Hi. I've been in the market for a 100 series. I've finally convinced myself that 200k miles isn't a kiss of death if the maintenance has been done. The one thing I haven't read about are the cats. I'm in NY so we have pretty strict emission laws. Pretty sure I can't even put in cheaper replacement cats, they have to OEM. I found OEM cats from about $1500-2000 each. Are any of your LCs over 200k still on the originals? After one seller ghosted me, I found what appears to be a well cared for 2002 with 210k miles for $8k.
Catalytic converter longevity
- Thread starter claypoolxx
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Trunk Monkey
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As long as you address any O2 codes (not a common thing) in a timely manner, they should be life of vehicle. Only ones I've heard of straight up going bad are from O2 sensors that got ignored and ended up fouling the cats. Theft is WAY more of a concern.
You're cats will be stolen way before they wear out. Put on some straight pipes and tell the emissions people that you're not replacing the cats until law enforcement and the judicial system, funded by your tax dollars, can provide reasonable protection for your personal property. Take the matter to the New York Supreme Court. It'll be fun.
They should last the life of the car unless something is wrong with the motor. Aftermarket cats are a wild card, but the genuine OEM cats are extremely durable (which is a reasonable justification for disallowing aftermarket components in this realm, IMO). I've spent a lot of time tuning/abusing/driving old cars. Never once had an OEM cat fail to clean up the emissions. I've burned through a few new aftermarket ones - some even with a healthy motor on OEM tune. Had one go from totally OK to failing by a mile in a few thousand miles. There's just a fraction of the precious metals in the aftermarket stuff compared to OEM. OEM parts need to last well beyond the drivetrain warranty. Aftermarket can afford to barely function for a few years.
Anyway, OEM cats should be good indefinitely. Aftermarket cats are much cheaper than even wholesale OEM cats for good reason. Buy a car with OEM cats and with no obvious engine problems and you shouldn't expect to mess with them.... unless they get stolen.
Anyway, OEM cats should be good indefinitely. Aftermarket cats are much cheaper than even wholesale OEM cats for good reason. Buy a car with OEM cats and with no obvious engine problems and you shouldn't expect to mess with them.... unless they get stolen.
- Thread starter
- #5
Thanks guys. I haven’t had a car with that many miles before so I wasn’t sure about what to expect. Should be checking it out this weekend. Hopefully it’s as nice in person as it is in pics.
For an anecdotal reference, I've never had an OEM cat fail and racked up the following miles. I've owned a handful of other with lesser miles as well, but these are the long term ownership ones with high miles:
90 Supra - 340k
91 Supra - 186k
99 LC - 286k
06 LX - 245k
how the f&ck do i get the downstream O2 sensors out?
weird angles and tight as a bitch.
any help appreciated!
weird angles and tight as a bitch.
any help appreciated!
