L36 Catalytic Converter Warranty

**Scimmia** · 03-05-2009

Special Policy Adjustment - Catalytic Converter # 05551 - (Sep 14, 2005)

Models:
2001-02 CHEVROLET IMPALA, MONTE CARLO
2001-02 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX
2001-02 BUICK REGAL

EQUIPPED WITH 3.4L (RPO LA1 - VIN E) OR 3.8L (RPO L36 - VIN K) V6 ENGINE

Condition

Some customers of 2001-02 Chevrolet Impala, Monte Carlo; Pontiac Grand Prix; and Buick Regal model vehicles, equipped with a 3.4L (RPO LA1 - VIN E) or 3.8L (RPO L36 - VIN K) V6 engine, may experience a condition where the vehicle exhaust catalytic converter is replaced due to complaints of lack of power or illumination of the Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL). This may be due to the front endcone insulation from the catalytic converter breaking away and blocking the front of the first catalyst brick and preventing the free flow of exhaust gas through the converter.

Special Policy Adjustment

This special policy covers the condition described above for a period of 10 years or 120,000 miles (190,000 km), whichever occurs first, from the date the vehicle was originally placed in service, regardless of ownership. The repairs will be made at no charge to the customer.

For vehicles covered by Vehicle Service Contracts, all eligible claims with repair orders on or after September 15, 2005 are covered by this special policy and must be submitted using the labor operation codes provided with this bulletin. Claims with repair orders prior to September 15, 2005 must be submitted to the Service Contract provider.

Vehicles Involved

2001 Chevrolet Impala 19100001 - 19378250
2001 Chevrolet Monte Carlo 19100001 - 19378233
2001 Pontiac Grand Prix 1F100004 - 1F275188
2001 Buick Regal 11100004 - 11338085
2002 Chevrolet Impala 29100001 - 29374833
2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo 29100016 - 29374832
2002 Pontiac Grand Prix 2F100019 - 2F276927
2002 Buick Regal 21100001 - 21288762

Involved are all 2001-02 Chevrolet Impala, Monte Carlo; Pontiac Grand Prix; Buick Regal model vehicles, equipped with a 3.4L (RPO LA1 - VIN E) or 3.8L (RPO L36 - VIN K) V6 engine and built with the VIN breakpoints shown.

Parts Information

10343187 Converter, Catalytic (L36 engine)
10343185 Converter, Catalytic (LA1 engine)
10328740 Gasket, Catalytic Converter (Converter to I-Pipe, both)
15286606 Gasket, Exh Manif Pipe (L36)
24505057 Gasket, Exh Manif Pip (LA1)

Parts required to complete this special policy are to be obtained from General Motors Service Parts Operations (GMSPO).

Customer Notification

General Motors will notify customers of this special policy on their vehicles (see copy of typical customer letter included with this bulletin - actual divisional letter may vary slightly).

**Scimmia** · 03-05-2009

And the notification letter:

September 2005

Dear General Motors Customer:

As the owner of a 2001-02 Chevrolet Impala, Monte Carlo; Pontiac Grand Prix; or Buick Regal model vehicle, equipped with a 3.4L or 3.8L V6 engine, your satisfaction with our product is very important to us.

This letter is intended to make you aware that some 2001-02 Chevrolet Impala, Monte Carlo; Pontiac Grand Prix; or Buick Regal model vehicles, equipped with a 3.4L or 3.8L V6 engine, may have a condition where the catalytic converter is replace due to complains of lack of power or illumination of the Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL).

This may be due to the front endcone insulation from the catalytic converter breaking away and blocking the front of the first catalytic brick and preventing the free flow of exhaust gas through the converter.

This is not a recall. Do not take your vehicle to your GM dealer as a result of this letter unless you believe that your vehicle has the condition being described above.

What We Have Done

General Motors i providing the owners with additional protection for the Catalytic Converter. If this condition occurs on your 2001-02 Chevrolet Impala, Monte Carlo; Pontiac Grand Prix; or Buick Regal model vehicle, equipped with a 3.4L or 3.8L V6 engine, within 10 years of the date your vehicle was originally placed in service or 120,000 miles (190,000 km), whichever occurs first, the condition will be repaired for you at no charge.

What You Should Do

Repairs and adjustments qualifying under this special coverage must be performed by a General Motors dealer. You may want to call the service department at your dealer to find out how long they will need to have your vehicle so that you may schedule the appointment at a time that is convenient for you. This will also allow your dealer to order parts if they are not already in stock. Keep this letter with your other important glove box literature for future reference.

Reimbursement

The enclosed form explains what reimbursement is available and how to request reimbursement if you have paid for repairs for the special policy condition.

If you have any questions or need any assistance, just contact your dealer or the appropriate Customer Assistance Center at the number listed below. The Customer Assistance Center's hours of operation are from 8:00 AM to 11:00 PM, EST, Monday through Friday.

Division Number Text Telephones (TTY)
Buick 1-866-608-8080 1-800-832-8425
Chevrolet 1-800-630-2438 1-800-833-2438
Pontiac 1-800-620-7668 1-800-833-7668
Guam 1-671-648-8650
Puerto Rico - English 1-800-496-9992
Puerto Rico - Espanol 1-800-496-9993
Virgin Islands 1-800-496-9994

We are sorry for any inconvenience you may experience; however we have taken this action in the interest of your continued satisfaction with our products.

