Oh joy, P0401 is back... (and how 80's fail emissions)

[DaveInDenver]

It seems though that it is almost prudent to replace both the cats and the O2 sensors together though if there is a chance a bad O2 sensor will burn out a cat...

And vice versa, a poorly running engine can ruin the O2. When I built the new engine I used an old O2 at break-in because I assumed all that burning assembly lube and crap would foul it. That seemed to be the case because it threw the code not long after, but that was an experiment and so I had the new one to put in.

BTW, http://www.sparkplugs.com sells Denso O2 sensors with the proper plug for a lot cheaper than Toyota. Dunno if that's well known or not.

 

[60wag]

Its my understanding that the sensor in front of the cat is the one controlling the mixture in the engine. The one after the cat is monitoring cat function. If you were to do a prophylactic sensor replacement, the front one ought to do it.

 

[Uncle Ben]

It might be off track but not really....you can't possibly talk about older trucks now failing emissions due to new standards in place they they were not ever designed to meet without bringing up politics....

 

[rover67]

Its my understanding that the sensor in front of the cat is the one controlling the mixture in the engine. The one after the cat is monitoring cat function. If you were to do a prophylactic sensor replacement, the front one ought to do it.

Yep, that's my understanding as well..

Also, you can try to clean a contaminated o2 sensor by heating it up with a torch.. I have never tried it, but i've read about it.

 

[Red_Chili]

BTW, http://www.sparkplugs.com sells Denso O2 sensors with the proper plug for a lot cheaper than Toyota. Dunno if that's well known or not.

+1!
Not sure these days but they even beat the Rising Sun discount when I needed them.

 

[Red_Chili]

Now this is interesting... different O2 for auto and manual trans?? (1997 5VZ-FE 4Runner)
Denso OE identical O2 sensor 234-4162 234-4162 FRONT Automatic Transmission Sale: $76.12
Denso OE identical O2 sensor 234-4161 234-4161 FRONT Manual Transmission $93.21

And about $15 cheaper if you don't mind splicing wires. Hmmm.

 

[thefatkid]

Now this is interesting... different O2 for auto and manual trans?? (1997 5VZ-FE 4Runner)
Denso OE identical O2 sensor 234-4162 234-4162 FRONT Automatic Transmission Sale: $76.12
Denso OE identical O2 sensor 234-4161 234-4161 FRONT Manual Transmission $93.21

And about $15 cheaper if you don't mind splicing wires. Hmmm.

Carefull Bill, the resistance values are different between the auto and manual. One is 7ohms and the other is 13ohms. The difference is enough to set a oxygen sensor heater circut malfunction code. Ask me how I know

 

[nakman]

So get this- I get to the Broomfield Air Care place, I'm 3 deep in line. 25 minutes later they're still messing with the first truck.. then the gal comes in to say sorry folks, the all wheel drive rollers are broken. Here's the number you can call us later this afternoon to see if we've got them fixed, or here's a map to a different location.


edit: I pulled a 10 sticker off of our Prius' old plate, so in the interim at least my license plate appears to be current.

 

[LXBRADY]

then the gal comes in to say sorry folks, the all wheel drive rollers are broken.

What a pain in the a**!

 

[Uncle Ben]

What a pain in the a**!

rrrrrrrrrrrrr X2...

 

[Crash]

UB, are you suffering from cabin fever? Every other post of yours has a rant smiley in it these days.

 

[bigbluefj]

I'm sure glad i don't need to go through this wow!!!

Kevin

 

[Uncle Ben]

UB, are you suffering from cabin fever? Every other post of yours has a rant smiley in it these days.

My time of the month! Actually I realized that too. Been really busy and I do pretty good about breezing over the forum to say in touch with whats going on but most post I make are knee jerk lately either about grievances or when I have an answer that needs to come out as an active contributer. My apologies for seeming grumpy! ....and yes....I do have cabin fever and yes....I plan on rectifying that too!

