Rav 4 Po420 And Po430 Problem

[suegeorge49]

Hi everybody I have two great Toyota cars a RAV4 (2001 and has done 50K miles) and a Previa (again 2001 and has done 58K miles) over the last few months the engine warning light (MIL) has come on in both cars with the same OBD codes PO420 and PO430 (Catalyst System Efficiency Below Threshold). I have taken the RAV4 to my local Toyota Dealer who tells me I need a new catalyst at a cost of £646.17. Speaking to the Toyota Technician he hinted "that these older Toyotas have a bit of a design problem. The catalyst tubes are narrow and can become somewhat constricted triggering the warning light". I asked if there was anything I could have done to prevent it and he said no! Interestingly the RAV4 recently passed the emissions test in its MOT so it feels like I am being asked to pay £646.17 to put the warning light out. I asked the technician if he had tested the O2 sensors and he said no he did not need to as he was sure it was the catalyst. Is there a recognised problem here? Do I really need to replace the catalysts in both cars? Many thanks George

[shutty]

Hi everybody I have two great Toyota cars a RAV4 (2001 and has done 50K miles) and a Previa (again 2001 and has done 58K miles) over the last few months the engine warning light (MIL) has come on in both cars with the same OBD codes PO420 and PO430 (Catalyst System Efficiency Below Threshold). I have taken the RAV4 to my local Toyota Dealer who tells me I need a new catalyst at a cost of £646.17. Speaking to the Toyota Technician he hinted "that these older Toyotas have a bit of a design problem. The catalyst tubes are narrow and can become somewhat constricted triggering the warning light". I asked if there was anything I could have done to prevent it and he said no! Interestingly the RAV4 recently passed the emissions test in its MOT so it feels like I am being asked to pay £646.17 to put the warning light out. I asked the technician if he had tested the O2 sensors and he said no he did not need to as he was sure it was the catalyst. Is there a recognised problem here? Do I really need to replace the catalysts in both cars? Many thanks George

There are issue with Previa and cats but it also requires an ECU software download or your new cat will go the same way as your old one

[Mark Elder]

Any one know any more about this software download?

I'm getting the "You need a new ECU and Cat, mate" response from the dealer.

[crofter]

I'm sure when our more esteemed,learned members come on they will be able to tell you how you can read the fault codes yourself.

Del.

[crofter]

Very sorry,wrong post

[anchorman]

Disconnect the Battery for 30 seconds to put the warning light out. The DTC for 0420 and 0430 shows up an imbalance across the cat. If the exhaust manifold is leaking or any of the oxy sensors are duff it will do it. Changing the cat would be the last step.

P0420.pdf

[Mark Elder]

Very interesting, thanks for the document.

It does not mention anything about an ECU change or software update... Why might they be suggesting that? Seems to me they are after revenue! I've read somewhere on here, but now can't find, that changing the Cat without the updated ECU will lead to another Cat failure, although this one has lasted 60k miles.

[anchorman]

Very interesting, thanks for the document.

It does not mention anything about an ECU change or software update... Why might they be suggesting that? Seems to me they are after revenue! I've read somewhere on here, but now can't find, that changing the Cat without the updated ECU will lead to another Cat failure, although this one has lasted 60k miles.

It does here;

P0420-0430 DTC.pdf

[Mark Elder]

Thanks Anchorman, you seem to know everything!

That document gives frame numbers that I'm having trouble reconciling with my car.

I assume I take last 7 digits of my vin number and add the varient code on the front (mine is ACA20). That gives me something in the right format, but not a number that matches the range in the tech bulletin, anyway I'm now well armed to show that a software upgrade is all I need.

Since they reset the codes on Friday the light has not come back on despite putting around 300 fast miles on the clock.

Have ordered a U480 so I can read the codes myself.

Thanks for all the help

[anchorman]

Your is an ACA 21.

From memory, the last 5 Nos are the chassis No and the preceding Nos, 01 or 60 are the factory they were produced in.

I'll have it somewhere but its too near bed time now!

[rh4]

TSB EG-5010 reads very strange to me.....

For model ACA20 (3-dr Rav4), the affected frame numbers show as:

ACA20-0040480 to ACM20-5009839

Production dates:Sept 2002 to Aug 2003

The frame number range does not look consistent to me...?

In particular ACM20-5009839 does not look correct to me, shouldn't it start with ACA20- xxxxx ?

If any has a corrected TSB, please let me know where it is...

[Tony Jackson]

Sorry to start this thread up again, but I have two questions on the topic of failing cats if I may. My wife has a 2000 3 door 2.0L Rav4.2 with 62K miles on the clock. It has started coming up with this problem and having done a search on this forum it does appear to require the ECU update. My local dealer will do the update and charge £57 whether it needs it or not. They have also advised the cats will probably need replacing! I hate paying main dealers when I can do it myself.

So is there any diagnostic software to buy out there that can interrogate the ECU to find out what the current version is? I'm normally in to Vauxhall / Opel and have bought tools from eBay to do this job for them. I also have a U480 code reader for the Rav. If I can check the version before hand I can at least know whether I need to go to the main dealer or not.

Also, is it worth changing the cats? I'm certainly not paying a main dealer for that!

It's a brilliant car though and has been for the last 3 1/2 years.......