posted
Long story short: my service engine light came on last week. Took the SS in to the dealer today to read the code. The machanic said it was the catalytic converter. He reset the computer and told me that it could have been a false code, but if it came on again, it is probably a bad cat. About four miles from the dealer, light came on again!
The car only has 29,000 miles on it. I can't believe that the converter has gone bad. Has anyone one else experienced this before? What are your suggestions for replacement cats?
Thanks in advance for your experience and advice.
Macky
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The former owner of: 2000 Onyx Black SS #2,778 A4, T-Tops, ASR, 12 Disc CD Changer, grey cloth, no SLP options Mods: Loudmouth exhaust, SLP Strut Tower Brace, SLP Bolt-on Sub-frame Connectors, SLP air lid w/Powershot filter, SLP smooth bellows, 35th LE wheels, SS floormats, tinted windows, and painted calipers Posts: 322 | From: Fort Polk, LA | Registered: Feb 2002
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posted
You could be running rich, the only way to know would be to have a diagnostic check done or strap it down to a dyno and have the a/f ratio checked.
The last thing you want to do is replace the cat and have the new one go on you. They aren't exactly cheap.
[ 29. March 2004, 08:10 PM: Message edited by: Scott Chab ]
Posts: 1762 | From: Wilmington, DE, USA | Registered: Feb 2000
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posted
Also check on the warranty. I'm giving this to you off the top of my head but I think the Cat is warrantied for 8 years/80,000 miles. At least that's what I remember from my 2002 warranty info. I could very well be wrong, but that's what I remember. Course you could be over that 80,000 mark if you love yours as much as I love mine.
Posts: 43 | From: Lincoln, Nebraska | Registered: Aug 2003
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posted
Turn to page 17 of your warranty booklet. The cat is covered for 8 years or 80,000 miles. I can't beleave the dealer didn't give you this info. Read the warranty, there is some good info about what is covered and the time / milage limits.
-------------------- Member # M02-0968 M6, 35th Anniversary LE #102, Posts: 232 | From: Springfield, PA | Registered: Dec 2002
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quote:Originally posted by CamaroSS2002LE: Also check on the warranty. I'm giving this to you off the top of my head but I think the Cat is warrantied for 8 years/80,000 miles. At least that's what I remember from my 2002 warranty info. I could very well be wrong, but that's what I remember. Course you could be over that 80,000 mark if you love yours as much as I love mine.
I had mine done about a year ago.. 600 bucks worth of work done for free! Just make sure to take it to your chevy dealer to get done and it SHOULD be free, the muffler shops will try and tell you otherwise.. they tried to charge me 450 bucks and say I wasnt covered under any warranties. anyways yah, good luck with it!
Posts: 272 | From: Woodstock, Georgia | Registered: Aug 2003
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posted
Had the cats on my '01 SS replaced once at 5k miles. Now, the SES light is on for the same problem @ 13k miles (catalyst efficiency below normal.....both banks). Dealer is giving me a hard time since I have a loudmouth installed (stock y-pipe).
It IS covered under warranty, just make sure you don't have a jerk for a service mgr!! Good Luck.
-Andy
-------------------- 2001 LPM SS | Build # 1509 | M6 | T-Tops | Leather | ASR | iCAGS | Blackwing Air Lid | K&N Air Filter | Lou's Short Stick | BMR STB | Center Mount DynoMouth | SLP SFC | Bilstein Suspension | Auburn Differential | AAM Diff Cover | Chrome 10-spokes Baseline (9/14): 317.4 RWHP/ 330 TQ 2001 Suzuki SV650 - the "other" toy Posts: 47 | From: Middletown, CT | Registered: Aug 2003
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posted
Check the 02 sensors first. Just to make sure it is the CATS and not the sensors.
Posts: 5946 | From: Litchfield, NH, USA | Registered: Feb 2000
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quote:Originally posted by Happy_Dan: Check the 02 sensors first. Just to make sure it is the CATS and not the sensors.
Sorry to jump in your thread again, but would throwing in rear O2 simms be a 'solution' to this problem or just create possibly more?? (this is assuming the cats are bad)
TIA -Andy
-------------------- 2001 LPM SS | Build # 1509 | M6 | T-Tops | Leather | ASR | iCAGS | Blackwing Air Lid | K&N Air Filter | Lou's Short Stick | BMR STB | Center Mount DynoMouth | SLP SFC | Bilstein Suspension | Auburn Differential | AAM Diff Cover | Chrome 10-spokes Baseline (9/14): 317.4 RWHP/ 330 TQ 2001 Suzuki SV650 - the "other" toy Posts: 47 | From: Middletown, CT | Registered: Aug 2003
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westell
Hey, could someone hand me a fire extinguisher?
