Catalytic Converter?

[Brenna]

Anyone had problems with their catalytic converter?

Within 2 miles of leaving the dealership after my 60k service my check engine light when off.

Went back...they ran a diagnostic....the reading for the catalytic converter came up "borderline".

Ok. so has anyone had this problem?

Shouldn't have the dealership caught it during the service?

They told me in California the catalytic converter is covered til 80k (I also purchased the 100k warranty that I've not yet had to use).

I'm super annoyed at the dealership. How can it be a coincidence that the problem happens so close to service?

Any feedback is appreciated.

Brenna

[galaxee]

what'd they do at the 60k service?

[Brenna]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(galaxee @ Feb 18 2007, 10:27 PM) [snapback]392642[/snapback]</div>

what'd they do at the 60k service?
[/b]

Change a gaggle of filters & fluids. The service guy (I am friends with his father) tells me that he sticks to things indicated in the service booklet.

I have mixed dealership/car service feelings. I had a dodge durango that I drove 156k miles and did nothing other than change the oil but only very sporadically. It ran like gangbusters until the day I got the call that the Prius was on the boat then it had 3 major mechanical failures in a few weeks.

So I decided that I would take care of the Prius and, hopefully, it will go forever. But I can't help being suspicious of these guys -- even though I kind of know them. I feel that being a young female (and not super savy about cars), I'm like a sitting duck.

Brenna

[galaxee]

if they did a fuel induction or fuel injection service, it may be related, but otherwise we're talking about a strange coincidence.

easy to burn out a cat doing an induction service...

[Tempus]

It's a federal law that 'Emissions Related Components' are covered for 8yr 80k miles. Catalytic Converters are certainly included.

For the Prius, the Tank Bladder and Thermos would also be in that list IMO.

[priusenvy]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Brenna @ Feb 18 2007, 07:34 PM) [snapback]392646[/snapback]</div>

It ran like gangbusters until the day I got the call that the Prius was on the boat then it had 3 major mechanical failures in a few weeks.
[/b]

Cars know when they're being replaced. I had a Jeep ran like a top for 180k miles, then on the day I bought its replacement, the alternator died and the water pump bearing failed, taking the fan belt with it.

[ceric]

Based on what you said ("run like a gangbuster..."), you might want to go easy on the gas pedal of Prius.
Excessive gas hurts catalytic converter and leads to earlier failure. Replacing cat-converter is very expensive
out of warranty. Since it is within warranty, I would just let them replace it.

[Brenna]

Thanks everyone for the input.

The dealership has ordered a new catalytic converter. They said they would also replace the 02 sensors (I had read that those can cause the failure in other posts).

From the beginning, the dealership let me know that it was covered under the 8year/80k.

I guess I should be greatful it happened under warranty and not crabby that it happened at all.

Brenna

[aaf709]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(galaxee @ Feb 20 2007, 07:33 PM) [snapback]393676[/snapback]</div>

if they did a fuel induction or fuel injection service, it may be related, but otherwise we're talking about a strange coincidence.

easy to burn out a cat doing an induction service...
[/b]

Thanks for the information. At my 30K service they wanted to do an upsale and add injection cleaning and new tires. I told them no on both (but got the tires elsewhere).

[LIBI]

I have recently been told I need to replace the catalytic converter on my 2003 Prius, and this did happen right after a service. I am suspicious - imagine that - of the dealer. Also curious about the other things that might have caused the check engine light to appear. It happened a couple of times before, and each time would go off again within a couple of weeks. It appeared to coincide with filling up at a particular gas station.

I have also heard from a number of people that there have been numerous problems with the the catalytic converter on the Prius. This just doesn't make sense in a car that has low emissions to start with, has a four-cylinder engine, and the gas engine is not running all the time.

I look forward to hearing from others. Thanks.