New member need help..

Hi everyone, so I recently scored on a mint rust free 02 4Runner with 165k miles for a price that I couldn’t pass up. My initial plans was to fix a few things that it needed & flipping it but after driving it back home I changed my mind about it... now I’m thinking of getting rid of my daily driver 03 5 speed crv with 210k miles & keeping the 4Runner lol. On my way back home the VSC TRAC light stood on the whole time. The previous owner tried to clear a p0420 code it currently has & some people have told me that the reason why the VSC TRAC light is on is because of that code, is this true? I also tried out the 4wd hi low lever & I could hear it engaging but there isn’t any light on the cluster indicating that it is on. Same thing for the traction control button, I would press the button but I don’t see anything indicating that it is on. Could that be because of the VSC TRAC? I’m new to this model & I am highly interested in keeping this car but I’m just trying to figure out if it is worth it with these things that I can figure out myself. Thanks guys

 

I cannot provide any help on the error code. I would get online and find an owner's manual for that year and then check what is working and not working. You may have to take it to a dealer and have them do a thorough inspection.

Aside from that, welcome to a great forum!

 

Welcome to the forum.

 

P0420 Code - Toyota
Error code P0420 - or Catalyst System Efficiency Below Threshold (Bank 1) - is one of several trouble codes that fall into the general exhaust system code block.

https://parts.olathetoyota.com/p0420-code-toyota
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2002 4Runner- VSC, Trac, Check Engine stays on

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUA5Qko-v6A
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Also search...........

2002 4runner 4 wheel drive light indicator light does not illuminate
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I’m going to try this in the morning. Thank you!

 

Welcome from Wisconsin!

 

I had the same thing happen...Start by replacing the rear o2 sensor. It went away...problem solved. Also get a code reader.

 

Thanks for the welcome everyone! When I ran the code i believe it said bank 1. Just wanting to make sure I’m changing the right sensor.. is bank 1 the a/f sensor & bank 2 the 02 sensor?

 

There is only one bank and it is on the passenger side. Sensor 1 is fuel air señor ahead of both Cats. Sensor 2 is the o2 sensor after both Cats and near the muffler. Hope this helps.

 

So what happens is that when a code is thrown, the ECU decides whether it in any way relates to the VSC/Trak and whether, for safety sake, those systems should be disabled.

It appears that the ECU figures that MANY, if not nearly all, codes relate to those systems and will turn them off and turn on those lights.

So just concentrate on the CEL code you have.

 

This isn't quite right.. Toyota used a combination of Air Fuel Sensors and O2 sensors and it's different depending on the vehicle year and where it was headed.

To know for sure, call the dealer, supply them your vin and they will tell you EXACTLY what part numbers you need. You can take those numbers and buy elsewhere but those numbers should cross reference with non-OEM suppliers.

For example, my 2002 has the A/F sensor AFTER the cat. I didn't know this until I called the dealer, they said they needed my VIN and then told me that no, I don't need an O2 sensor, I needed an AF one. 10 minute remove/replace and all good.

Not sure what I have before the CAT, maybe O2 but probably another A/F sensor.

This is a typical failure on these cars at about 150k miles...and because Toyota wasn't consistent it's caused confusion.

 

FWIW my P0420 was actually the cat, not the sensor.

 

So before you do that, use an OBDII scan tool to clear all codes. If everything goes away for a bit then it's not a zero point calibration issue. If the CEL comes on with the VSC/Trak lights after a bit...it's the CEL code causing the issue.

I believe you should try the Zero Point calibration only if you have NO CEL and those lights come on.

 

there is no cel light on right now but I think the previous owner cleared it before me checking the car out. But I plugged in my scanner anyways & that code popped up. So as of now the cel light isn’t on but it’s still throwing that code & the vsc trac light is on

 

how much did that bill come out too to replace the cat?

 

Gotcha. Then you may have 2 issues.

So the code you see now is potentially the first one thrown by the ECU since the previous owner cleared things. The ECU will not pop the CEL right away but only after the same code is thrown more than once. So expect the CEL to come on eventually.

So in that case, probably something also going on with the vsc trac and the zero point cal is worth trying.

 

okay thanks. I think I’m going to try & fix the cel code first & then move on to the vsc trac. Hopefully my cat isn’t bad but that’s what I’m expecting

 

It was like $120. $60 for a magnaflow off Amazon, $60 for the cut/weld and an adapter pipe