34k with bad catalytic converter???

[SonicRS17]

I bought a used 2017 chevy sonic about 3 weeks ago with 34k. Two days after I buy it the check engine light comes on. So I take it to a chevy dealership and they tell me its showing the P0420 code and that I am going to need a new catalytic converter.
Then they tell me the parts I need are on backorder and they have no idea when they will get them in. It's been about 3 weeks now since I first took the car to chevy. I called them last week and they told me to call back on dec 18th because that's when they will know when my parts will arrive.
The good news is the cat is under warranty but I feel like chevy is giving me the run around. Has anyone here ever heard of a catalytic converter failing at 34k? And what would cause that?

 

[Smartdave]

I am at 182k and still the original cat. It seems really odd yours has failed




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[Smashley23]

I bought a used 2017 chevy sonic about 3 weeks ago with 34k. Two days after I buy it the check engine light comes on. So I take it to a chevy dealership and they tell me its showing the P0420 code and that I am going to need a new catalytic converter.
Then they tell me the parts I need are on backorder and they have no idea when they will get them in. It's been about 3 weeks now since I first took the car to chevy. I called them last week and they told me to call back on dec 18th because that's when they will know when my parts will arrive.
The good news is the cat is under warranty but I feel like chevy is giving me the run around. Has anyone here ever heard of a catalytic converter failing at 34k? And what would cause that?

What octane fuel are you using??

 

[shoey]

Is it possible that the previous owner had installed a catless downpipe? P0420 is the DTC you would get if you had this installed. Either way, somebody very likely cleared the code right before you bought. It isn't a code that shows up immediately after begin cleared, and 2 days seems reasonable.

 

[SonicRS17]

Is it possible that the previous owner had installed a catless downpipe? P0420 is the DTC you would get if you had this installed. Either way, somebody very likely cleared the code right before you bought. It isn't a code that shows up immediately after begin cleared, and 2 days seems reasonable.

I bought the car used from a Honda dealership. I am almost positive it was bone stock when I bought it. Yea I think your right about the honda dealership clearing the code right before I bought it.
Still I have never heard of a catalytic converter failing at 34k. Has anyone else had a catalytic converter fail on a car this early?

 

[SonicRS17]

What octane fuel are you using??

I'm using 87 octane. It's a stock 1.8

 

[gnonne]

A cat should not go bad within 10 years or a lot of miles, provided everything else was set correctly - fuel/air, timing, etc. Emissions is covered under a Federal 8/80 warranty, I think. But, this should not have been bad and if it was the Honda dealership should have had it corrected before the sale. I'm sure they bought it cheap due to this. I'm not sure of the laws in FL, but it may have been illegal for them to sell a car that did not meet emission standards. Google it so you know for sure.

I'd go to the Honda dealership and start asking questions. If I found a bad cat on a 2017 of any make, I'd be wondering what else was wrong with the car. If they don't give you any answers, you could always say, "You can answer my questions today or answer my attorney's questions next week." This usually gets their attention. They should have fixed this before selling the car. Just sit quietly in their manager's office until they give you what you want. If this does not work, I'd call one of the local TV stations that has a "problem resolution" segment on their news program. The last thing the Honda dealer wants is bad press. You might also want to call the Honda helpline. They can't do anything directly, but at least they will know how one of their dealers is operating. You might be surprised at how quickly you get a phone call from the dealer after you call Honda.

Personally, I'd insist that the Honda dealer give you a loaner car until the GM dealer gets your Sonic fixed.

The good news is that it sounds like the GM dealer is willing to work with you. I'd be way more upset with the Honda dealer who sold a car with a problem than the GM dealer who is a bit slow at fixing it.

 

[SonicRS17]

A cat should not go bad within 10 years or a lot of miles, provided everything else was set correctly - fuel/air, timing, etc. Emissions is covered under a Federal 8/80 warranty, I think. But, this should not have been bad and if it was the Honda dealership should have had it corrected before the sale. I'm sure they bought it cheap due to this. I'm not sure of the laws in FL, but it may have been illegal for them to sell a car that did not meet emission standards. Google it so you know for sure.

I'd go to the Honda dealership and start asking questions. If I found a bad cat on a 2017 of any make, I'd be wondering what else was wrong with the car. If they don't give you any answers, you could always say, "You can answer my questions today or answer my attorney's questions next week." This usually gets their attention. They should have fixed this before selling the car. Just sit quietly in their manager's office until they give you what you want. If this does not work, I'd call one of the local TV stations that has a "problem resolution" segment on their news program. The last thing the Honda dealer wants is bad press. You might also want to call the Honda helpline. They can't do anything directly, but at least they will know how one of their dealers is operating. You might be surprised at how quickly you get a phone call from the dealer after you call Honda.

Personally, I'd insist that the Honda dealer give you a loaner car until the GM dealer gets your Sonic fixed.

The good news is that it sounds like the GM dealer is willing to work with you. I'd be way more upset with the Honda dealer who sold a car with a problem than the GM dealer who is a bit slow at fixing it.

