Catalytic converter failure (if you've experienced, please respond)

[Tony@EPL]

Catalytic converter failure (if you've experienced, please respond).

There's significantly different tuning in relation to catalytic converter protection between the B8 and B8.5. I suspect that this will cause more damage and failure in the 8.5 but would like to take a poll to see if there is an actual trend.

[a4_matt]

Mine failed about 3 weeks ago. I'm a 2.0, so not sure if that matters, but still....

In 1 week, Injector 3 was bad (covered by Audi up to 120k), day after i got it back, CEL came on, blown turbo (CPO'd so cost me $90 w/ tax), next morning CEL again, Cat Con needed replaced (covered by Audi up to 70k).

[Tony@EPL]

Mine failed about 3 weeks ago. I'm a 2.0, so not sure if that matters, but still....

In 1 week, Injector 3 was bad (covered by Audi up to 120k), day after i got it back, CEL came on, blown turbo (CPO'd so cost me $90 w/ tax), next morning CEL again, Cat Con needed replaced (covered by Audi up to 70k).

Matt- Im polling for the 3.0's only.

[scottycs]

Other than a CEL, what are the symptoms?

[Jv218]

Just curious tony but are you looking for those with after market downpipes as well who have had failures?


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[LINDW4LL]

You should have a "no" option too, so that you can more evenly compare the data.

[Tony@EPL]

Just curious tony but are you looking for those with after market downpipes as well who have had failures?


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At the moment I am not.

- - - Updated - - -

You should have a "no" option too, so that you can more evenly compare the data.

It can be assumed that anyone that doesnt respond to the poll is "No".

[LINDW4LL]

The information from the poll is totally useless given the way it's setup.

[infinkc]

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...73-blown-cats?

[doug97gxe]

The information from the poll is totally useless given the way it's setup.

Catalytic converter failure (if you've experienced, please respond)

[The Fat Kid]

Catalytic converter failure (if you've experienced, please respond)

He was probably referring to the difficultly of obtaining statistically significant results based on the two options.

[SteveYem]

I'm a little concerned that the guy whose tune I'm running on my B8.5 is worried about the catalytic converters failing on B8.5's.

Tony, just to clarify - are you looking for responses from people with failed catalytic converter(s) on tuned or non-tuned B8 / B8.5's?

[BillyG]

I read this as he's trying to determine if cat failure is more common in the B8 or the B8.5. No face palm necessary :)

[SteveYem]

I read this as he's trying to determine if cat failure is more common in the B8 or the B8.5. No face palm necessary :)

Sure, but I think tuned versus non-tuned would make a difference. Tune A runs lean, produces high EGT and fails cat. Tune B runs rich, spits out too much residual fuel and clogs cat. Stock tune does whatever it does and has whatever effect on the cat.

I dunno, maybe I'm missing the boat here. I'll stop making noise.

[Tony@EPL]

I'm a little concerned that the guy whose tune I'm running on my B8.5 is worried about the catalytic converters failing on B8.5's.

Tony, just to clarify - are you looking for responses from people with failed catalytic converter(s) on tuned or non-tuned B8 / B8.5's?

The "issue" i believe Ive identified is unrelated to performance tuning. Ive seen several threads related to failed cats... I believe I have identified a large contributing factor as a result of VERY poor OEM tuning. To my knowledge I have not had a single customer suffer this fate.

[SteveYem]

The "issue" i believe Ive identified is unrelated to performance tuning. Ive seen several threads related to failed cats... I believe I have identified a large contributing factor as a result of VERY poor OEM tuning. To my knowledge I have not had a single customer suffer this fate.

Gotcha. My understanding has always been that OEMs tune on the rich side to keep temperatures down but it sacrifices the longevity of the cat. In my experience with my wife's mkV GTI, the cat was covered under warranty until 80k miles. Hers went bad at 81k miles. We had to negotiate to get VW to cover it.
Where precision engineering meets engineered obsolescence, that's where you'll find VAG.

[14S4GWM]

I believe all emissions control items are warrantied until 80k in the US on any car.

[EIAlfonso]

"It can be assumed that anyone that doesnt respond to the poll is "No""

No = 200,000 (estimate) in current poll, my money is on this segment

[USAFS4]

I believe all emissions control items are warrantied until 80k in the US on any car.

Sure, but good luck getting Audi to cover it if you are tuned and it fails.

I had a failure of one of my cats around 40k. I was running stg 1 APR for about 10-15k, up to that point. Anecdotal evidence I found researching this topic at the time indicated that cats on 3.0L were prone to failure in hot/humid environments. Admittedly I didn't find a lot of people who had failures.

Since I tuned my car prior to failure it is difficult to know which tuning, if at all, contributed to the failure. I had tracked the car on several occasions, and the failure was fairly immediate on a track day running at Road Atlanta (mind you it was January, and 40 degrees outside). The ECU didn't identify the problem, it just appeared as a constant miss fire under heavy load.