General Motors Corporation

Enclosure

05551

TDCRacing · 03-05-2009

Awesome. I was hopeing that you would post that.

**WhiteGT** · 03-05-2009

I just found this yesterday on all data. It says you need to be having a problem for them to replace it but I am going to go in and try telling them I have a loss of power and running issues and my mechanic suggested the cat be replaced and see if they will do it.

**MnRedGP** · 03-09-2009

I've been having the p0420 code for awhile and this information is really helpful because I was going to try to fix it. However I called the local dealership and they confirmed it's covered since I have the affected year and only 74000 miles. I getting it scheduled for this week or next.

Once again this site has saved me a lot of money and effort.
Should this be a sticky ?

Thank you

**Scimmia** · 09-30-2009

I'm going to bump this one up again. I'm sure many of them are over the mileage, but it still helps in diagnosis to know there's a known issue.

**SuperSport** · 10-03-2009

Just FYI, I had the recall done when I bought my car this past June when my car wouldnt go over 20 mph. It had 112,000 miles. Just make sure you go to the dealer in person (don't call them) and have your dealer type in campaign number 05551. This will show them that the warranty is extended to 120,000 miles. If you call, they wont look it up and tell you it expires at 80k, and then they hang up. So be sure to go in person.

I had mine changed for free with no problems. Got the car back the same day.

**PrissiePantsGT** · 02-16-2010

I had no idea this recall was issued and in September of 08 dropped over $500 on my 02 to have this problem fixed. Now I get the pleasure of trying to recoup my money since GM never notified me. Joy.

**jmflores1970** · 03-02-2010

I took my car in to the dealer last month because of this letter I got back in Sept 2005. I never got around to it back then because I misread it thinking it was initially out of pocket and then apply for reimbursement. This is what happened: He said that they have to charge me $50-$150 for the diagnostic to see if it is the catalytic converter that's causing the MIL to be on and if it is, it would be covered 100% by the warranty, if not, I would have to pay out of pocket for the diagnostic and the repairs if I agreed to have them done. They pulled up the IAC code (P0507) and said that was not for the catalytic converter and I had to pay $138.53 for the diagnostic to get my car back. When I got home, I noticed that the invoice didn't mention the catalytic concern at all. This must be how they get away with not having to check/repair it and refuse a refund if the code is found later. A couple of weeks later, I bought myself a code reader for $40 from Amazon, plugged it into my car's computer and scanned it. The IAC code was there but so was the catalytic code P0420. They didn't tell me they saw that one. I replaced the IAC valve myself and cleared the codes. A day later, the P0420 catalytic converter came back. I'm sitting here now working up the courage to go back and argue with them about the catalytic code. I'm hoping they'll be cooperative, but I feel like they're going to fight me on it to force me to pay again instead of covering the repair. My only guess is that they're trying to recover from the government bailout. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. By the way, my car's performance has improved greatly after I replaced the IAC valve for about $33 (AutoZone) and a screwdriver.

**SuperSport** · 03-02-2010

They are correct about the diagnostic fee, but sounds like they tired to screw you. They told me that it would be $106(ish) to hook up a back pressure machine to check the cat. They said if the cat failed the test, they would replace the cat/downpipe and the $106 fee would be waived.

My car failed the test and they changed my cat and cleared my code and I got a receipt with all the work they performed for a total of $0.00.

I would go back with my receipt and ask them to show you where on the receipt, or have them explain how the car passed the cat converter test and what made them not change the cat, and see what they say. Because it sounds like they just pulled a code, instead of checking the back pressure on the cat itself.

Let us know.

**tscheerer** · 03-02-2010

Thanks to this thread, I just got my 02 GP cat replaced today at no charge. It started running sluggishly a few days ago and was setting a P0404 EGR code. Would not rev past 2500 without running against itself, missing and setting a P0300 misfire code. It seemed like a trans problem or the engine trying to lock up at first. Gas mileage also got progressively worse the last few weeks as I guess the cat was restricting exhaust flow. The dealer did say that if it wasn't the cat they would charge me for the diagnostic, but since that was it they replaced the cat and no charge for anything. I pick the car up tomorrow morning and am looking forward to having the performance back in my GP.

**NaturallySmashed** · 03-04-2010

Wow this is awesome, I need a new cat.. and I'm still covered under this warranty.. what should I say when I call the dealership? lol I have no idea if the previous owner had it done already.

**Scimmia** · 03-04-2010

Just tell them you think you need a new cat and it should be covered under warranty. If they say it's not, give them the bulletin number to look up, 05551.

**matt5112** · 03-04-2010

5-7 * KR on a stock car running 91 sound like a cat going to you guys?

**NaturallySmashed** · 03-12-2010

appointment made for friday, i have to make sure i don't go over 120k or else i won't get it done lol i have 119800 now lol

**SuperSport** · 03-13-2010

Careful...if you don't have driveability issues I wouldnt take the car in. If the cat passes their test then youre charged a 106 dollar diagnostic fee and sent on your way.

They only change a cat if its plugged and fails their tests...