VW Catalytic converter

[golfowner]

I bought my golf 2 months ago - the garage is now saying it needs a new catalytic converter... how long does it take to 'brake'? I am thinking they sold it to me with this fault already there. The engine management light has been on twice for different things. It is a 52 plate. Will the cat. converter have been less that 100% for a while?

[maviscoull]

my corsa sxi is 4 years old and all i`ve had to get replaced...so far, is the back box !!

[tom hopkins]

if the ngine management light has been on what were the causes? to damage a cat that is only 4 years old you must have been running the engine very rich.

[golfowner]

The first time, the temperature sensor, so not too serious, second time was when they suggested that the cat. converter needed replacing. This was through a VW approved dealer. I've only had it 2 months - can I take it this has probably been sold to me with this as an existing problem?

[tom hopkins]

a temperature sensor can make the mixture to rich and cause damage to the cat. (how long was it run with faulty sensor). & yes i would say that you were sold a duff one

[golfowner]

The temperature sensor fault - I wasn't using the car to be honest and only had to drive to the garage when they could fit me in so I wasn't using it. The temperature guage was on cold all of the time, and having just got rid of my MG with a dodgy temperature issue decided that I shouldn't use it! I have come to the same conclusion - just going to phone the garage now!

[tom hopkins]

thought you mean't the air temp sensor.
all the best hope you get it sorted.