Catalyst Blockage

[alexholmes]

Hi guys, in need of a bit of advice please. Autoshield have my car at the moment and it looks like one of my cats has blocked. Fortunately it doesn't appear to have done any other damage (compression tests are perfect etc). I am debating replacing with Larini sports cats (is there much difference between the 2 ad 4 cat models they offer), going the genuine Maserati route or finding someone to fabricate new cat material in the original pipes. Suggestions greatly received.

I will be asking questions of the garage I purchased the car from as I have only covered 200 miles since purchase and the CEL light came on on the drive home throwing error code p2097.

 

[miket]

I thought Marios could get the original cat rebuilt, with a mod to prevent any possible cat failure getting back to the engine!

 

[Emtee]

Hi Alex,

Sorry to hear about your cat's!

I had exactly the same issue about a year ago. Threw the car into limp mode, etc, etc. I (carefully) took the car into Graypaul who had been looking after the car sinse I purchased it from them the year before. Very frustratingly just a bit more than a year ago, and so very frustratingly just out of the warranty.

From what I understand the primary cat breaks up and throws all the **** into the secondary cat. Initially it'll sort of drive okay, but basically it's on it's way out and there's nothing you can do to stop it.

They quoted me a truly stupendous amount to replace just the one failed cat, at which point I played merry **** and got them to reduce it considerably (given they'd been looking after the car since new I think they at least felt some responsibility).

Along the way I'd been looking at Larini back boxes (amongst others) and so was aware of their cats, so I called David, who in my opinion is a proper top bloke. Sadly their web-site isn't the most instructive, but he emailed me all the necessary supplementary information.

Basically between the reduced price for one OEM cat section (with no guarantee that the other wouldn't go the following week), and a pair of Larini's (with lifetime warranty by the way) I went for the Larini's.

I think the 2 cat versions are US spec', where the primary cats are incorporated onto the exhaust manifold (can you imagine the trouble and cost if the primary goes on one of these!), so go with the 4 cat, but check with David.

The OEM cat is old tech' and is very restrictive in comparison the Larini. I'll let David do his sales pitch and give you his opinion as to the quality of the engineering design of the original, but least to say it's not complimentary!

Dead easy to fit; at tops an hour at your local indi'.

Give David a call. At the very least you'll get the benefit of his opinion, even if you decide to stick with the OEM replacement.

Oh, by the way, the Larini's sound better too! Gurgle, pop, woosh! Lervely.

I hope you manage to sort this out with minimal fuss and expense and can get back to enjoying your car.

Cheers, Emtee.

 

[alexholmes]

I thought Marios could get the original cat rebuilt, with a mod to prevent any possible cat failure getting back to the engine!

If he can do that then it will probably be the route I take (he is getting back to me tomorrow with options after confirming 100% the cat is the source of the error).

 

[alexholmes]

Hi Alex,

Sorry to hear about your cat's!

I had exactly the same issue about a year ago. Threw the car into limp mode, etc, etc. I (carefully) took the car into Graypaul who had been looking after the car sinse I purchased it from them the year before. Very frustratingly just a bit more than a year ago, and so very frustratingly just out of the warranty.

From what I understand the primary cat breaks up and throws all the **** into the secondary cat. Initially it'll sort of drive okay, but basically it's on it's way out and there's nothing you can do to stop it.

They quoted me a truly stupendous amount to replace just the one failed cat, at which point I played merry **** and got them to reduce it considerably (given they'd been looking after the car since new I think they at least felt some responsibility).

Along the way I'd been looking at Larini back boxes (amongst others) and so was aware of their cats, so I called David, who in my opinion is a proper top bloke. Sadly their web-site isn't the most instructive, but he emailed me all the necessary supplementary information.

Basically between the reduced price for one OEM cat section (with no guarantee that the other wouldn't go the following week), and a pair of Larini's (with lifetime warranty by the way) I went for the Larini's.

I think the 2 cat versions are US spec', where the primary cats are incorporated onto the exhaust manifold (can you imagine the trouble and cost if the primary goes on one of these!), so go with the 4 cat, but check with David.

The OEM cat is old tech' and is very restrictive in comparison the Larini. I'll let David do his sales pitch and give you his opinion as to the quality of the engineering design of the original, but least to say it's not complimentary!

Dead easy to fit; at tops an hour at your local indi'.

Give David a call. At the very least you'll get the benefit of his opinion, even if you decide to stick with the OEM replacement.

