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Title: is it necessary to recalibrate ECU after replace catalytic converter? Post by: rollingthunder6 on December 21, 2009, 11:42:21 am i recently purchased for my wife a used 2003 4-cyl Camry, a/t, 125000 miles, from a toyota dealer. Nice car. After a couple weeks, the check-engine light came on. I got out my Actron OBD II code scanner, which i used to retrieve a P0420 DTC. I researched that DTC on the internet and found out it is a "catalytic converter not performing to spec" issue. I erased the code, and it has not returned in the month since then. I dropped by the toyota dealer to discuss the issue w/ a service tech, who told me that altho i could replace the catalytic converter myself, i would still need to bring it by to them so that they can "recalibrate the computer" after the new catalytic converter has been installed. Back in the 60s and 70s, i had A LOT of experience working on VW Bugs, rebuilding Bug engines, even once rebuilt a VW bug standard transmission. So i like to think i know a little bit about auto mechanics. But back then, VW Bugs did not have catalytic converters, much less onboard computers. So i need to know: on MODERN cars, do you need to recalibrate the onboard computer whenever you replace the catalytic converter? or is this something particular to Toyotas? I have both the Chilton AND the Haynes shop manuals for this car, and neither one of them mentions any such requirement. One further note: I found a TSB for this car on the internet, Toyota TSB EG024-04, relative the onboard computer and P0420 DTCs, but the tech at the dealar told me it does not apply to *my* engine b/c it was built after the Production Change Effective VIN (and that jives w/ what i concluded). Title: Re: is it necessary to recalibrate ECU after replace catalytic converter? Post by: GT-Four on December 21, 2009, 01:28:28 pm
Normally, you never need to reprogram the ECU on any car with an ECU. Sometimes it helps to reset them, normally by disconnecting the battery for an hour, then reconnecting it and letting the ECU "relearn" the air-fuel ratio starting from its table. Quote One further note: I found a TSB for this car on the internet, Toyota TSB EG024-04, relative the onboard computer and P0420 DTCs, but the tech at the dealar told me it does not apply to *my* engine b/c it was built after the Production Change Effective VIN (and that jives w/ what i concluded). This Technical Service Bulletin EG024-04 seems to be a special case, however. While normally ECUs never have to be reflashed, this TSB means that Toyota made a change to the Catalytic converter at the time of the Production Change. This redesigned catalyst requires a reflash, presumably because it gives different readings to the post-converter narrowband oxygen sensor. More info: http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/showpost.php?s=b44523c826408d8aff85dd70fa637e5e&p=2190966&postcount=3 (http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/showpost.php?s=b44523c826408d8aff85dd70fa637e5e&p=2190966&postcount=3) Since your car is past the cutoff VIN for this in-production change, your '03 Camry is not affected. This means you don't need an ECU reflash at the dealer. Therefore, even if you did end up having to replace the catalytic converter, you won't need a trip to the dealer to fix the Check Engine Light. As you note, your CEL hasn't come back on since you cleared the code with your Actron OBD2 scan tool. Most likely your catalytic converter is just fine, assuming you haven't experienced a notable loss in power or excess heat from the converter. |