Member # 2034
posted
Main thing, whether 02 sensor or cat(s), it's all covered. Dealer ought to love doing the work.
Problem with dealer and loudmouth ? It's behind the cat(s) Posts: 161 | From: Houston, Texas | Registered: Aug 2003
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posted
I wasn't suggesting just throwing in new o2 sensors. I was suggesting testing them to see what the problem might be.
Posts: 5946 | From: Litchfield, NH, USA | Registered: Feb 2000
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quote:Originally posted by Big A: Turn to page 17 of your warranty booklet. The cat is covered for 8 years or 80,000 miles. I can't beleave the dealer didn't give you this info. Read the warranty, there is some good info about what is covered and the time / milage limits.
This happened to me too awhile back.. and the service writer gave me some crap about "well since Florida doesnt have emissions testing anymore, you dont need it to be covered by the warranty.." This made me so mad.. I threw a fit and went off and spoke to managers galore.. they replaced it..
Mine was caused PROBABLY from my cutout though.. no way of knowing for sure, but this was a couple years ago??? I havent had any problems since then.. :knock on wood:
-------------------- Alicia (Ali) Soret 2000 Silver A4 Hardtop SSOA # M00-3552 Best 1/4 mile: 13.29 @ 105.1 (PreviouSS) 1999 NBM A4 hardtop, #3499 (She's no longer with us..) sterlina@aol.com http://www.sterlina.org I have a Ross' SS courtesy of SSOA!! This is how we met!!! Posts: 360 | From: Coral Springs, FL, USA | Registered: Mar 2000
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posted
Thanks for all of the replies. I am very glad to hear that the warranty will cover it.
Here's the best part...the SES light is not on today! Still, I'm going to bring it by the dealer again and have them check it out. We'll definitly have a talk about the warranty then.
Thanks again.
Macky
Posts: 322 | From: Fort Polk, LA | Registered: Feb 2002
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posted
My cat went out in the first week i had the SS. They replaced it with no quarrels here. I have since put Pacesetter Longtubes on with low restrict cats and I get a code every now and then. It clears itself ever so often. I was told it is how the car is driven and the computer is trying to match the fuel mixture, rich or lean. Just what I was told. Jim
-------------------- Two 2002 35th Annivesary Camaro SS LE's "Julie" SS #6684 LE #3115 Coupe "Prom Queen with an Attitude" "Rare SS" License Plate "Tattoos" by Ed Hamburger and Scott Settlemire "Jenny" SS #2618 LE #925 Vert "A Dream Come True" "Rare LE" License Plate SLP SFC's SLP STB's SLP Air Lids Torque Thrust II's on Julie Black Earnhardt Intimidators on Jenny Auto Dim/Compass/Temp Mirrors Power Antennas with Switches Granatelli 200 mph White-Face Gauges(Black on Jenny) Red Z06 Fuel Rail Covers Bauer Eradispeeds Red Powder-coated Brake Calipers Chromed Brake Pad Brackets A Few Other Neat Trick Dress-ups Memeber of:SSOA, NSR, TSSRA, LSSRA Posts: 148 | From: Abilene,Texas | Registered: Feb 2003
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quote:Originally posted by Happy_Dan: Check the 02 sensors first. Just to make sure it is the CATS and not the sensors.
Sorry to jump in your thread again, but would throwing in rear O2 simms be a 'solution' to this problem or just create possibly more?? (this is assuming the cats are bad)
TIA -Andy
No, the rear O2's just tell the computor whether or not the CAT/s are working. By putting Simms in, when you have a bad CAT, you just mask the problem.
-------------------- NQR Racing Artic White 97 SS Conv. Blk 84 Z28(Race Car) Posts: 376 | From: Friendswood, TX | Registered: Jun 2002
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quote:Originally posted by Big A: Turn to page 17 of your warranty booklet. The cat is covered for 8 years or 80,000 miles. I can't beleave the dealer didn't give you this info. Read the warranty, there is some good info about what is covered and the time / milage limits.
This happened to me too awhile back.. and the service writer gave me some crap about "well since Florida doesnt have emissions testing anymore, you dont need it to be covered by the warranty.." This made me so mad.. I threw a fit and went off and spoke to managers galore.. they replaced it..
Mine was caused PROBABLY from my cutout though.. no way of knowing for sure, but this was a couple years ago??? I havent had any problems since then.. :knock on wood:
The 8yr/80,000m. warrenty is an NHTSA/EPA requirement and is not effected by State or local law.
-------------------- NQR Racing Artic White 97 SS Conv. Blk 84 Z28(Race Car) Posts: 376 | From: Friendswood, TX | Registered: Jun 2002
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