Oh, by the way, the Larini's sound better too! Gurgle, pop, woosh! Lervely.

I hope you manage to sort this out with minimal fuss and expense and can get back to enjoying your car.

Cheers, Emtee.

Thanks Emtee. Im sure the Larinis sound amazing but if I can sort the cats out without spending big bucks would rather have one of their valved back boxes. The car wasn't in limp mode but threw the CEL and idled a little rough. The error is referring to just one bank so im guessing the other cat is ok.

 

[urbanmaser]

Alex after just 200 miles that is totally unacceptable to be faced with a problem like this. Did you get any warranty with the car???? I think your dealer has an obligation to sort this out for you.......car sold to you not fit for purpose.

How old is the car????? Can you give a little more detail????? ie year, mileage, service history etc

Someone on here said it was almost unheard of to have cat problems.............Loz where are you??????

One final thing Alex I would not do a thing to the car until you have given the dealer a chance to sort this problem out. It should not cost you a penny.

JUDGE URBANMASER has spoken

 

[alexholmes]

The car is 2005 with 49k. It has a warranty through warranty 2000 but cats aren't covered. Servicing has been mainly main dealer. The garage I purchased it from had JCT 600 do an inspection and clutch printout. When the check engine light came up after purchase I got back in touch with the garage and they asked me to take it to JCT 600 for them to examine and clear it. JCT said it was nothing to worry about, that the error was referring to a misfire that my car did not have and to carry on driving it. They wanted me to bring it back to them another time and leave it with them for 3 days for them to run diagnostics which I wasn't too keen on doing. I took it to Autoshield earlier this week as I have heard nothing but good things about them and the service they have provided so far backs this up 100%. Firstly Mario confirmed there was a misfire at idle and hessitation at 3k revs. He changed the spark plugs (they weren't the correct ones) and this cleared the fault reading and stopped the 3k hesitation. I am now left with a slight misfire at idle which they are trying to get to the bottom of. The car passed its MOT yesterday with one emission reading a little high. I think the next step is to remove the cat and visually confirm that it has failed. At this point I will be going back to the dealer I purchased the car from...

 

[conaero]

Oh no, not Warranties 2000. Just when I thought I had forgotten all about those devisouse cheating lying b@stards, the pop up again.

Dont fancy your chances Alex, sorry. They are only in it for the money. If they say there are going to send round a court approved inspector, its his job to trick you out of it. Can you believe this, i had a clutch bearing collapse on my 3200 and becuase the engineer did not use the word 'Broken' they rejected the claim. I then had to get him out again at a cost of 120 quid, for him to re write the paragraph using the word 'Broken' they then worked out that when I said I would take them to court over the matter, I was not joking.

Scumbags!

 

[urbanmaser]

I still say the responsibilty after just 200 miles must be with the dealer who sold you the car. Ask nicely for assistance in this matter. If that fails then off with their heads

I can see no reason why you should be faced with all this aggrivation. If your dealer nominated JCT to sort the car, then drop the car at the dealer, get them to give you a loan car (the very least they can do), and get them to sort the car out either with JCT or whoever. Not your worry. All you want is the problem sorted.

If you go off on a tangent and start getting another garage to sort it you will be hard pressed to then go back to your dealer with a claim.

 

[conaero]

Alex, I would do as Urbanmaser suggests, chuck it back at them as it was not fit for purpose.

If you don't have any success with them, tell us who the supplying dealer was and I will gladly FLAME them on this forum.

 

[alexholmes]

Thanks for all the advice guys! I picked the car up from Autoshield yesterday and the car is transformed. No hesitation and a much smoother idle. Marios used a camera to examine the cats and found they were actually not blocked. The problem was down to a faulty air valve (the silver round thing on the side of each bank) creating an air leak. None of the work was listed as covered by the warranty company (and I would even try with them if its not listed... Ive been there in the past as well conaero). The bill of 700 including an MOT is a small price to pay for the piece of mind the car is now right, I just wasn't happy with the service from JCT and would rather pay that and build a relationship with Autoshield than go back to them.

 

[lozcb]

Excellent result then Alex , and as you say £700 is not a lot of money for peace of mind , Marios gives good value for money and an easy guy to install confidence


regards loz

 

[conaero]

Great success, and well done to Mario at Autoshield, only hear good things about him.

 

[urbanmaser]

Another satisfied customer.......perhaps they should stuff you and mount you on the wall

Well done happy you got it all sorted......now get out there and start enjoying that beast