P0420 error code. HELP!
Posted: Fri May 03, 2019 2:01 pm
Hi guys & girls,
Pretty new to this forum as I only picked up my 2011 polo GTI end of February this year. When buying it the owner told me, very honestly, a few things. One was that those engines drink oil for starters, which I've also been reading up on loads of forums about. The other was he had a few issues with the O2 sensor, bringing on the engine light etc but was all good when it got handed over to me, recently passing its MOT back in January etc etc.
Anyway, last week I was driving home from work and my engine management light came on, white smoke occasionally appearing from the back end when pulling out of junctions and off roundabouts etc (genuinely not in a fierce manner either) Spoke to an MOT garage that said they could check it out etc but my best bet was to go to VW because they'd do more extensive checks on what's going on.
Basically they gave me a printout of the results of testing etc and the ol' famous P0420 error code was there reading "2886 P042000 Catalyst System, Bank 1 Efficiency Below Threshold (11101101 active/static)"
They've said basically I need to change the catalytic converter, parts and labour + VAT totalling over £1300!
Has anyone run into something similar? Do I go about the way of changing the O2 sensor or is it pretty clear that the Catalytic converter is the issue here? Any opinions would be massively appreciated as money is a huge thing for me at the moment and as it stands I'm trying my hardest to avoid the massive sum of money currently until I know I really have to!
Thanks in advance guys!
Pretty new to this forum as I only picked up my 2011 polo GTI end of February this year. When buying it the owner told me, very honestly, a few things. One was that those engines drink oil for starters, which I've also been reading up on loads of forums about. The other was he had a few issues with the O2 sensor, bringing on the engine light etc but was all good when it got handed over to me, recently passing its MOT back in January etc etc.
Anyway, last week I was driving home from work and my engine management light came on, white smoke occasionally appearing from the back end when pulling out of junctions and off roundabouts etc (genuinely not in a fierce manner either) Spoke to an MOT garage that said they could check it out etc but my best bet was to go to VW because they'd do more extensive checks on what's going on.
Basically they gave me a printout of the results of testing etc and the ol' famous P0420 error code was there reading "2886 P042000 Catalyst System, Bank 1 Efficiency Below Threshold (11101101 active/static)"
They've said basically I need to change the catalytic converter, parts and labour + VAT totalling over £1300!
Has anyone run into something similar? Do I go about the way of changing the O2 sensor or is it pretty clear that the Catalytic converter is the issue here? Any opinions would be massively appreciated as money is a huge thing for me at the moment and as it stands I'm trying my hardest to avoid the massive sum of money currently until I know I really have to!
Thanks in advance guys!