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Cars

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Re: Cars

aparch said:
A little frustrated with my car (02 Grand Prix, 194k miles). It runs great, needs some repairs, but I'm to the point where I don't want to sink more into it.

It all started because I need to pass emissions testing here in Illinois. My check engine light burns steady, and when I finally got my car in, the repair place said that the fault was "Cat Converter Below Threshold." In laymans terms, the Cat Converter I just had put on two years ago is failing.

Also was told that it needed plug wires, plugs, and the O2 sensors were slow to respond, which may contribute to the problem. Oh, and that it was leaking oil (very small amount) from under the engine.

I changed out the O2 sensor hoping that was it, nope. I just don't want to start chasing problems in hopes that it fixes the SES light just so I can renew my plates. I don't have any shade tree mechanic friends down here, and minimum labor charges at every shop is $100/hr.


I'm leaning towards taking whatever I would have put into repairs and making a down payment on a new(er) vehicle.

Sucks, because if I lived back in Michigan, or for that matter one zip code to the West, I wouldn't have to worry about it.
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get the exact codes, and post them.

If the only code is for the converter, then you don't *need* to change anything but it. But other codes may lead to keeping the replaced cat. BTW, did you replace with some aftermarket part, or an OEM part? A lot of the aftermarket ones really don't deserve to get any kind of retrofit approval for modern cars- they are garabage.

Plugs and wires are easy to change, but can hold off until you see if there's a misfire code or not.

That, and it would be interesting to see a code for the O2 sensor- I generally don't buy a mechanic's opinion of that one- their point of reference isn't always applicable for all cars.
 
Re: Cars

MarkEagleUSA said:
Go to a local auto parts store and see if they can read them for you. The repair shop may not be completely forthcoming with you.
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And if they don't, you need to shop around for a new shop. Don't panic over the emissions- but they could be hoping you are, and are upselling. We can work that out.
 
MarkEagleUSA said:
Go to a local auto parts store and see if they can read them for you. The repair shop may not be completely forthcoming with you.
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Autozone and Advance Auto Parts readers only tell me it's "P0420" and the kids behind the counter can only tell me that "it's a general fault. Could be the gas cap, could be evaporation, could be a terminal engine failure."

Firestone was the only one that came up with Cat below threshold as the error. They also tested the O2 sensors and said they were slow to respond.

Plugs and wires I can change myself. Already tried a new gas cap.


If I clear the codes (unhook the battery) the car has to be driven a while so the computer can get the readings. This already burned me twice as I drove the car a lot on two different weekends only to have the DMV reject my car because the Cat sensor and evap sensors were not "ready."

Illinois does ODBII emissions testing and did away with the wand up the tailpipe. They also have a three strikes and you need to prove your car was fixed at an approved repair facility.

I bit the bullet a few weeks back and had the O2 sensors replaced to see if the slow response was causing the computer to throw the code. Didn't help.

Maybe the cat I had put on two years ago is junk. It's whatever the muffler shop back home put on. Was at least half of what places down here wanted.

Another thing, GM offered a replacement Cat for my model car two years ago, but I was beyond the 150k max in the offer. Seems that something leaks from the engine into the Cat causing it to fail every 150k. I didn't find out about that until I was at 165k. So that's why I took it back home to get fixed.

Also on the list of things: there is an occasional smell of oil burning when braking. The thermostat has acted up. And the low coolant light comes on for a bit at startup even tho the reservoir is full.



And I'm well aware of not trusting any repair places around here. Went for an oil change at 140k and was told that I "needed a new car immediately because I had a blown head gasket and was on borrowed time before the car blew up." :rolleyes: Never stepped foot in that Chevy dealership again after that.
 
Re: Cars

Oh, and to top it off, my plates are expired. :o Once I started working this past July, I was given a company truck. Working Saturdays, then nights for a month ... it was easy to neglect my car. :(
 
Re: Cars

aparch said:
Autozone and Advance Auto Parts readers only tell me it's "P0420" and the kids behind the counter can only tell me that "it's a general fault. Could be the gas cap, could be evaporation, could be a terminal engine failure."
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Here's some basic info on P0420.

