cecegorz:
I just had an experience with my car last week, and I thought to share for people to update their knowledge.
This experience cost me about a 100k only.

The car had never stalled in about 2 years since I bought it, only goes for regular maintenance services, so when I noticed it stalling on that Tuesday morning, I didn't hesitate to take it to the mechanic, amidst dying and restarting a couple of times along the way.

The mech first scanned the ECU and came up with codes about the catalysts, ignition coils and injection systems clogging, started by servicing the injection, changing coils and plug and yet no respite. So he lifted the car, went under and saw the whole exhaust system red hot as the engine was running, so he dismantled the whole stuff and discovered the 3 catalytic converters has been blocked, thus the engine couldn't breathe!
That was what put the whole system under pressure with collateral damages in the engine.

Consequently, engine got a cracked valve, bad gaskets and all.
Ultimately, the car spent 1 week in the shop and dug a 100k hole in my wallet.
I have uploaded the receipt of spare parts bought and replaced for mechanics in the house to review.

cecegorz:
I just had an experience with my car last week, and I thought to share for people to update their knowledge.
This experience cost me about a 100k only.

The car had never stalled in about 2 years since I bought it, only goes for regular maintenance services, so when I noticed it stalling on that Tuesday morning, I didn't hesitate to take it to the mechanic, amidst dying and restarting a couple of times along the way.

The mech first scanned the ECU and came up with codes about the catalysts, ignition coils and injection systems clogging, started by servicing the injection, changing coils and plug and yet no respite. So he lifted the car, went under and saw the whole exhaust system red hot as the engine was running, so he dismantled the whole stuff and discovered the 3 catalytic converters has been blocked, thus the engine couldn't breathe!
That was what put the whole system under pressure with collateral damages in the engine.

Consequently, engine got a cracked valve, bad gaskets and all.
Ultimately, the car spent 1 week in the shop and dug a 100k hole in my wallet.
I have uploaded the receipt of spare parts bought and replaced for mechanics in the house to review.

erico2k2:

The whole of ur Ignition coil can not go bad in one go plus there are simple test to check for that as well
Which of the gasket did you say was bad?

Emperoh:


This is a recurring issue for cars of late. I first experienced this in 2012 on a 2003 VW Passat. Car almost caught fire.
Then a colleagues 2001 Peugeot 406 and then another 2003 Camry.

I suspect it is the leaded fuel we use here. But I hope Siena and Gazzuz and Kingreign can come here and let's jawjaw on this.

cecegorz:
Let me just write out the invoice of the total cost of parts and service charges, since I can't upload the pix:

1. Valve oil seal - 3,400
2. Valves - 12,000
3. Top gasket - 17,500
4. Engine oil - 5,600
5. oil filter - 1,500
6. Plugs (6) - 6,000
7. Surfacing of cylinder - 7,500
8. Sealant gum - 600
9. Valve cup - 1,000
10. Reconstruction of the 3 Cats by panel beater - 15,000
11. Workmanship - 25,000

Total cost - 100,000

P.S
The number 10 is based on what nisiparts nissparts explained as Alternative 2 in this thread https://www.nairaland.com/951734/explaining-catalysts-catalyst-codes

erico2k2:

you cannot re construct a cat converter, and howcome your car has three, what make and model?

cecegorz:


Sorry, may be reconstruction is not the appropriate word.
What the panel beater did was cut open the canisters and remove the cats inside, then constructed some flat plates with multiple bores and placed them in stead of another cat. So effectively there's no more cats inside the canisters.

The car is Toyota Highlander.
One of the cats is closer to the engine, the 2nd one at the middle and the 3rd one close to the silencer.

cecegorz:
I just had an experience with my car last week, and I thought to share for people to update their knowledge.
This experience cost me about a 100k only.

The car had never stalled in about 2 years since I bought it, only goes for regular maintenance services, so when I noticed it stalling on that Tuesday morning, I didn't hesitate to take it to the mechanic, amidst dying and restarting a couple of times along the way.

The mech first scanned the ECU and came up with codes about the catalysts, ignition coils and injection systems clogging, started by servicing the injection, changing coils and plug and yet no respite. So he lifted the car, went under and saw the whole exhaust system red hot as the engine was running, so he dismantled the whole stuff and discovered the 3 catalytic converters has been blocked, thus the engine couldn't breathe!
That was what put the whole system under pressure with collateral damages in the engine.

Consequently, engine got a cracked valve, bad gaskets and all.
Ultimately, the car spent 1 week in the shop and dug a 100k hole in my wallet.
I have uploaded the receipt of spare parts bought and replaced for mechanics in the house to review.

erico2k2:

your car has Only two cat converter, not three, what he did there was just to milk you cos whatever he put in there has no meaning.The cat converters are made of special metals to convert harmful gases from ur Exhust system to friendly gas when they come out to the environment.these are the metals used in Cat converters
platinum, palladium and rhodium,.So at that he just did the more you look the less you see.
PLZ buy another cat converter for your car.

cecegorz:


No way I'm buying a new cat in this economy. A quick Google gives costs at approx $1500, with delivery is like 700k.

Second option is the Tokunbo version from Ladipo, which shelf life you Can't determine, as it may also fail within the shortest possible time.

Until there's another reasonable alternative, I'm OK as it is.

Piyke:


Always better to address Cat issues when its just the codes; P0420/P0430. By the time you start having poor acceleration and difficulty ascending inclines, its an emergency. Did you not experience loss of power climbing hills before this? Cos from your post it gives the impression this happened without warning.

cecegorz:


You're absolutely right.
Never had any warning prior to that day. It would have easy if I had noticed when it was just the cats, before it tore my other components apart

chukel:
but Bro, u had check light for a long time. Just cos the car was moving well, u ignored it. It pays to have a scanner. U would have taken action a long time ago before spilling 100k. Contact me for ur car scanner.

chukel:
but Bro, u had check light for a long time. Just cos the car was moving well, u ignored it. It pays to have a scanner. U would have taken action a long time ago before spilling 100k. Contact me for ur car scanner.

NeyofeedNigEnt:


How much is your scanner please

chukel:
20k

NeyofeedNigEnt:


I'm in Ibadan and how can I get one

chukel:
I will courier to you after payment.

Piyke:


Always better to address Cat issues when its just the codes; P0420/P0430. By the time you start having poor acceleration and difficulty ascending inclines, its an emergency. Did you not experience loss of power climbing hills before this? Cos from your post it gives the impression this happened without warning.

Edunwa302:

I'm curently having excert issues on my 08 camry 4 cylinder no code can you help

Edunwa302:

I mean the symptoms you mentioned

Piyke:


Does the car smoke? Can you confirm you check engine light bulb was not removed?