fhp911

GT3-ers,

While returning home from a DE at Pocono today (Hooked on Driving, btw)
my Check Engine light came on.

I have owned the car since new (12/03; now 33000 miles) and have never had the CEL illuminate before.

I have just re-tightened the gas cap (after I got home), since I know this is a frequent cause of the light coming on.

I have a 2-day DE planned for Watkins Glen next week. Assuming the gas cap re-tightening doesn't cure the problem am I risking Something Serious if I do the Watkins Glen DE, or does the CEL signify only emissions-type issues?

Advice please ...

TIA, CIA, etc,

Fred
'04 GT3

GT3 Chuck

go to your local autozone and have them read the code for you...most do it for free...better safe than sorry...

roberga

I roasted my cats and the light came on. It was on for about 7 months and the car ran fine. As Chuck said get it read. Our dealer reads and resets them for no charge. Good Luck.

NJ-GT

My car did not pass the California Smog Test back in September 2007, with around 32,000 miles. The catalytic converters were toast. Given your mileage, I won't be surprised the cats are in need of replacement.

Read the code at Autozone, if it is emission related, then you are ok running the car at the track.

I did not get a CEL when I ran the catalytic converter bypass pipes, which is weird.

If you want to reset it after you get the code, just unplug the battery for a few seconds and connect it back.

mooty

when my CEL came on:
1. bad cat
2. engine running too rich

ron_dargenio

Fred, could be a lot of things but previously mentioned cats or O2 sensors are probable cuplrits. I am at Flemington BMW on Rte 202; I have a code reader I keep in the car so if you want to read it call me and stop by; 908-788-2691.
Ron

fhp911

Listers,

I went to my local dealer and they read the code.

As most of you suspected, the cat is the culprit.

Thanks, all.

Fred Pack
'04 GT3

Qwickrick

Glad is was just the cats....Barry Lucas had fried his cats at Summit and got the same CEL. I would be concerned for myself, but somehow, my cats just fell off, and was lucky enough to find some Fabspeed bypass pipes to fill the void. See you Sunday

ron_dargenio

Fred, got your message earlier. Glad your local guy found it. Have a question though. Aren't cats under emissions warranty? Does track use void it? Curious.

Qwickrick

Cats should definitely be covered by warranty.

roberga

it is either 7 or 8 years.

NNH

and 70,000 or 100,000 miles depending on state, I believe. I sneaked under the 70k limit when both cats went bad on the way home from the Silver State.

fhp911

People.

I am the initiator of this topic ....

The question has been asked, aren't cats covered under warranty?

When the dealer guy told me that the cat was fried, he asked me was the car still under warranty, and I said NO, since it is more than 4 years old. He then said that they likely wouldn't honor a warranty claim from me in any case because of the obvious track use [many visual clues in the car -- seats, belts, rollbar, etc]. I didn't care about this since my 4 years had elapsed.

SOME OF THE COMMENTS from other rennlisters have implied that the cat is covered longer than the regular car -- maybe even up to 8 years.

and there is the track usage issue.

SO .....

Is the cat covered more than 4 years?
Is there an exclusion for track use? (if so, why?)

Comments welcome! and thanks to all for the postings so far.

[I leave in 2 minutes for 2 days with CVR at WGI, btw.]

Holger B

It's an EPA regulation that emission systems have to be certified & warranteed to last a certain timeframe (it's longer than the normal warranty, not sure exactly how long, it's all spelled out in the owner's manual). It doesn't matter if you tracked the car. If the dealer says they won't cover it, call PCNA and tell them you're calling the EPA next if they don't fix it ASAP. No doubt in my mind that they'll be replacing them at no charge to you if it's in the emissions warranty window.

roberga

warranty and customer Information book:
Federal Emission Performance Warranty: 80,000 miles or 8 years.

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