2015 Impala extended emissions warranty question

[i6pwr]

Our Impala (3.6) has an exhaust leak at what appears to be the flange on the front or (LH) side converter. According to a few dealers, this likely falls under the emissions warranty that goes until 2030. They cannot tell me if it's covered which is odd, but no charge to diagnose if it is covered. Has anyone dealt with this issue? I'm fine with the diagnostic fee, but figured it would be more of a yes/no answer...I'm not going to hold them to their word if not but I get the legalities.

 

[Lubener]

Till 2030 on an already ten year old car? That's a new one.

 

[cptbarkey]

Your statement has alot of assumptions and risk built in so why not take it to a professional exhaust shop instead of possibly being taken for a dealer ride?

 

[JTK]

The only emission coverage that I am aware of that can go 15yrs/150K miles is for PZEVs.

 

[skyactiv]

California has a longer emissions warranty I think.

 

[i6pwr]

Till 2030 on an already ten year old car? That's a new one.

I was surprised as well, but apparently there's an extension, perhaps to deal with some of these flange cracking issues, not sure.

Your statement has alot of assumptions and risk built in so why not take it to a professional exhaust shop instead of possibly being taken for a dealer ride?

The only dealer ride would be the 1 hour labor rate if it wasn't covered. I get the fact they cannot diagnose over the phone, but the cat is a one-piece part that includes both flanges so if it's cracked at the flange on the converter side, I would assume it should be an easy answer...which is why I asked.

Would a muffler shop replace the cat under warranty? If so that's an option, I figured it would be a GM warranty.

I called a couple dealers and they all mentioned the 2030 time frame, and I'm in VA.

 

[eljefino]

I would start by getting a VA state inspection that fails for the exhaust leak.

With that paperwork in hand, go to a dealer and pay to have them look at the catalyst.

 

[Michigangster]

Our Impala (3.6) has an exhaust leak at what appears to be the flange on the front or (LH) side converter. According to a few dealers, this likely falls under the emissions warranty that goes until 2030. They cannot tell me if it's covered which is odd, but no charge to diagnose if it is covered. Has anyone dealt with this issue? I'm fine with the diagnostic fee, but figured it would be more of a yes/no answer...I'm not going to hold them to their word if not but I get the legalities.

Had a somewhat similar issue with my wife’s 2017 LaCrosse last month. GM extended the warranty on the accelerator pedal as there’s an issue that causes the car to throw a code and lose power. When her car had the issue I found the codes the car threw online and the TSB that showed the extension on the warranty showing the same codes as well as the fix for the issue. The TSB stated to call your local dealer and have them order the parts.
Well, when I called our local dealer neither of the service writers would confirm the coverage over the phone as “it could be anything”.
Lo and behold it was the issue in the TSB and everything was fixed on GM’s dime.
Long story short, take it and they’ll probably take care of it for free. If not, maybe you’re out of pocket a couple hundred for their diagnosis fee. Maybe not even that, my reading of the bulletin for the LaCrosse stated GM would pay for the diagnosis labor to confirm or deny the covered issue, but further diagnosis for an unrelated issue would have been on me.

Edit: the term was “Special coverage adjustment” and it gave a warranty of 10 years or 150,000 miles for the scenario we experienced.

 

[SC Maintenance]

I would find the TSB for it before I did anything. That should hopefully answer some of your questions. I agree, a 10 year warranty on a CAT sounds too good to be true.

If you show up at the dealer with no info your at their mercy.

 

[Kruse]

Your statement has alot of assumptions and risk built in so why not take it to a professional exhaust shop instead of possibly being taken for a dealer ride?

