011
  3. SageBrush

    SageBrush Senior Member

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    Fluke ? I doubt it. Has the dealer correctly identified the problem ? Harder to say. If you post associated sub-codes and freeze frame data the experts here (not me!) may be able to offer an opinion.

    I applaud your desire to treat someone else's cash with the same scrutiny you would your own money. I act the same way, but I find we are a distinct minority.
     
    #3 SageBrush, Jul 21, 2011
    1 person likes this.
  4. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    TMS USA undoubtedly requires its dealers to seek technical support prior to performing warranty repairs when the cost exceeds some $ amount. The OP has no need to second-guess the dealer tech's diagnosis when the job is being paid for by Toyota. It's up to TMS USA to employ staff to perform that function.

    If the OP had to pay for the work, then I would suggest that she first have the air/fuel ratio sensor replaced as a lower-cost alternative that might make the engine ECU think the catalytic converter is good enough. Since she doesn't have to pay, let the dealership do as they will.
     
    #4 Patrick Wong, Jul 21, 2011
  5. MelanieS

    MelanieS New Member

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    Hmmm. Since the dealer doesn't have any cost either, I'm not so quick to follow the "let the dealer do as they will" line of thinking. Perhaps replacing the catalytic converter is what is easiest and most likely to make most customers satisfied, but I'm more of a "if it isn't broke it, don't fix it" kind of gal. What does it say about a car if it needs a new CC at 65,000 miles? Is this common with other Prius Gen II owners?

    Since the car threw the code under duress, if the code is cleared and doesn't reappear, shouldn't that indicate that it was an anomaly? Furthermore, just prior to the trip I passed the state emissions test just fine.
     
    #5 MelanieS, Jul 22, 2011
  6. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    No problem, if you want to decline the warranty repair (and run the risk of having to pay a $2K repair bill at some future point when the car is out of emissions warranty coverage) it is up to you.

    The catalytic converter MSRP is ~$1,600.
    http://www.trademotion.com/partloca...rius&year=2004&catalogid=1&displayCatalogid=0

    What kind of emissions testing does your state do? If the test does not require the engine to perform under load while the tires are spinning a treadmill, then I would question how useful the testing is.

    It is not common for a catalytic converter to fail at your car's odometer reading.
     
    #6 Patrick Wong, Jul 22, 2011
    1 person likes this.
  7. vertex

    vertex Active Member

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    Don't look a gift horse in the mouth. Sometime after 100K miles you will need one anyway and have to pay $$$. Get it now, and you can put that day off a few more years.
     
    #7 vertex, Jul 22, 2011
  8. Classic Car Guy

    Classic Car Guy Active Member

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    Location:
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    01. P0420
    02. P0420
    I'm having this code on my 2007 Prius since they stole my catalytic converter and I replaced it with aftermarket catalytic and I also install an original 02 sensor.
    In the first year it was running beautiful with average 46mpg and no other problem.
    Then all of a sudden the check engine light is gong on and off. My average gas now is 40mpg.That's the only code I got.
    Any ideas what would be a good thing to do?
    Thanks
     
    #8 Classic Car Guy, Oct 5, 2024
  9. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    It's possible that aftermarket catalytic converter was good for about a year.
     
    #9 ChapmanF, Oct 5, 2024
    Classic Car Guy and Brian1954 like this.
  10. Classic Car Guy

    Classic Car Guy Active Member

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    2007 Prius since they stole my catalytic converter
    Anyone knows "if" I'd be able to buy a used "original" catalytic?
    Thanks
     
    #10 Classic Car Guy, Oct 8, 2024
  11. black_jmyntrn

    black_jmyntrn Senior Member

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    check facebook marketplace
     
    #11 black_jmyntrn, Oct 27, 2024
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