A while back I had some codes pulled off my runner and one of them was lean exhaust. I also have some intense heat coming from the center console in between the front seats after driving around for a while. Could this possible be a symptom of a clogged cat. converter?

 

Good question. I noticed recently that when I removed the jack from under the rear seat on my 4Runner, that the jack was extremely hot after driving for a while. Hot enough where you don't want to hold it.

I got my lean code to go away when I replaced the MAF, but it still has a stumble under acceleration.

Oh yeah, my 4Runner is a 99 3.4 V6 5spd 4x4.

 

I don't know a specific answer to your question but I had a code that told me to replace my cat (aftermarket, 4 years old). I did. It seems a very short lifespan in my Runner at least.

 

Thanks for the input. I am trying to narrow down causes of "lean exhaust." The cat on my truck is fairly new, but it's not ruled out as a possiblity. Is there a way to clean the cat, or is that something thats not possible?

 

I don't know of anyway to clean the catylytic converter.

 

I think cat's are a one-use item. Lean exhaust would be measured by the O2 sensor though wouldn't it? If that's going bad it would think there wasn't enough gas in there, possibly - though it'd make it run cooler since it would enrichen the hell out of it.

Dunno...

 

Hot to me too. When I pick up the back seats to lay them flat, it's pretty warm there, same when I took of my center console between the two front seats. It's an '02 BTW

 

You could be right about the O2 sensor. I know for sure that the injectors are clogged, but I was trying to find the source of the heat in the cab .... and tie it in with the lean exhaust so probably if I replce the sensor it will narrow it down.

 

Wouldn’t a place that does emission inspections be able to tell with fair certainty if the cat is functioning properly? I would think so.

 

Make sure your little heater in the centre console isnt on.this does pump out some heat,more so if the vent a obscured by some clothing or something.

 

I believe so ..... but for a fee. Plus I am sure that some would take advantage of the fact that I am not sure. Overall you are right, but I would have to get several opinions. Before I get to that step I wanted to get input from others that may have experienced this also, that way if the person doing the inspection claims some kind of off the wall problem or something simple that I can check myself, then I will know to go elsewhere.

 

The little heater isnt on, but last winter I did have a problem with it. When blowing on full blast it started to make a ticking noise. After winter though .. it stopped?!?!?!?

 

I bet the ticking noise was debris stuck in the fan. I had that happen in my runner.

 

My cat was clogged for a while too...until the little bastard horked twice in the garage and once on the carpet outside the den. He's not clogged anymore but...jeez...

 

HA HA HA

 

How can you tell if your CAT is going bad? I always assumed the tell-tale sign was the smell of rotten eggs, but the CAT on my Previa went out w/o any warnings. The CAT on my 4Runner has over 300K on it....the Previa went out w/160k.

Should I change the CAT in the 4Runner before it goes? The CAT on the Previa caused additional problem when it clogged up.

 

Found out today the heat in the cab is DEFINITELY not from the cat, but from the tranny. After a semi-long road trip the A/T oil temp. light came on 3 times. The tranny is freshly rebuilt, new fluid, new radiator, WHY?