We bought a house last year and figured we needed a truck to haul materials for remodel. Found what we thought was a good deal on a 97 F150 with 97,000 original miles. We've put less than 3,000 miles on it and it won't pass emissions testing. First, it threw codes P1537 and P1538 (IMRC valve suck open). Both codes were thrown at the same time. Replaced the solenoid and all is well. Truck runs 10x better afterwards.

We are in Williamson County, Texas and subject to OBDII emissions testing. Took the truck in for inspection to the dealership where we bought it and they said it would not pass inspection. Most likely catalytic converter.

Here are my questions if there's anybody that doesn't mind helping out:
Could the IMRC valves being stuck open for a couple of hundred miles burn out the catalytic converter?
Wouldn't the CIL come on if there were a catalytic converter problem?
I don't think they pulled the code to determine it wouldn't pass? They mentioned the sound being an issue.
If I do need to replace the catalytic converters, where's the best place to oder from?

 

just in case i would take it somewhere else to get it dubble checked

 

Who checked the codes? Go to autozone or somewhere and have them pull the codes for you. It's possible it burnt out the cats but I'm pretty sure when they go out, CEL comes on.