Maybe, but not so fast.
I bought an '88 Cougar off the show room floor. At 10K miles, the catalytic converter rattled. There were loose parts inside of it. Ford replaced it under warranty. At about 20K miles, the new converter rattled. Again, same loose parts. I just decided to live with it. At about 50K miles, the muffler rotted away. I took it to Midas saying "I need a new muffler and tail pipe." Their reply was "We'll put it on the hoist and we'll tell you what you need!"
They came back into the waiting room with a complete estimate, including the cost of a new catalytic converter. Their estimate was for the complete exhaust from the exhaust manifolds to the end of the tail pipe. I politely told them to replace only the muffler and tail pipe, which they did.
About a year later, I got a recall notice from FoMoCo on the catalytic converter. They replaced it on their dime and I had no more problems with it again. Dealers don't always take customers for a ride, especially on parts that have a warranty way beyond the normal wear and tear of maintenance parts.

 

[SC Maintenance]

Maybe, but not so fast.
I bought an '88 Cougar off the show room floor. At 10K miles, the catalytic converter rattled. There were loose parts inside of it. Ford replaced it under warranty. At about 20K miles, the new converter rattled. Again, same loose parts. I just decided to live with it. At about 50K miles, the muffler rotted away. I took it to Midas saying "I need a new muffler and tail pipe." Their reply was "We'll put it on the hoist and we'll tell you what you need!"
They came back into the waiting room with a complete estimate, including the cost of a new catalytic converter. Their estimate was for the complete exhaust from the exhaust manifolds to the end of the tail pipe. I politely told them to replace only the muffler and tail pipe, which they did.
About a year later, I got a recall notice from FoMoCo on the catalytic converter. They replaced it on their dime and I had no more problems with it again. Dealers don't always take customers for a ride, especially on parts that have a warranty way beyond the normal wear and tear of maintenance parts.

Sounds like your story is about FOMOCO and a likely order from the EPA. Not dealer good will?

I agree that the OP should find out the particulars for the recall / extended warranty, and if they look favorable head to the dealer, with the details in hand.

 

[cptbarkey]

Maybe, but not so fast.
I bought an '88 Cougar off the show room floor. At 10K miles, the catalytic converter rattled. There were loose parts inside of it. Ford replaced it under warranty. At about 20K miles, the new converter rattled. Again, same loose parts. I just decided to live with it. At about 50K miles, the muffler rotted away. I took it to Midas saying "I need a new muffler and tail pipe." Their reply was "We'll put it on the hoist and we'll tell you what you need!"
They came back into the waiting room with a complete estimate, including the cost of a new catalytic converter. Their estimate was for the complete exhaust from the exhaust manifolds to the end of the tail pipe. I politely told them to replace only the muffler and tail pipe, which they did.
About a year later, I got a recall notice from FoMoCo on the catalytic converter. They replaced it on their dime and I had no more problems with it again. Dealers don't always take customers for a ride, especially on parts that have a warranty way beyond the normal wear and tear of maintenance parts.

True, OP stated he is taking a risk on heresy from phone calls and may have to saddle a $100 diagnostic fee.

In my small world, $100 is a lot of risk, the dealer will also find xyz wrong along the way, but that’s subjective.

 

[i6pwr]

I would start by getting a VA state inspection that fails for the exhaust leak.

With that paperwork in hand, go to a dealer and pay to have them look at the catalyst.

Downside to that is we only have 15 days to fix and doesn't allow normal, regular personal use but that's tough to enforce.

True, OP stated he is taking a risk on heresy from phone calls and may have to saddle a $100 diagnostic fee.

In my small world, $100 is a lot of risk, the dealer will also find xyz wrong along the way, but that’s subjective.

Yeah, that's why I was calling around to see if this was a known issue and they could tell me without seeing it. Our area is $170/hr and the diagnostic fee would be the full hour.

Well, I called 4 or 5 dealers and then finally got one who could take the part# for the cat and my VIN and give me more to go on. He did say unfortunately the cat doesn't fall under the 10 YR/150K bit they were talking about. So I will need to replace the cat.

RA has one for just under $700, not terribly expensive, but will see what else is avail cheaper that's worth the $$.