[14S4GWM]

Sure, but good luck getting Audi to cover it if you are tuned and it fails.

I figured that was already a given!

[Luna's S4]

Gotcha. My understanding has always been that OEMs tune on the rich side to keep temperatures down but it sacrifices the longevity of the cat. In my experience with my wife's mkV GTI, the cat was covered under warranty until 80k miles. Hers went bad at 81k miles. We had to negotiate to get VW to cover it.
Where precision engineering meets engineered obsolescence, that's where you'll find VAG.

Interesting last sentence. Totally agree. In my head I was saying "Where precision engineering meets useful life". Then I looked up what you said. Same thing.

And no cat failure here. 5+ years old & 50k on the clock.

[LINDW4LL]

He was probably referring to the difficultly of obtaining statistically significant results based on the two options.

Precisely.

He has no way of knowing how many owners of each are viewing (or answering) the poll. He should be attempting to find the failure rate as a percentage.

[rsgli]

Both of my cats have failed... all blown out of the exhaust I got left for free. The car got td1 though and manager attempted to goodwill it but I found out later that audi will not allow goodwill warranty on td1 cars. I just replaced right cat Wednesday with aftermarket magna flow direct replacement as it has been blown out for 2 months.i was driving normally and the cat pipe broke off of the flange to the header so it had to be done. Also it thew no codes after the second cat blew out. My car a b8 tuned with now 21k on the clock

[jokingjimmy]

"It can be assumed that anyone that doesnt respond to the poll is "No""

No = 200,000 (estimate) in current poll, my money is on this segment

Wow, didn't realize 200,000 people read this particular section of the forums. That's pretty huge! No wonder advertisers like this forum.

[Tony@EPL]

Precisely.

He has no way of knowing how many owners of each are viewing (or answering) the poll. He should be attempting to find the failure rate as a percentage.

Understanding what you are saying... Im looking for a general count of people that actually have experienced the issue.

I confirmed this AM that this "flaw" in the software is present on all B8.5 cars running the 8K5907551F file. Even if this is something that isnt causing premature catylist failure.... its something that NEEDS addressed.

[eurotic]

Precisely.

He has no way of knowing how many owners of each are viewing (or answering) the poll. He should be attempting to find the failure rate as a percentage.

Getting people to respond "no" doesn't really help without numbers to qualify the data. You'd want to know how many "no"'s were from people that just bought they car and have very few miles on it versus those with higher miles. Getting a simple count of failures can be used successfully.

[doug97gxe]

i don't understand what the confusion is.. the thread title and poll is pretty clear cut..

Cat failure .. have you experienced it? Yes B8 or Yes B8.5

[UberBrute]

Understanding what you are saying... Im looking for a general count of people that actually have experienced the issue.

I confirmed this AM that this "flaw" in the software is present on all B8.5 cars running the 8K5907551F file. Even if this is something that isnt causing premature catylist failure.... its something that NEEDS addressed.

Anyway to check with a vagcom if we have this file on our car?

[Tony@EPL]

Anyway to check with a vagcom if we have this file on our car?

Select Control Modulel > Engine 01

Then look at the the upper left hand field.

[UberBrute]

Select Control Modulel > Engine 01

Then look at the the upper left hand field.

Thanks Tony!

[Jv218]

Understanding what you are saying... Im looking for a general count of people that actually have experienced the issue.

I confirmed this AM that this "flaw" in the software is present on all B8.5 cars running the 8K5907551F file. Even if this is something that isnt causing premature catylist failure.... its something that NEEDS addressed.

Little confused, so is this file removable through a ecu tune or needs to be coded out?


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[scottycs]

Please tell more. Has this been fixed in your 551F files?

Understanding what you are saying... Im looking for a general count of people that actually have experienced the issue.

I confirmed this AM that this "flaw" in the software is present on all B8.5 cars running the 8K5907551F file. Even if this is something that isnt causing premature catylist failure.... its something that NEEDS addressed.

[Tony@EPL]

Please tell more. Has this been fixed in your 551F files?

I just discovered it yesterday. I will be fixing in all my 551f files shortly.

I wouldnt be overly concerned about driving a few days more.... the issues has been there since the day the cars came off the show room floor stock.

[SteveYem]

In for updates!

[cjw]

So what's the flaw?

[GRUMPY-S4]

Tony is da man!!!

[CrownSeven]

So what's the flaw?

+1?

[jamesj2k]

2011 S4. Passenger cat fried at 70k. APR stg 1 for 3 years.

[quickglx]

So what exactly do you mean by catalytic converter failure? As in a fault stored for efficiency? or total meltdown etc? If its just efficiency faults, it more than just that particular file. Catalyst efficiency faults are a known issue that the supposed fix is a software update for multiple ecu part numbers and versions. There is a TSB for that issue...

[scottycs]

Any updates? Curious if I should reflash my EPL tune?