Hello everyone,

I am new here and I am hoping to gain some insight into the above mentioned problem. I have a 2011 XC 60 3.2 AWD - 91000 miles, bought the car new, maintenance up to date. About 3 weeks ago my CEL came on so I took it to the mechanic who said it needs a new oil trap. Not sure what code it was but he insisted that it needs to be replaced - done that, drove off with no CEL.

After about a 200 mile drive CEL is back on - this time I decide to stop at Autozone to read the code - comes back as P0430 - catalyst system efficiency below threshold, bank 2 - their printout says it might need a new rear O2 sensor. Unfortunately I am not a DIY gal so back to the mechanic. Mechanic states that this code means bad catalytic converter and that it should be replaced but offers to clear the light to see if it happens again. Sure enough, after driving 200 miles, CEL pops back on. After some online research I asked the mechanic if it could be something else throwing the code - bad O2 sensors, MAF, leak etc. He says no, he is sure it is the catalytic converter. So basically 2K repair with OEM, he says a shop down the road might weld in some aftermarket general part for a lot less but I am not sure how comfortable I am with this. He says the sensors could be reused.

I do not observe any loss of power, rough idle, noise, smoke, smell....everything seems ok except for the code. My car has been going through some oil between changes (have to add a quart after about 3000 miles but it has been doing that for ages, dealer said normal as engine ages). I am not due for emissions any time soon so I am just thinking of driving it for a while and see what happens. However, I do have a 2000 mile road trip ahead so it makes me hesitant. But as I am planning to get a new car within 1-2 years I also don't want to spent quarter of the car's value on a single repair.

Any ideas on how to proceed? Should I just pony up and get the new catalytic converter or risk the long drive with CEL on? Anything else to check?

Thank you everyone for your insight.
Markie

P.S. Btw I did get the infamous windshield leak, too

 

the way these cars are designed is that you have two O2 sensors - one before the cat and one after. The front measures for fuel trim the rear does a compare for emissions. There are several things that can throw the P0430 code - a bad rear sensor, a bad catalytic converter, an exhaust leak, or an intake air leak. I'd think 90K miles and 6 years is really early for a cat to go bad - unless you have some other issues like oil consumption/head gasket issue which can pollute the cat. Any other symptoms or clues?

 

I do have to add oil between changes, definitely does not last the whole 7500 miles recommended interval. Just had to add a quart couple days back, brought it about midpoint on the dipstick. This has been going on for a while, maybe like last 30 000 miles or so? I did bring it up with multiple mechanics (unfortunately move around a lot for work so it lacks mechanic continuity) and all of them dismissed it as normal oil consumption due to aging engine. No external leaks for sure, the mechanic did mentioned that the oil trap had an internal leak - could that contaminate the converter, and if so, would any contamination make it fail quickly? Never noticed any strange exhaust smoke or anything. Also would it only contaminate one and not the other?

I am planning to see another mechanic for a second opinion - are there any tests that could be performed that would prove that it is indeed the converter and nothing else? I do think it is early for a converter to fail, too. Most importantly, unless the underlying cause is fixed (if it is a bad cat), wouldn't the same thing eventually happen to the new one?

Thank you for your time.

 

Can you tell me if you ever figured out what was causing this code and what the fix was? I have the same code.

 

I had the exact DTC and same two problems with my 2011 XC60 3.2L. I tried EVERYTHING to avoid replacing the catalytic converter on Bank2. Replace the oil trap, O2 sensors, rubber O-rings on the fuel cap and oil cap, etc... but in the end, the catalytic converter was done and needed to be replaced. My local Volvo dealership replaced it for me (with a discount) for about $1500.00.

I also had the dreaded 2010-11 XC60 windshield leak. Don't be like me and avoid replacing it when the drip was small to to buy time! I could have had replaced the glass with a aftermarket windshield for under $600. But I waited and a big rain storm came through and the car was flood which in turn the water damaged the center control unit (infotainment unit). It cost me $2800 to replace the glass and control unit. I learned my lesson BIG TIME!

 

Thanks for the information. They say that for a catalytic converter to go bad that soon that something contaminated it. Do you know what did it in? (assuming yours had only around 100k like mine that is.

 

Yes, the car was approaching 100K miles.

Mine was heavily sooted. Lots of speculation on how severe soot formation/contamination happens to the point of killing the catalytic converters and so it was hard to come to a definitive answer.

This is what they say are possible contributing factors...

• it's because oil was getting past the rings and mixing with fuel during combustion
• Low quality fuel
• incomplete or erratic combustion
• poor/incorrect air-to-fuel ratio by the ECU
• lots of idle and/or stop-n-go driving
• even... dirty engine air filters

 

How many miles have you put on since the replacement and any further issues?

 

A little over a year ago and about 15K miles. Everything works great.

Frankly, out of all the Volvo cars I've owned, this is the only major issues we've had. Honestly, I should have known better on the leaking seal on the windshield. That was a BIG pill to swallow. Something that could have been fixed for around $600 tuned in to almost $3000.

I expected more out of the cats personally. That was a shame. We have cars in the family that are more than 25 years old and still running the original exhaust/cats systems.

 

My winshield is leaking also but minor right now. Then last week a rock flew up from the road and cracked it. In Florida they will replace your winshield for free up to three times a year at no charge or deductable so it is being replaced this week. Currently I am running some seafoam through the gas for a few tankfulls at the recommendation of a mechanic friend to see if it helps. Thank you for taking your time to share your experience with me. Much appreciated. Best of luck to you.

 

That's good news about your windshield. Wish the insurance commissioner in our state would require the same.

Regarding the SeaFoam. That stuff works great for lots of things such as fuel injectors, carbs, etc., but I'm afraid it won't help in this situation. I ran Sea Foam along with TopTier gas for about a year... even tried that CataClean stuff... but didn't work.The cats, when removed were clogged with too much soot. Replacement was my only solution.