Hey Scotty, I'm in Texas and have a 2011 Volvo S60 T6 150k miles. It still runs like a dream but have had to replace the alternator and cooling fan and now needs a new catalytic converter. OEM $2,600 vs Aftermarket $1,800 labor included for both. I am cheap but this seems like an area not to be cheap on. My mechanic says these maintenance costs would have happened to any car at this mileage. Is this the beginning of an endless money pit for this vehicle? Should keep it or sell it?
Thanks.
My mechanic says these maintenance costs would have happened to any car at this mileage.
I don't think it's "normal" for catalytic converters to go bad at that mileage. Mine is at 365K miles and at least as far as the O2 sensors are concerned the catalyst is still working fine. You may have something else going on that's contaminating and taking out the cat, or it might be a faulty O2 sensor. Have you tried a cleaner like Cataclean?
I haven't tried Cataclean. I have consistently been getting the P0420 for about a year. I've had the thermostat replaced because it was part of another code. Reset the codes, check engine light goes away and all codes too. Then a few days later the P0420 comes back.
Given the high cost of converter replacement, testing the O2 sensors and trying a cleaner is worth a try.
02 sensor checks out good. May try cleaner. Thanks for quick replies.
The only aftermarket cat I trust is MagnaFlow. Not necessarily against the rest of the brands, I just needed as close to OEM direct fit as possible and MagnaFlow was the only one to fit the bill versus the others brands, at the time I did my research.
Do you need “direct fit” CARB stamped bolt on for your state? I know in California, we needed direct fit CARB stamped bolt on, so I couldn’t cheap out and just buy the ones where you can cut it off and replace and weld.
If your state doesn’t require direct fit, you might be able to do the cheaper way. It’s usually about half the cost of direct fit.
Thanks. I'm seeing the mechanic tomorrow and asking him about this option.