Hi all,I am new to this forum.

Yesterday my passat encountered a emmission workshop alert and CEL on.I turn to my dealer to erase it and get code P0421 and P0431.But today it comes back on. They said both cats are broken I need to put on new ones.They offered me $3,000 to complete the job!!!!!

I really doubt that both two cats run out at the same time.My car runs fine(only a little hesitant when accelerating) and after awhile highway driving,there'sa fewoil smell inside the passenger compartment. Is that possible other reasons like exhaust leak or O2 sensor's problems?

Any opinions will be appreciated.

 

I had the same problem with my 2000 passat GLX, the light came on (emmission workshop)the same as yours. I took it to the dealer, they told me the same think the catsare bad.They said they would perform a reflash of engine the control modules for cataltytic converters to see if faults would go away.The problem light went away, they told me that this happens alot with this model. Down bottom are the fault codes they gave me for the cats, good luck...


faults 16815 warm up catalyst,
bank 2 efficiency below threshold, 16805 warm up catalyst,
bank 1 efficiency below threshold, 18010 power supply (b+)
terminal 30 low voltage sporadic, 17539 bank 2, sensor 1
internal resistance too large sporadic. these faults recommend replacement of both cats...