I went to Meineke to have a check engine light checked out for my silver 1997 Jettta Trek.

As it turns out they say I have two codes that are coming up:

16806 Main Catalyst (Bank 1) - Efficiency below threshold

16826 Evap small leak

I expected the small leak, because I had to deal with the same issue last year and they "fixed" it for $40, but now Meineke says I have to get a new catalytic converter also. Cost to replace it is over $200

Personally I think they're trying to rip me off. I say this mainly because the catalytic converter was replaced 2 or 3 years ago (don't remember exactly) while I was on trip driving to Atlanta and I see no reason to replace just yet. They also told me that who ever did the job pretty much installed the wrong converter and installed it improperly.

I told them I wouldn't be able to do it today, paid for the labor, and left.

Any ideas on this? What should I do?

Before leaving they did reset the check engine light. Hopefully it won't come back on, but if it does (and it probably will) should I just fix the small leak or fix the leak and buy into their ********?

 

well if you know for a fact that there is a small leak just replace it... other than that if the CEL comes back on again remember,, its an mk3 its only bad if it starts blinking or goes off

 

normally when the cat code comes up it means ur cat workin correctly u need to replace it 200 dollars is a good price we usually charge way more than that and ur small evap leak can be a couple of things your n80 value could be bad your canister could be cracked or something as simple and ur gas cap has a leak or maybe u didn't screw on ur gas cap all the way one time and started ur car that can cuuse th check engine like to come on...

 

change the gas cap and check your 02 sensors