jonathancl

2001 GS430, 170k miles.

CEL is on, has been since not too long after last inspection.

Throwing 4020 and 4030 codes. Exhaust is audibly loud.
Dealer says I need two new CATs, quoted 1775/425 parts and labor to replace.

When ABS engages, pedal does not push back, goes to floor.
Dealer says I need new master cylinder, quoted 2940/460 parts and labor to replace.

I've done all of the work on this car since I bought it except the timing belt replacement; these repairs are beyond my ability to diagnose and execute, and this is a lot of money on a car that is not worth much on paper.

What the hell should I do?

Edit:

Thanks, MattyG. $1000 sounds good to address the cats issue.
I found a master cylinder rebuild kit for $70 that may address the other issue. part 04493-30330

Edit 20140807:

So I finally fixed the CEL. My local Firestone welded patches over three exhaust leaks (nice work, too, checked), and replaced B1S1 O2 sensor because the heater element failed.
CEL is gone, and it passed emissions. They charged me $200 for labor and $50 for the O2 sensor. Lexus dealer was so far off the mark, it makes me sad. Car is so much quieter, had no idea how loud it had gotten.

The brake pump is odd. I bought a replacement on eBay for $400, and it exhibits the same behavior, no idea what to do about that.

MattyG

You can find a good independent muffler shop that carries Magnaflow aftermarket cats for this car. That's what I did. Just under a $1000 for left and right.

They ran about $360 per unit and $200 labor. I think mine are even 50 state legal so the ulev status remains unchanged.

MasterKwan

You can find the ABS unit's on ebay for between $500-800. I just sold a set to a fellow member for $300.

I'm not sure why they always jump to replace, all the parts are available for the unit.

http://www.lexussouthatlantaparts.co...driveLine=8082

You can see these guys only charge $1900 for the unit.

You don't really need abs as long as the brakes work properly too.

Sampak

You can find aftermarket cats for $80 a piece. I've ran one on another car for less than a year but the first one did crap out after it hit the ground from another unrelated issue (honeycomb broke looset). $360 a piece is a bit much but it's better than the OEM rip off that's for sure.

MasterKwan

Google "no fouler" in relation to getting through emissions tests. The placement of the secondary 02 sensors on the GS makes them prime candidates for "no fouler" treatment. Essentially you're pulling the secondary 02's out of part of the exhaust stream which makes them less sensitive so, less efficient cats are still read as OK.

I haven't tried it on a Lexus but, I have on other cars. I had a track car and would remove the cats on track days. I'd use a no-fouler to keep the CEL from turning on.

MattyG

It always comes down to how much you love your ride I suppose. If you don't plan on keeping it for more than a year, then it's not worth putting too much money into it.

Because I want to keep my GS for a year or more, I went the extra mile to make sure its exhaust/emissions are working properly. I just didn't want the hassle of going back to a muffler shop to replace those cheap cats so I went the Magnaflow route.

MasterKwan

What I'm suggesting is keeping the current cats and installing the no-foulers so, they don't set converter efficiency CEL's any more.

ThomasGS4

iTrader: (19)

The exhaust is audibly loud? Well, start with the cheap stuff first; exhaust leaks.

The same thing happened to me, although since I had an exhaust leak at the flange after the cat and before the downstream O2 sensor, the dealer simply thought there was an inefficiency in the cat. I had new gaskets installed for <$20 and it fixed my issue.

jonathancl

So...I bought a used brake pump on eBay for $375 and installed this weekend.

When the antilocks kick in, the pedal still does not push back, goes to the floor, no change in behavior.

What the hell is going on?

MasterKwan

How well did you bleed it? Sounds like it's still got air in the system. If the pedal goes to the floor, you need to bleed more.

There might be a special procedure for bleeding these things. Typically I pressure bleed ABS systems for the initial bleed to push air out of the ABS unit. The GS system is pretty oddball so, I'd probably read the manual first.

SprtDesign

iTrader: (21)

Try this for bleeding the master cylinder.
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/gs-...nder-99-a.html

MasterKwan

Yeah that's a damn good link. What a pain in the ***.