Bought a 2002 3.4l, it's got no cats

I know nothing about Tacomas, Can anybody confirm what I am seeing? I live in California by the way.

I bought a 2002 3.4l Tacoma today for my son. Brought it in from Oregon. I tried to do my best checking the thing out but overlooked something important, the catalytic converters. It had no CEL so and of course the guy said it should pass smog test no problem.

So the seller (who seemed super cool and trustworthy) must have reset the CEL before we test drove it. After we got the truck home we saw the CEL was on. The codes are 0300 and 0301 and 0420. I decided to tackle 0420 first and take a look at the O2 sensors and cats to see if there was any obvious issues I could see. I realized there is nothing but pipe where the cats should be.

I can clearly see the heat shield where the rear cat should be located:

and if I am not mistaken the heat shield where the front cat should be:

The front O2 sensor is in a bung, but the pipe appears to be just a plain curved piece of pipe. This front pipe should have a cat on/in it right?


So, to move forward from this, can I just buy buy and bolt on some cats from Autozone? like these:

Front:
https://www.autozone.com/emission-c...c-converter-california/348384_761839_0_234588

Rear:
https://www.autozone.com/emission-c...c-converter-california/337921_760071_0_234588


I really appreciate any assistance you guys can offer.

 

Welcome to the forum!

Really sucks to have that happen; depending where in CA you are, you may just have to hit a junk yard.

If someone were to look underneath and find non-CA catalytic converters, you'll fail the visual.

 

It is likely the Oregon seller might have to have had the truck at “factory installed emissions equipment”?
https://www.oregonlaws.org/ors/468A.350

 

The cats I linked to claim they are California cats. Assuming that is true, my real concerns are:

1. Are these autozone cats crap, should I get something with a brand name from a different source?
2. Am I seeing this correctly? Are the parts I linked to the correct parts and should just bold right up?

 

Idk about the auto zone ones.
But I should only need one cat between the oxygen sensors.
Is the truck loud? Because the rear should be a muffler.

 

Yeah it's got something that looks like a muffler, but it's loud as f***! He loves it. Here is a pic:

 

When I bought my 2.4l and hacked the muffler off it I noticed what seems to be 2 cats, or 1 cat and a resonator. Anyone know if I need both for AZ law or can I remove the rear one and use my glasspack instead if it's a resonator? Was going to do muffler work here soon, didn't mean to derail the thread

 

Oof, that was a biggie he didn't mention.

The aftermarkets will work but you're correct they're not as good. Nothing is as good as factory. Unfortunately even factory is old now out of a junkyard and may not have much life left.


Just get them and hope for the best, CA is tough even if you had made it this year, there's no guarantee they would have passed next, after all they quit on the previous owner.

He did break the law though not disclosing.
It's going to be quieter, good for you, son will always be wanting it to be more obnoxious again....oh well. I remember too.

edit: Texas has a few big areas that are just as stringent now, it's a big deal finding old cars with good cats to pass year after year.

 

EDIT: Well I should read... leaving this up for visibility in case someone is wondering but just realized it was an out-of-state purchase. OP might be boned unless he bought it from someone in Portland.

Former CA smog tech here, here's the relevant part of the code if I remember correctly.

Unless things have changed since I exited the industry, he sold you a non-compliant vehicle and unless he can provide a passing test no more than 90 days old, he's 100% liable for the fix and you can take him to small claims. It's not just about disclosure - unless you have a legal bill of sale that states it's for off-road use only, parts, or for scrap, the seller is responsible for ensuring the vehicle passes its first smog.

That said, as the converters are not OEM specific (e.g. not part of the exhaust manifold) then all you need is any catalytic converter that comes with a CARB number. There should be a slip in the box or a stamp somewhere on the item or you can go to a local exhaust shop who will have them in stock. If the vehicle came with multiple converters, you must have all installed to pass.

Also, word of advice, DO NOT let him take the vehicle somewhere to get it smogged. It's super common that someone will just pay a shop to force it through (i.e. use another vehicle to get the pass) and leave it as-is so that the repair is all on you the next time around.

 

The entire state of Oregon doesn't require smog.

 

Curious, how would he be liable? There are several towns in Oregon that do not require emissions check.

 

Southern Oregon does.

 

Yeah made the edit... more or less glossed down the thread after reading OP was in california and missed the Oregon part.

Still, modifying federal emissions equipment is illegal regardless of jurisdiction so there might be some recourse but it's a tough fight at best. If they didn't disclose the fact the vehicle is illegal to drive on the road (which it is with a modified emissions system), that's a sale not in good faith - I just don't know first-hand how the laws for Oregon work regarding a private sale.

A cursory glance tells me Oregon has buyer protections that require disclosure when items are defective in some way and/or illegal for use. I still think OP has a case but that would mean traveling to Oregon to handle it.

 

True but the equipment is still supposed to be there.

No state has ever said "Rip off the converters, we don't care".

 

But what does an entire new exhaust cost vs going after someone. Yeah it sucks. For sure.
But a lawyer told my pops if it's less the 5k just write it off otherwise you'll be loosing money for sure.

I'd hit the guy up and tell him that was shady. Get whatever I could out of him and drop it off at an exhaust shop.
Again it sucks. But I'd just be realistic on time and energy spent vs possibly maybe getting something out of a d bag that cut a cat off.

 

You’re absolutely right in regards to the federal standard. I myself, and I’m sure plenty of other people, when it comes to selling vehicles privately I always write a bill of sale stating the vehicle is being sold as is with no warranty and all responsibility is upon the buyer.

OP, shouldn’t be too much of a headache. Just need to find a stock exhaust system and bolt it up!

 

It's not tough if they take you to court. As said by the tech. Responsible for it to pass or can be sued to make it pass.

Not working out all the FEDERAL parts of a sale with a buyer puts the seller at risk.

It's not just 'buyer beware' when it comes to emissions although many buy vehicles that they know need finiggling each year. That's when they get discounted.

 

IMO if they refuse, build the case, file in small claims, and offer to settle with a split somewhere down the middle. You'll lose some of the money you were owed if you see it through and this way you at least come out better than you would handling it yourself.

 

It doesn't cost anything to sue in small claims if you're in the right and can't lose. 1 day in court, they have to buy it back or fix it.

 

Well that was me and it's a CA law... not all have the same but this should still be subject to bad faith laws as I mentioned above. It's a clear defect that makes the item both illegal to operate and reduces its value - a simple "sold as is" is not generally accepted for such defects but at the same time, OP screwed up by not having or doing a full inspection on the vehicle before buying. Would have saved a lot of trouble.