 

[treerootCO]

So get this- I get to the Broomfield Air Care place, I'm 3 deep in line. 25 minutes later they're still messing with the first truck.. then the gal comes in to say sorry folks, the all wheel drive rollers are broken. Here's the number you can call us later this afternoon to see if we've got them fixed, or here's a map to a different location.


edit: I pulled a 10 sticker off of our Prius' old plate, so in the interim at least my license plate appears to be current.

That is BS! It was broken when I was there when I bought my 80! Same story then too.

 

[Crash]

Heck, Uncle Ben, at least you aren't grumpy all of the time like I am. I've recently doubled my Metamucil intake and that seems to be helping and spring is right around the corner. That always helps in coming out of hibernation. Been jonesin' for a road trip - one of those always set me straight. I hope your cabin fever plan works well for you.

 

[nakman]

passed.

So yesterday at lunch I go down to the Arvada station... forget it that line must have been 20 deep, easily an hour+ wait.

Today I called to verify the AWD rollers are working again, so I take an early lunch to try to beat "the rush." I wait for 20 minutes before I even get to the dude, which I used to eat my Taco Bell and idle at 1500rpm's...

I finally get my chance on the rollers and it was the most adventure I've ever experienced there. The roller girl runs through the test, and I'm watching the screen and it says "test aborted - oil leak failure." WTF? Don't get me started... my 80 does a lot of things but one thing it does NOT do is leak oil... and I sure don't see anything hitting the ground.

But whatever, fire it up again here we go for round two. This time the screen says something like "unable to retrieve deceleration data - manager approval required." Are you kidding me? So the girl goes and gets another guy, also the senior manager gal, they huddle up followed by, you guessed it.. test three. By this time I've made pretty good friends with the H3 guy in line behind me, who at this point is starting to worry about his new cold air intake and high flow cat-back exhaust...

So round three ends with the same error message, but they quickly scrolled through the screens and on forward the 80 was waved. Now it gets really good- manager gal drives the 80 forward, not roller girl... and in addition to handing the gas cap to the old guy at the computer, she proceeds to inspect this truck for no less than 10 minutes, I'm serious. She didn't peek at the cats with the mirror, she laid under the truck for a solid 5 minutes! She then opens the hood, stands on the front tire, then who knows what she's looking at but eventually jumps down and shuts the hood. Looking irritated, she walks back to old guy at the computer, taps in a few comments into the system, then heads back to wherever she's used to standing.

I finally get "the wave," and old computer guy hands me the paper with the "passed the inspection, good for 2 years" explanation of what all they just went through.. wtf just happened? Also the H3 is already done at this point, it's right up behind me with another car already on the rollers (that's how long the visual inspection took)

And to recap, I did next to nothing- I ran my original tank of gas almost empty, then dumped in a bottle of Lucas Fuel System cleaner and filled up with 91 octane.

Then I illegally transferred a "10" sticker from an old license plate onto the 80, and proceeded to drive about 200 more miles, including some solid highway miles.

Can't wait to put the 35's back on, see you in 2 years, Air Care Colorado..

edit: So my CO is down to less than half- is that just the newer gas? And the ozone layer is better but it looks like I'm killing plants now, as I'm somehow releasing less CO2

Here are the readings:

 

[Bikeman]

Congrats!

 

[Hulk]

Good lord, what a PITA! Glad you passed, Tim. Maybe if you drive by one of the ACC trucks on the side of the road, you won't need to do this again in 2 years.

 

[MDH33]

... She then opens the hood, stands on the front tire, then who knows what she's looking at but eventually jumps down and shuts the hood. Looking irritated, she walks back to old guy at the computer, taps in a few comments into the system, then heads back to wherever she's used to standing.

I thought for sure she was going to fail you for the illegal Snackster bolted to your manifold.

Glad you passed!

 

[nakman]

I thought for sure she was going to fail you for the illegal Snackster bolted to your manifold.

yeah good thing they don't test the driver for methane.