Ok getting ready to replace the exhaust manifold with a new one I got from beno and have noticed the cat rattles pretty bad. I was gonna just cut it out but I noticed O2 sensors before and after the cat so I'm guessing that's not a good plan. Can I do it and use one of URD O2 simulators or does someone sell cheap cats or can I get away with deleting the cat and just live with the CEL? WIll it really affect performance at all?
Catalytic converters on a 97 Taco
- Thread starter fsusteve
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I'm no 100% sure how bad performance would be affected w/out it. But if you didn't replace it and it ran like crap, you could always order the O2 fooler and be done. I'm thinking of getting rid of mine since it's rusted badly, but it still works.
Delete cat.
Keep upline O2 sensor (basically it is your air-fuel ratio sensor) and install simulator for the downline O2 sensor position (reads cat efficiency). Good to go.
Keep upline O2 sensor (basically it is your air-fuel ratio sensor) and install simulator for the downline O2 sensor position (reads cat efficiency). Good to go.
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- #4
that's what I was thinking, I think the URD's are around $100 so it'd be the cheaper route.
Ditto. I had a cheapo aftermarket cat on my 97 Runner and I got rid of it. No running problems at all. I just lived with the CEL on tho. No emissions where I'm living right now.
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prolly going that route since I've heard so much bad s*** about aftermarket cats, that O2 simulator seems to work, my only concern not using one was how bad the truck might run without something.
When I took the aftermarket cat off of mine it was already all broken up inside. Like pieces fell out when I set it down. Keep in mind this cat was less than 6 months old and insurance paid about $800 for it.
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I was warned that the truck's ecm may throw codes causing it to run like s***. It has a CEL on now but I believe that's due to the cracked manifold or a bad O2 sensor, I guess in that respect, it won't run any worse and actually it runs pretty well.
Must be nice to not live in my state (CA).
fsusteve said:
It's a 4 banger, I assume. My exhaust mani died and had several cracks wide enough to shove pennys and dimes in. It never threw a CEL. The cat is good. So, it may just be the cat giving you trouble. I put a cheap header on and gas mileage increased 4 mpg on the highway. The 1st O2 wasn't reading what it should have. It still ran smooth before the repair.
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it's the 2.7, the manifold from what I can see has at least one hairline crack in it. I got a replacement from beno, it's the newer style header type, it will prolly go on this week. the cat rattles so I know it's done, I just didn't want to drop a ton of money on a new one if it doesn't matter in the end.
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- #13
ok, dropped the truck off at a local muffler shop, they changed out the manifold with beno's which is basically a shorty tube header and cut out the cat and piped it. I figured I could throw the O2 simulator on there if it ran bad....it runs great, like 1000 times better than it did. I don't see the need for the new O2 sensor at this point, I think the ecm must have remapped itself to compensate, the difference is amazing, the cat must have really been plugged up.
Hope it stays that way. What muffler did you go with?
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- #15
left the stock one on for now, it was still in good shape and has a little more of a throaty sound to it minus the cat. I don't think it's going to run worse once the ecm mapped the change but if it does I'll order the simulator. My son said the mileage has dramatically increased also, didn't think about that bonus. I have considered doing a cold air intake, our local parts store has them on sale. If I do it then I may have to order the new sensor, it might be too much change for the computer.
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btw, I listened to about 30 minutes of Youtube with 2.7 Tacos with different brand mufflers, borla, magnaflow, flowmaster....etc. They were all very similiar, magnaflow maybe a tad bit deeper but once the cat is off, they're fairly similiar.
I had the muffler guy test fit a FMaster 40 and a 2.5" Magnaflow on my 2.7 as a catback. They were both loud, but I could actually see through the MFlow. I would suggest a 'turbo' style muffler. I haven't heard one, but judging by the way it's constructed, it would seem less loud.
Strange, my '99 had a hole rusted muffler but the cat was in real good shape.
Strange, my '99 had a hole rusted muffler but the cat was in real good shape.
cold air intake? don't go all fast and furious on us...
'74 UA FJ said:
Teenager? Check. Toyota 4wd? Check.
I wouldn't do the cold air intake for these two reasons. Maybe a snorkel. I'd reroute those diff breather locations, too.
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lol, they were on sale...anyways I was considering a snorkel more so because he's out in the woods so much with it and does alot of water crossings. I have some kind of illness, if I'm not throwing money at a boat, I have to throw it at a truck, I'm such a marketing sheeple.
