The check Engine light in my 95 came on. I had a local mech inspect it and he read the codes using an OBD2/1 scanner and told me the cats need to be replaced. He told me about $2000.
WOW!!! Does that sound right? He reset the light for me for 50 bucks. Damn. This is not a DIY job, so I have to take her in.
My questions:
1. Has anyone replaced their cats, and what was the cost? 1 cat or 2?
2. The voltage on the cat was low, does that mean it has to be replaced immediately?
3. Does 95 have a OBD 1 or OBD 2 system? That way I can reset the light myself.
Thanks in advance.

 

Doesn't sound right. First off, you can't pull the code on a 95 with a scanner. You need to jump TE1 and E1 and get the check engine light to flash the code to you with the ignition on. Do a search for details on this procedure. Second, there's no way replacing a cat (or cats - don't know whether the LS has 1 or 2) should cost $2K.

The 95 is OBD1. You can clear the code by diswconnecting your negative battery terminal (which may clear your stereo presets) or by pulling the EFI fuse.

 

i dont think that the 95 is ODBI considering i juss checked mine today with an OBDII scanner. (no problems but still crappy mpg)

i doubt that the cats need replacement (there are 2). most likely the o2 sensor went out or something of that nature. i haven't heard of an LS needing cat before like 200-250k mi.

goodluck.

 

Do the Cats glow red (heat), notice any loss of power? Sounds a little weird to me. I thought only 96+ got OBD II.

 

i agree with grand ls.....cars in 95 did have obd i, im not too sure but i guess it would have a obd i. my check engine light is on as well. where can i find what code means what? any sites where they have info on the second gen in particular.

 

Nope, the mech had a combined OBD1/2 generic diagnostic computer and he hooked it up in front of me, right near the underside of the dash where the driver sits. No hood popping, no jumping wires. I understand all 96+ cars in the US were OBD II, but this chap insists that 95 LS was OBD II and not OBD I. I am confused for sure.

 

all cars 96+ were required by law to be obd2 compliant and most cars pre96 were all obd1 but lexus was already ahead of the game and made all 95+ vehicles obd2. anyway what was the number of the code that he pulled? i doubt your cats need to be replaced. when your cats are in danger of being damaged the check engine light will blink continuosly whereas if you have a regular code your check engine light will just stay on

 

Leave the cats alone and change your o2 sensors. There are four of them, 2 in front of the cats and the other 2 behind. You can also reset the engine light by just pulling out the 20amp (EFI no.2, check your manual) fuse in the panel located in the engine bay. All you have to do is pull it out for about 10-20 seconds and the light disappears. He should've never charged you 50 bucks just to reset a light, I think that's outrageous.

 

Well, the light has been gone after the reset. I'll take a closer look into the O2 sensors or the cats if it comes back. I looked under the car, the cats are not glowing. Gas mileage is great at 27 hwy. Power is excellent. No complaints. Yeah 50 bucks is 50 bucks, but at least the light is gone for now. I tried the remove the battery (negative terminal) solution, and the light was always back within a day. If it stays off, I don't mind the 50 bucks.

 

if nothing was fixed then the light will be back

 

what is your mileage?

 

126k miles

 

I concur with the rest of the gang.. Check your O2 sensors if they have not been changed.. Normally you would be able to borrow an OBDII scanner from an Autozone (depending on your location) and scan it yourself to extract the code. The code pretty much says if that mechanic was Bsing or not

 

Damn light is back.

 

I'll go to Advance auto or Autozone and get the codes. Then I'll replace the O2 sensors in stages until the light goes away. Is it better to change the first set of O2 sensors first, then the ones after the catalytic converter? Or is it better to replace the downstream ones first?
Thanks in advance.