10th Aug 2011, 18:00
To 16:45: First off, you are very fortunate to have made it to 105,000 miles in a RAV-4 in the first place. That's more than our Japanese imports made.
As for the engine light, go to Auto Zone and have them run the code on it. They do this free of charge and will give you a print-out of the problem. Never trust a dealership or shop, because they will come up with something expensive just to make money. It probably ISN'T the catalytic converter at all. It could just be a loose gas cap. Of course a dealer will never tell you that, because they can't justify charging $1200 to tighten it.
Finally, unless it affects the car in some adverse way, you can just ignore the light. People seem to freak out when these things come on because they think the car will blow up. It won't. In 99.99% of cases, the light coming on signals nothing that will hurt the car in any way. If it runs OK, gets the same mileage, hasn't lost power and isn't showing excessive heat or low oil pressure, nothing will happen (no matter how many scary stories the dealer tells you!!).
My check engine light came on in one of my cars, and I drove it several years and 134,000 miles with the light on. Never a problem. The engine light on my truck was on for the last 3 years of it's life (it was totalled in a crash). Never a problem. It coded as "EVAP system", which is a term meaning "The dealer wants $500 of your money to reset your light".
The check engine light on my current car has been on for two years. It codes as "engine running too cool." Since I live in an area that is consistently over 100 degrees; I'm not upset in the slightest that my engine is running "too cool". My gas mileage actually has gone UP and the car never ran better. Running cooler reduces engine stress, prolongs engine life and reduces oil break-down. Paying $500 to make a light go off isn't worth it to me.
30th Dec 2013, 21:40
I have replaced my cat converter and oxygen sensors SIX times in my 2001. Every twenty thousand miles, the last three I had to pay for, and all six I had to lay the sensors $700 plus due to emissions in MA; I have no choice. I'm looking to see if there is an official recall. I fought with them SIX times. Last time they told me it must be because the vehicle was made in Canada? Really? I don't care if it was made in Timbuktu! I bought the vehicle in the USA?!!
8th Aug 2011, 09:30
Unfortunately, I have had the exact same experience, almost verbatim! It is terrible... I live in Missouri, and although the car runs fine, because of the emissions failure of this catalytic converter, I must pay $875 to have it replaced in order to get new plates. I've been a Toyota customer since 1992... they lost me, too! I hope your situation improves.