Hi all -
I've been reading the forum since I bought a 99 TL several months ago and am hoping you can advise me on a recent problem.

CEL went on a couple of weeks ago and my local garage read the codes for me - PO420 (catalytic converter) and another one for the EGR. They said it would cost over $2000 to replace both and suggested that they reset the CEL to see if it came on again. It just did. Haven't checked the codes yet but am assuming it's the same problems.

If the EGR and catalytic converter need replacing, is that a reasonable DIY job or should I go to the pros? I have reasonable mechanical skills and can usually sort things out with the help of a Haynes or Chiltons manual but am certainly no expert.

If I do take it somewhere, is $2000 a fair price? Seemed a bit steep to me but I don't know what's involved.

FYI, the car has over 89,000 miles, and the mechanic who looked at it said the catalytic converter has been replaced once already.

Would welcome any suggestions.

 

I would try cleaning the EGR. Its fairly common for that to plug up and throw codes. Here is a DIY on cleaning it.
http://www.in.honda.com/Rjanisis/pubs/SB/B00-004.PDF

i would reset the ecu (Pull the clock back up fuse for 5-10 min) and see if the light comes back on. If it does you can buy high flow cats that will pass emissions test and have them installed at most exhaust shops, or do it your self for just a few hundred bucks. 2000 is a Ripoff and i wouldnt go that route with that mechanic

Excelerate our vendor sells the RT bolt in cats

 

Oh and welcome to the forum!

 

When i had a P0420 i changed out my 2 oxygen sensors and that cleared the problem worst that could have happen was i'd changed my cat also. As far as the egr goes, i got an original honda egr kit that includes egr,egr gasket,throttle body gasket and egr pipe for about 79$ since i didnt install the pipe i've done my egr port flow clean twice in the course of 50,000 miles but the 2nd time around was alot easier.

 

Thanks for the advice - I did the EGR port cleaning this weekend, took a little over an hour, waiting now to see if the CEL comes back on.

 

If you live in a state where you have to pass emissions getting a high flow cat would help, but if not GUT IT OUT it makes a big difference.

 

I've got the same code on my 99TL with 164,000. If I gut the factory converter, will I get a check engine light? I've heard somewhere that I would.