catalytic converter help

[slugbugminneapolis]

jacked up bailey today to investigate what i was hoping was a heat shield, only to find my rattle was inside the cat. everytime i banged on it it rattled. the catalyst must be loose inside rolling around like a tennis ball. anybody had good luck with an aftermarket high flow cat? and if so will the stock o2 read with a high flow in place? thanks for the help, happy motoring everyone!

[JLasvegas]

Im curious as well since I got that damn p0420 code the other day and with my luck it will be the most expensive part

did you have any codes when the baffle broke loose?

[slugbugminneapolis]

i pulled that same code recently, but my rattle came afterwards. guess the o2 sensor caught the fault before the catalyst completely broke loose and started to rattle. too bad i cant get a free one from the stealership, they always laugh at the odometer. its always reassuring when a vw mechanic says ( maybe its time you trade that thing in before you start having issues) and i laugh because its always had issues. least its paid for!

[hamsman]

Depending on how many miles are on your car? I believe the cat. conv. replacement could be covered under warranty? Call your local dealer and ask? All they can say is "no".

Don, aka.....the hamsman

[Smileybug]

Covered for 120,000 I think. And either 10 or 12 years. Whichever comes first.

[vdubbugman53]

mine did that....took it to VW and they fixed it for free since i was under the 120k mile warrenty. they gave me some **** and told me that some times the heat shield rattled but i already took that off so i they ended up just fixing it.

[Punchbuggybluenoreturns!!]

We got ours fixed under warranty, too. They did get us for $170 for an o2 sensor. They claimed they couldn't get it out of the old cat. The mechs. work on flat rate, so I imagine they didn't try too hard to remove the old one. Rattling noise is gone now, though.

[JLasvegas]

so what is the actual warranty, I see online some say 7/70k
or 10/100k
i got a 2002 110k on it
so Im not sure if i would fall under the warranty or not

[Smileybug]

I think it was extended to 120k/10 years. But I dont know the year range that it affected. I got a letter in the mail a few years ago about it. But mine is now out of the year coverage, as a '99. Sucks too, because I only have 81k on my car!

[wawalker]

Originally Posted by JLasvegas

so what is the actual warranty, I see online some say 7/70k
or 10/100k
i got a 2002 110k on it
so Im not sure if i would fall under the warranty or not

You should be warranteed, as you have the same problem that got my '03 cat replaced and my wife's '01, but the extension says '99-'01. Check w/ your dealer--if VW will pay it they'll do the work, they don't care who is paying as long as someone does.

http://www.epa.gov/otaq/cert/recall/vw2.htm

Warranty extension is to 10 yrs. and 120K miles.

[JLasvegas]

Originally Posted by wawalker

You should be warranteed, as you have the same problem that got my '03 cat replaced and my wife's '01, but the extension says '99-'01. Check w/ your dealer--if VW will pay it they'll do the work, they don't care who is paying as long as someone does.

http://www.epa.gov/otaq/cert/recall/vw2.htm

Warranty extension is to 10 yrs. and 120K miles.

Thanks, maybe I will have them do the starter so atleast they will see im willing to pay for something

[vdubbugman53]

Originally Posted by JLasvegas

Thanks, maybe I will have them do the starter so atleast they will see im willing to pay for something

dont do that...the starter is 2 bolts and a few plugs. hell you can almost do it with out lifting the car up.

[JLasvegas]

Originally Posted by vdubbugman53

dont do that...the starter is 2 bolts and a few plugs. hell you can almost do it with out lifting the car up.

They wanted 250 labor for starter R&R and another 300 for the part

[vdubbugman53]

Originally Posted by JLasvegas

They wanted 250 labor for starter R&R and another 300 for the part

i lol'ed at that bill

http://www.mjmautohaus.com/catalog/p...oducts_id=1254

will take you an hour max....take the battery and tray out and then the 2 bolts that hold it in then slap a new one in.