Cat Converter Topic is solved

[Chris M.]

Picked up a 1999 S80 for my daughter last week. It has 92,000 miles on it. Had it smogged and it passed with flying colors. About 40 miles after the test the P0422 code popped up. Three of the four O2 sensors were replaced about 4 months ago. At first we thought it might be the 4th sensor on Bank 1. However my mechanic tells me the sensors are fine and the CAT threshold is 12.9% instead of 14.1% where it should be. Tells me I need a new Converter. Any body have an opinion on the issue and where I can find a converter if needed and the cost. This car was a one owner and was meticulously cared for with all service records. After looking at the records I felt gee what else could go wrong. What rotten luck. Please advise before I shoot myself.

Thanks

[Mikey]

Picked up a 1999 S80 for my daughter last week. It has 92,000 miles on it. Had it smogged and it passed with flying colors. About 40 miles after the test the P0422 code popped up. Three of the four O2 sensors were replaced about 4 months ago. At first we thought it might be the 4th sensor on Bank 1. However my mechanic tells me the sensors are fine and the CAT threshold is 12.9% instead of 14.1% where it should be. Tells me I need a new Converter. Any body have an opinion on the issue and where I can find a converter if needed and the cost. This car was a one owner and was meticulously cared for with all service records. After looking at the records I felt gee what else could go wrong. What rotten luck. Please advise before I shoot myself.

Thanks

I have both a 2000 S80 T6 and a 98 S70 and both have had similar problems. On my 98 S70 I had a code come up that read the "fuel mixture was too rich". Many folks told me it was the cat and some told me it was the O2 sensors. It turned out to be a vacuum leak on one of the spaggetti lines under the intake manifold. They fixed it and cleaned the flame trap and it has never run better (it has 240K on it). My mechanic tells me you shouldn't have to almost never change the cat unless it sounds bad like ratteling etc. I Dont Believe You Need a New Cat!! Get a second opinion before you go and spend that $1k or more. I would have the oil trap changed and the seal replaced ( run me about $175 with parts). The oil trap is volvo's answer for a pcv valve. You will put some money in this model car like me because the 99-01 S80's are Volvo's basterd children. My 2000 S80 has about 125k on it and I've had to put about a thousand in parts and labor after I paid $6500 for it . Well worth it though once you get all of these things fixed. I changed front and rear struts and all the bushings and strut links, the oil trap and seal, the battery, and had my ABS module repaired by Victor Rocha. Register and let us know how everything turns out. Good Luck!

[Chris M.]

Picked up a 1999 S80 for my daughter last week. It has 92,000 miles on it. Had it smogged and it passed with flying colors. About 40 miles after the test the P0422 code popped up. Three of the four O2 sensors were replaced about 4 months ago. At first we thought it might be the 4th sensor on Bank 1. However my mechanic tells me the sensors are fine and the CAT threshold is 12.9% instead of 14.1% where it should be. Tells me I need a new Converter. Any body have an opinion on the issue and where I can find a converter if needed and the cost. This car was a one owner and was meticulously cared for with all service records. After looking at the records I felt gee what else could go wrong. What rotten luck. Please advise before I shoot myself.

Thanks

I have both a 2000 S80 T6 and a 98 S70 and both have had similar problems. On my 98 S70 I had a code come up that read the "fuel mixture was too rich". Many folks told me it was the cat and some told me it was the O2 sensors. It turned out to be a vacuum leak on one of the spaggetti lines under the intake manifold. They fixed it and cleaned the flame trap and it has never run better (it has 240K on it). My mechanic tells me you shouldn't have to almost never change the cat unless it sounds bad like ratteling etc. I Dont Believe You Need a New Cat!! Get a second opinion before you go and spend that $1k or more. I would have the oil trap changed and the seal replaced ( run me about $175 with parts). The oil trap is volvo's answer for a pcv valve. You will put some money in this model car like me because the 99-01 S80's are Volvo's basterd children. My 2000 S80 has about 125k on it and I've had to put about a thousand in parts and labor after I paid $6500 for it . Well worth it though once you get all of these things fixed. I changed front and rear struts and all the bushings and strut links, the oil trap and seal, the battery, and had my ABS module repaired by Victor Rocha. Register and let us know how everything turns out. Good Luck!

Mikey thanks for the tip. The message went away from the dashboard. So my daughter drove it for a while until the mesage re-appeared. Took it to the dealer and reported there was a noise coming from the brake pedal as well as the code popping in and out. It turns out it was all related to a part that assists the brakes that a had leak on a vacuum hose that hooks up to the exhaust manifold. In addition there was the part had to be replaced. About $600 for the part but the car runs fine.