Did you replace to upstream (before the cat) or downstream (after) O2 sensors?
 
Re: Cars

aparch said:
Autozone and Advance Auto Parts readers only tell me it's "P0420" and the kids behind the counter can only tell me that "it's a general fault. Could be the gas cap, could be evaporation, could be a terminal engine failure."
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I got that same code for my Altima when the thermostat failed. I replaced the thermostat, and it's all working again.

If you find a message board for your car, you'll see a lot of helpful advice out there from people with similar experiences. If you're lucky, you'll see some mechanics giving truly unbiased advice on the board. That's what I did for my car when the P0420 flashed on the readout for me last month.
 
Re: Cars

I'm not allowed to tell you how to cheat with a spark plug insert that are found on the net.

However, the way that code works out, if the front sensor is new and no other codes are being set, such a running rich, then the cat is indeed past it's shelf life. The monitor works by comparing the front and rear sensor- the closer they track each other the worse the catalyst is. Since you have new sensors and no other code, then it's the catalyst.

Sorry about that.
 
Re: Cars

St. Clown: I tried, but it's like going to WebMD for a sore throat and convincing yourself you have an inoperable rare disease. The GP forum I found didn't have a common issue for this code, all seemed to have different cures.

Alfablue: saw that while researching. Thought it may be worth a shot, but I didn't have the right tools.
 
Re: Cars

aparch said:
Another thing, GM offered a replacement Cat for my model car two years ago, but I was beyond the 150k max in the offer. Seems that something leaks from the engine into the Cat causing it to fail every 150k. I didn't find out about that until I was at 165k. So that's why I took it back home to get fixed.

Also on the list of things: there is an occasional smell of oil burning when braking. The thermostat has acted up. And the low coolant light comes on for a bit at startup even tho the reservoir is full.



And I'm well aware of not trusting any repair places around here. Went for an oil change at 140k and was told that I "needed a new car immediately because I had a blown head gasket and was on borrowed time before the car blew up." :rolleyes: Never stepped foot in that Chevy dealership again after that.
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See, there's your problem in bold. ;)
 
goldy_331 said:
See, there's your problem in bold. ;)
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:D :p

Sadly, this has been the most dependable vehicle I've driven. Had a Ford Thunderbird in college that when it rolled to 100k, I was told by a mechanic to carry a screwdriver with me, so I could unscrew the license plate and pop the VIN and just abandon the car. The next car was a Chrysler New Yorker that had an electrical gremlin that didn't want to start half the time.
 
Re: Cars

Crap! Stopped at a Sonic for a bite to eat and now the car won't start! Think the starter just took a dump on me.
 
Re: Cars

goldy_331 said:
See, there's your problem in bold. ;)
Click to expand...

I'm a little late, but my family was mainly a Chevy family. NEVER had problems. I think the lowest mileage total for any of our vehicles was around 180K (1984 Cavalier). The biggest total? Last I saw it was about 220K on a 1989 Corsica (it was 190K when I sold it to my bro, and 210K when he sold it to a buddy; it ran for at least 2-3 years after that, before the buddy sold it off).
 
Re: Cars

Has anyone had an in-dash nav system installed in their car after purchasing it? I'm considering purchasing one rather than buying a new GPS after breaking mine.
 
Re: Cars

Any recommendations/cautionary tales on 7-seat SUVs? Probably looking for something 2008 and newer. No other real requirements - definitely don't need 4WD, but not opposed to it, either.
 
Re: Cars

LynahFan said:
Any recommendations/cautionary tales on 7-seat SUVs? Probably looking for something 2008 and newer. No other real requirements - definitely don't need 4WD, but not opposed to it, either.
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If you need 7 seats, all I can suggest is to open your options. From a Flex like to a Van line vehicle. And depending on what you have plans for it, the most important thing may be to drive it, and see if you are comfortable. I personally don't like driving vans or large SUV's, but stretched CUV's seem nicer to drive.
 
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