Holden Service Centre screwing me over?

[FrivolousGenius]

I have a 2009 international sportwagon. The other night the MIL came on. Took it into Holden who told me (for $140) that it was a p0430 error code (Catalyst System Efficiency Below Threshold (Bank 2)). I noticed on the invoice that it said that the cat converter must be replaced at $1450 before investigating further. The 'investigating further' bit makes me really nervous.

Is there a chance that it could be something else like o2 sensors and they're just trying to rip me off? Other service stations and exhaust specialists have quoted me around $650 to replace it (I know it's probably not a genuine part)

I just think that Holden should be able to tell what the problem is without having to spend $1450 on a new Cat Converter first, only to find out that it's the sensors or something else that will cost another $500 and the Cat Converter didn't need replacing after all. When I questioned what had caused it he simply said "some things fail"

How reliable are the error codes?
What else could it possibly be?
Is Holden being unreasonable or am I just being ignorant?
Is trial and error standard practice?

Sorry for the silly questions. It's my first car and i've only had it for 6 weeks!

 

[acarmody]

What the hell? 2 Catalytic Converters is $500-$600 fitted, at most. Go to an exhaust place and get them to change them.

 

[uniacidz]

Yeh Holden charge round $140 to basically do minor diagnostics, or basically stare at it.
Like most dealerships

New cat converter, looking round $200 but best to change both so $200x2 = $400

As for O2 sensors, looking round $100 or so, for Bosch set, which consists of 2.
Thats part costings only and rough figures.

Now, changing O2 sensors might fix the issues

Please check out this link
OBD-II Trouble Code: P0430 Catalyst Efficiency Below Threshold (Bank 2)

 

[kwaka738]

Yes you are getting screwed over and this is how car businesses make their money (ie rip you off in the workshop).

I had the MIL come on and took it back to the dealer where I bought it. It was pretty much the same code as yours except it was the other catalytic converter (ie the driver's side one - code P0420). They replaced the catalytic converter.

Six months later the MIL came back on. I took it to Midas and they read it for free and it was again P0420. I took it to Midas because the dealer charged me about $100 just to read the code. Fair dinkum it takes 10 minutes tops. Took it back to the dealer under warranty and they found no problem with the newish catalytic converter. This time they cleared and deleted the code.

Anyway long story short the code was cleared and deleted it came back up again six months later. Again I took it to Midas who read it for free and again it was P0420. So Midas cleared it at my request and I sent an email to the dealer advising them there was still an issue.

Again after about six months the MIL came back on when I was on a trip and I was unable to get it read. However after 3 days it just went out (Hmm????) and it hasn't come back. This has now been 3 months. I'm am not sure what error was but I'm guessing it was P0420 again.

So I'm not 100% sure I had a catalytic converter problem in the first place but it was replaced at my expense of about $500 which include diagnostics. Maybe it could be something to do with the car's diagnostic system (ie is it an oxygen sensor on the way out falsely indicating it may be the catalytic converter).

My advice to you would be to get the code cleared and deleted and see how it goes. If it is a catalytic converter get it done at an exhaust place.

However read this thread first and pay attention to the post by Ricey (the Holden technician).
https://forums.justcommodores.com.au/threads/2010-sv6-cats.211942

 

[jr_]

lots of info on the forum here, such as this post: https://forums.justcommodores.com.au/threads/cat-converter-replacement-09-sidi-calais-v.238091

So far you have a few good suggestions with kwaka738's post and link to thread, plus the above thread which has posts from 2 exhaust guys in it.

 

[ChRiDDa]

You said you've only had the car 6 weeks? Was it purchased privately or through a dealer? If through a dealer, it'll have 3 months statuary warranty and should be repaired free of charge

 

[ducker85]

I have a 2009 international sportwagon. The other night the MIL came on. Took it into Holden who told me (for $140) that it was a p0430 error code (Catalyst System Efficiency Below Threshold (Bank 2)). I noticed on the invoice that it said that the cat converter must be replaced at $1450 before investigating further. The 'investigating further' bit makes me really nervous.

Is there a chance that it could be something else like o2 sensors and they're just trying to rip me off? Other service stations and exhaust specialists have quoted me around $650 to replace it (I know it's probably not a genuine part)

Yes you are getting screwed over and this is how car businesses make their money (ie rip you off in the workshop)

Holden are only following their procedures. There's no fault finding anymore, its an error code and then replace everything that's relateled to the error. It's expensive but it's almost garanteed to fix it so you won't need to come back.

Build a relationship with your local garage and you'll save a lot of money over time. Or be a yuppie and pay thru the nose for geniune Holden service.

Just depends on what kind of service you expect and how often you'll be at the garage. Trail and error method of fault finding that's time and in the end you may need new cats anyway, in which case buy aftermarket items

 

[Michael-08-VE]

Thing that gets me is, I'm guessing holden would use a stock cat meaning no cutting or welding required, 4 bolts per cat, yet an exhaust joint would charge half the price and have a more labour intensive job to do.

 

[TOMCAT85]

A brand new catalytic converter for a SIDI motor is $1000, Holden dalership quoted me $1250 and other exhaust places said around the same price, something to do with how big it is. its not just a standard Cat.