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Mini One Catalytic Converter Issue


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KJohn87
New User

Oct 23, 2016, 2:26 AM

Post #1 of 6 (2410 views)
Mini One Catalytic Converter Issue Sign In

Hi all,

I bought a 07 plate mini one about 2.5 months ago. It had a MOT just before I bought it and everything was fine..

A month ago I had a crash where some 18 year old boy on his phone smashed into the back of me pretty hard. He accepted liability straight away. It went to a garage for repairs which took 3.5 weeks. I had it back a few days and the catalytic converter light has come on.

I took it back to garage who stated "they wear and tear, nothing to do with the accident" and I have to pay for it to be fixed. There was no problem with it before the crash and the MOT was only done 3 months ago. Am I right to contest this? Anyone know anything about these catalytic converters.

Any help is greatly appreciated

Thanks


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Oct 23, 2016, 2:52 AM

Post #2 of 6 (2407 views)
Re: Mini One Catalytic Converter Issue Sign In

Just how is a "converter" light (is there one just for that?) knowing you need a converter? Near sure this exact vehicle not sold to the US as it is just general sense. It was hit "hard" as you said and took that long to fix the shop probably doesn't want to be involved anymore - insurance snags, time over it.


It could easily be a wiring issue not the converter at all. There is no such code that can tell you what to replace or a warning light that absolutely knows and targets a problem just points to what it notices and a pinched or damaged wire can make a warning that isn't true so you go looking for the problem. Seems nobody has.


Driving with a warning light probably does mean you are causing harm to it unable for engine controls to make proper adjustments.


Take it up with another shop upon knowing your rights with insurance which will vary no doubt place to place as it does here. There is usually an allowance for "unseen" damage" for a period of time AFTER a claim and you need help to prove this could actually be caused by the accident and so far being told it wasn't is just that person or shop's opinion as I see it - it's not that easy to know for sure if it's NORMALLY used up by age or miles.


Keep at it, a second opinion is probably covered by the insurance already used for a more credible answer than what I see,


T



Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Oct 23, 2016, 4:06 AM

Post #3 of 6 (2400 views)
Re: Mini One Catalytic Converter Issue Sign In

I really don't think you have anything that is actually a converter light. You likely have a malfunction indicator light, commonly called a check engine light. If so there would be a specific code number stored that will describe the problem better.

If you have a P0420 or P0430 code stored, then the guy would be correct. Those are converter efficiency codes and that would likely not be caused by the accident unless there was a crack in the exhaust pipe letting oxygen in, close to the converter. That could cause those codes.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



KJohn87
New User

Oct 23, 2016, 4:39 AM

Post #4 of 6 (2397 views)
Re: Mini One Catalytic Converter Issue Sign In

So lets say I do have to pay for it... How much is a repair? Roughly?


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Oct 23, 2016, 5:19 AM

Post #5 of 6 (2394 views)
Re: Mini One Catalytic Converter Issue Sign In

I have no idea. We don't have that car here in the US.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Oct 23, 2016, 6:06 AM

Post #6 of 6 (2390 views)
Re: Mini One Catalytic Converter Issue Sign In

KJohn87


May not be a part rather just a repair as you said this was hit hard from the rear the exhaust system was HIT as well probably shocking it all the way towards engine.


It's made to tolerate vibrations not hit so hard you need weeks of body work and absolutely could bust things either leaks that don't show or make noise like Hammer Time said, or wire that is sensing something wrong I've suggested.


Till you can know what the heck is REALLY wrong pricing parts isn't ready yet but you could look at a known parts outlet place for how your exhaust system is made up part by part and price out parts yourself which BTW is at cost to you not what shops would charge.


Sorry this is a hassle to you at all. Would hope insurance and the first repair shop would be of more help to you and be done with this but guess not,


T


(edit out some confusion)



(This post was edited by Tom Greenleaf on Oct 23, 2016, 6:15 AM)






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