2005 OBW - 2nd cat retired

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seasick - 08 Jul 2006 21:31 GMT

My wife's 2005 OBW just had it's second catalytic converter go south. The
first was shortly after 15k and this one went at 22.5k (conveniently enough
at a service interval). The dealer service manager says it's the way
California gas is formulated and the ECU settings required. Everything else
on the car passes with flying colors.

Question: Has anybody else seen these kind of catalytic converter failures
at close to this high of a rate with either newer Subies or any make/model
of vehicle? Any recommendations (besides moving to a different state)?.

Just a quick tidbit for the few of you who may appreciate American
vehicles - I just retired a '96 Ford truck which, aside from an alignment
issue that was resolved and the inevitable oxygen sensor failure, only asked
for regular maintenance through it's entire life, even the original battery
latest 9 years.

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Dennis Smith - 08 Jul 2006 23:11 GMT

> My wife's 2005 OBW just had it's second catalytic converter go south. The
> first was shortly after 15k and this one went at 22.5k (conveniently
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> asked for regular maintenance through it's entire life, even the original
> battery latest 9 years.

The service manager has his head up his a.s and is clueless. Converters
usually fail early due to incomplete combustion ahead of them.
ANYTHING that sends unburnt gases down the pipe will be
burned/consumed/oxidized by the converter.
Suspect a extremely rich/lean mixture for an extended time. Watch for
extreme/elevated converter operating temps. You didn't say exactly HOW it
failed.
Was it due to clogging (overheating for sure) or other failure indication?

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seasick - 09 Jul 2006 05:21 GMT

>> My wife's 2005 OBW just had it's second catalytic converter go south.
>> The first was shortly after 15k and this one went at 22.5k (conveniently
[quoted text clipped - 21 lines]
> failed.
> Was it due to clogging (overheating for sure) or other failure indication?

I doubt the cat clogged since there is zero noticeable power loss and (since
the "Check Engine" light is solid) I was told it is still drivable "just no
big road trips". I'll have to ask exactly what's causing the cat to need
replacement this time. My bad. Thanks for your feedback.

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Jim Stewart - 09 Jul 2006 06:55 GMT

> My wife's 2005 OBW just had it's second catalytic converter go south. The
> first was shortly after 15k and this one went at 22.5k (conveniently enough
> at a service interval). The dealer service manager says it's the way
> California gas is formulated and the ECU settings required. Everything else
> on the car passes with flying colors.

Sounds like grade A bullshit. I live in
Caifornia and I've put 124,000 miles on my
'99 Outback and it's still on it's original
cat. Not only that, as of it's February
smog test, the cat is in very good shape.

The only combustion-related maintainance
I've done in that time is one set of plugs,
a fuel filter and three or four air filters.

> Question: Has anybody else seen these kind of catalytic converter failures
> at close to this high of a rate with either newer Subies or any make/model
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> for regular maintenance through it's entire life, even the original battery
> latest 9 years.

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seasick - 09 Jul 2006 14:35 GMT

>> My wife's 2005 OBW just had it's second catalytic converter go south.
>> The first was shortly after 15k and this one went at 22.5k (conveniently
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> I've done in that time is one set of plugs,
> a fuel filter and three or four air filters.

That's why I'm wondering if any newer vehicles (say a '05 or 06) are getting
bogus cats or if newer ECU setting requirements for California really are
creating higher cat temps or other kind of issues. My wifes '99 Accord has
never had combustion-related issues either. (Yes, technically she has two
cars I have zip.) Thanks for your input - I need to do more reasearch. The
paper work gives no indication of anything occuring other than the 22.5k
service.

>> Question: Has anybody else seen these kind of catalytic converter
>> failures at close to this high of a rate with either newer Subies or any
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>> asked for regular maintenance through it's entire life, even the original
>> battery latest 9 years.

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