10suxel02

Hello,

Concerning a 2001 LS430 with 118,000 miles. last month the "check engine" light came on and has stayed on. The local shop checked it and said there was a P0430 code. Shortly after that, I started hearing the exhaust from under the car. As the weeks have gone by, this exhaust noise is getting a little louder.

Am I correct in thinking:

1. There is probably a hole in the exhaust causing the bank 2-sensor 2 to throw the code
2. That hole is after the first oxygen sensor but before the second
3. I will have to remove the heat insulator (shield) to get to it
4. It will be less expensive to get a muffler shop to repair this than a garage or dealer

Sound right?

bmore430

Sounds like the heat shield and pipe crack/leak all the 430s develop at some point. You have the right idea. Many said muffler shop repair was 150-200 dollars. I noticed I have a small leak but no code yet. Going to use it as an excuse to get ppe headers and a custom x pipe made up down the road.

10suxel02

Thanks, I'll run it past the local shop to see if they can find the hole. It's good to know where the problem is, before asking the shop to look at it. Especially when the problem is probably hidden by the shield. It would be nice if the parts all came off easily too, and not have to be heated or cut or something like that. Time is money with these shops, any shops. If it goes well, maybe I'll ask them to put new plugs in while their at it.

Good luck with the headers and pipe.

Thanks again

Boomer01

I have had the same code for a few months now. Let us know what you find out.

10suxel02

Just came from the local Bell Tire shop, who was good enough to lift the Lexus for a free look-see. I was correct. There is a hole in the exhaust pipe right under the forward clamp that holds the right heat shield on. This is just a few inches to the rear of the bank 2-sensor 2 sensor and on the top side of the pipe.

Their estimate for a repair is $665 ($575 for the parts and $56 for the labor) and includes replacing everything (probably with the exception of the heat shields) from the exhaust gasket just ahead of the sensor, all the way back past the convertor, to the next gasket. I guess that's called the Y pipe and the catalytic convertor. The heat shields will probably be reused and I was told that the sensors can be reused.

The labor seems very good, but the part cost is twice what this sells for on the open market. I understand that this is probably due to a 100% or more markup. From what I read, it's about time for the converter, and the sensors, to fail anyway, and so replacing the whole section would be a practical move, but does the price seem too high?

What are your thoughts?

Legender

that seems high... I paid less than that for the pipe rebuild, a new catalytic converter and a new sensor... installed at pronto muffler here in TX. It was on a 2000 ls400.... but still that seems a bit high..

Gene01

I am certainly no expert, but I believe that the consensus is that the catalytic converters are quite robust and rarely fail before about 200k miles.

Boomer01

That seems high. You might check with a muffler shop.

bmore430

It seems many replace the cat and pipe well before 200k from what I've seen. Usually looks like we get the dreaded leak between 80-100k miles. I'm at 72k now and noticed I can hear a small leak on drivers side under heat shield when I'm parked next to a wall. I'd be with the crowd that would replace cat and sensors at the same time while everything was apart. Considering a new pipe from lexus is 1200-1800.00 your price quoted may not be that bad for a thorough job.

Maybe try ordering your own parts and go back for just labor. Magnaflow for the cat and sewell for the sensors should save some dough.

10suxel02

Thanks, I'm between a rock and a hard place here. $665 seems a bit high to me too, when this part can be had for so much less, but the dealer would charge multiple times that much. What has been everyones experience in counter offering the shops price, or asking a shop to install a part that you have supplied?

On that last point, which aftermarket company makes a quality, well fitting y pipe/catalytic replacement for this year? The mechanic said he would order an aftermarket part, and it would take a week to get, but didn't say who manufactured it.

Thanks

10suxel02

OK, I just hung up from the local Bell Tire shop, and they have agreed to include the installation of new iridium spark plugs. So, a new y-pipe with catalytic convertor, clamps and gaskets, 8 new iridium spark plugs and labor for $665. Does that sound better?

Legender

Unfamiliar with your location and Bell tire shop... not sure I'd have tire guys changing my plugs, but they must be certified mechanics...
If you did not plan to do it yourself... plugs are $50 or so and then an hour to change out. Might be saving you $150 probably. Plugs are due about now so timing is OK. Make sure they are NGK or Denso... nothing else.
I'm still not convinced you need the catalytic converter at this young age... but again, if they will guarantee this will fix the problem of show you how the converter is indeed bad, then I guess the deal is ok.

Lavrishevo

iTrader: (1)

Yeah. I always source the parts myself and just pay for labor. I can even negotiate with my local dealer on rates.

10suxel02

Well, years ago, when I had my own beautiful, red, craftsman tool chest, full of tools, I would have completed this work myself, but that's not the case now. Belle Tire is a pretty good sized business in the Michigan/Ohio area, and does a pretty good job for most of my neighborhood, so they get the business. They will probably get the task of replacing the shocks and working on the brakes later this year.

I just dropped the LS off, so some time after I get it back, I'll post how it went.

10suxel02

In following up, I just pick up the LS and it's as quiet as new and starts better. We went ahead and installed a new air filter while we were at it. The customer service guy said it all went well, but also said that now the system showed 2 codes, for both sides of the exhaust, a 20 and a 30. I pulled out of the parking lot without the service engine light coming on, so I don't know if it just took time for the car to zero the system, and clear the codes itself, or if they still exist. Here is a question: Should the service engine light be on if both exhaust codes exist?