2001 Impala catalytic converter clogged

Why would my Catalytic converter clog up with only 34000 miles on the car.
There's been no indication of any problem with the engine. No check engine
light. It gets good gas mileage and runs fine, except when the converter
clogged. Chevy replaced the converter under warrantee. Car is driven 8
miles to work daily. Could that relitively short daily drive have caused it?
Next time it might not be under warrantee.

"JOHN D" > writes in article <xgATd.55882$uc.23890@trnddc04> dated Fri, 25 Feb 2005 07:15:41 GMT:
>Why would my Catalytic converter clog up with only 34000 miles on the car.
>There's been no indication of any problem with the engine. No check engine
>light. It gets good gas mileage and runs fine, except when the converter
>clogged. Chevy replaced the converter under warrantee. Car is driven 8
>miles to work daily. Could that relitively short daily drive have caused it?
>Next time it might not be under warrantee.

I have heard this happens if you never use the full power of your engine.
It happened to the Camero of a woman I knew. She drove like a little old lady.

Once a week you should accellerate hard (pedal on the floor) from 0-60 or
30-60 to "blow the cat".

-- spud_demon -at- thundermaker.net
The above may not (yet) represent the opinions of my employer.

On Fri, 25 Feb 2005, Spud Demon wrote:

> >Why would my Catalytic converter clog up with only 34000 miles on the car.

> I have heard this happens if you never use the full power of your engine.

That's not correct.

On Fri, 25 Feb 2005, JOHN D wrote:

> Why would my Catalytic converter clog up with only 34000 miles on the car.

Catalytic converters generally clog only if there is a fault elsewhere in
the car. To have a catcon clog because the catcon itself is defective is
an extremely rare occurrence. That being the case, your new converter may
well clog again unless the dealer also rectified the problem (in the fuel,
ignition and/or secondary air system, most likely) that caused the first
catcon to fail.

> Car is driven 8 miles to work daily. Could that relitively short daily
> drive have caused it?

No.

"Daniel J. Stern" > wrote in message
n.umich.edu...
> On Fri, 25 Feb 2005, JOHN D wrote:
>
> > Why would my Catalytic converter clog up with only 34000 miles on the
car.
>
> Catalytic converters generally clog only if there is a fault elsewhere in
> the car. To have a catcon clog because the catcon itself is defective is
> an extremely rare occurrence. That being the case, your new converter may
> well clog again unless the dealer also rectified the problem (in the fuel,
> ignition and/or secondary air system, most likely) that caused the first
> catcon to fail.
>
>Well, how likely is it that an engine that,
exhibits absolutely no driveablity problems,
has no trouble codes set,
never has the check engine indicator come on, (it's not burned out)
gets 24 to 28 mpg in a full size Impala,
is running badly enough to destroy a catilytic converter?

We have a state emmissions test comeing up but I think they just read the
cars diagnostics on newer cars.