Yea I am covered under federal law until 80,000 with emissions. There are no emission laws in Florida. But I could threaten them with a attorney for not disclosing problems with the car. I doubt I could win though because they will just deny knowing anything was wrong with the car and there was no check engine light on when I bought it.
It has also been a month since i purchased the car so i dont know how much good it would do going back to the honda dealership. I guess I could always go back and threaten them with a attorney.

I called another chevy dealership today and they want to take a look at it. They also told me if it is the converter they can get one in three to five days. I really like this car I'm just hoping I didnt buy a lemon. I still have to drive this car to and from work (50 miles round trip). How bad is it for the car to drive on a failing catalytic converter? No temperature lights have came on and I'm still getting good gas mileage

 

[gnonne]

Not sure about driving it like this - I'd keep it under 60 mph if you must drive it.

Sounds like the other Chevy dealer will be a good option, but I'd still get on the phone with Honda and let them know one of their dealers sold you a 2017 car with a bad catalytic converter. This can't hurt...

 

[SonicRS17]

Not sure about driving it like this - I'd keep it under 60 mph if you must drive it.

Sounds like the other Chevy dealer will be a good option, but I'd still get on the phone with Honda and let them know one of their dealers sold you a 2017 car with a bad catalytic converter. This can't hurt...

Yea I'm going to call Honda tomorrow and talk to them. I just did some research on driving with a bad converter. Most Websites say it's ok as long as the converter isn't completely clogged. Unfortunately I cant tell if it is. But with no noticeable performance or gas mileage drop I would say it isn't clogged.

I just really hope this isn't damaging the engine or wearing it down faster.

 

[shoey]

Yea I'm going to call Honda tomorrow and talk to them. I just did some research on driving with a bad converter. Most Websites say it's ok as long as the converter isn't completely clogged. Unfortunately I cant tell if it is. But with no noticeable performance or gas mileage drop I would say it isn't clogged.

I just really hope this isn't damaging the engine or wearing it down faster.

If it was clogged there would be significant performance degradation, so I doubt that's the case. If the converter is gutted or somehow wore out, there is no fear of any engine damage. There is an oxygen sensor before the cat which does all the air/fuel feedback loop for the engine. The sensor behind the cat is purely for monitoring cat performance/environmental stuff.

If the dealership does give you a hard time, send me your VIN and I can pull the DTCs which have occurred and when they occurred to see if it truly is a new issue or if it's been cleared before.

 

[gnonne]

I can pull the DTCs which have occurred and when they occurred..

Not really surprised by this, but how does this work? Does the computer put an ODO-stamp on the code or does it send the code back to GM and GM records the actual time of the event?

Maybe I should stop talking in my car.... (just kidding)

 

[shoey]

I can pull the DTCs which have occurred and when they occurred..

Not really surprised by this, but how does this work? Does the computer put an ODO-stamp on the code or does it send the code back to GM and GM records the actual time of the event?

Maybe I should stop talking in my car.... (just kidding)

To clarify, it is only recorded when the DTCs are read by a system linked to GM. If a person clears the DTC immediately using a personal OBD2 device, it wouldn't be recorded. But most of the time, people go to a dealership when they get a check engine light, and the date the dealer scans the vehicle is the date recorded for the DTC. If the vehicle has onstar, onstar on-vehicle-diagnostics will push the information to a GM system once a day.

 

[SonicRS17]

If it was clogged there would be significant performance degradation, so I doubt that's the case. If the converter is gutted or somehow wore out, there is no fear of any engine damage. There is an oxygen sensor before the cat which does all the air/fuel feedback loop for the engine. The sensor behind the cat is purely for monitoring cat performance/environmental stuff.

If the dealership does give you a hard time, send me your VIN and I can pull the DTCs which have occurred and when they occurred to see if it truly is a new issue or if it's been cleared before.

Thanks. I'm taking my car into a chevy dealership tomorrow morning. I'll keep this thread updated on whatever they tell me.

 

[SonicRS17]

To clarify, it is only recorded when the DTCs are read by a system linked to GM. If a person clears the DTC immediately using a personal OBD2 device, it wouldn't be recorded. But most of the time, people go to a dealership when they get a check engine light, and the date the dealer scans the vehicle is the date recorded for the DTC. If the vehicle has onstar, onstar on-vehicle-diagnostics will push the information to a GM system once a day.

So I went to the Chevy dealership today and they said the O2 sensor behind the catalytic converter was bad so they replaced it. The CEL is off now. I'll see if it stays that way.

I dont know why the first Chevy dealership I went to said I had a bad catalytic converter and the second dealership said it was a O2 sensor. I guess in a few days I'll find out which dealer was right

 

[shoey]

So I went to the Chevy dealership today and they said the O2 sensor behind the catalytic converter was bad so they replaced it. The CEL is off now. I'll see if it stays that way.

I dont know why the first Chevy dealership I went to said I had a bad catalytic converter and the second dealership said it was a O2 sensor. I guess in a few days I'll find out which dealer was right

Yeah that's a bit odd, but I hope the fix works.