Catalytic Convertor Warning Light

[GSD]

The catalytic convertor warning light has lit up on the dashboard of my 53 reg Citroen Xsara 1.4L petrol hatchback. However as the the engine and the car seem to be running quite normally I just wondered if anybody else had had this problem and what the cause might be. Also if the cat needs to be replaced I'd be interested to know what this might cost. Many thanks.

[kfk]

Which part of the country do you live in?, have you filled up in kent since the middle of February?.....if so it could be that the Oxygen sensor has failed.......ok so thats the common thing down here in kent at the moment.

 

Thing is the light can come on for many reasons and really needs to get the computer codes read to establish a diagnosis.

[GSD]

Which part of the country do you live in?, have you filled up in kent since the middle of February?.....if so it could be that the Oxygen sensor has failed.......ok so thats the common thing down here in kent at the moment.

 

Thing is the light can come on for many reasons and really needs to get the computer codes read to establish a diagnosis.

 

Thanks very much for this but if the oxygen sensor has failed I assume that the engine would run very roughly, if at all. By the way I always buy my petrol from Sainsbury's and understand that they haven't had any of the contamination problems suffered by Tesco, Morrisons, and Asda. I've now arranged for the car to be examined by the local Citroen dealer (on the Herts/Cambs border) next Thursday and will let you know what they find. Hopefully nothing too serious!

[kfk]

Tesco, Morrisons, Asda, Somerfield, Total, Texaco, Sainsburys........but only 2 stuck there heads up and admitted it in the press.

[GSD]

Tesco, Morrisons, Asda, Somerfield, Total, Texaco, Sainsburys........but only 2 stuck there heads up and admitted it in the press.

 

The problem turned out to be a damaged/chipped oxygen sensor and a cracked exhaust manifold. Both had to be replaced at a cost of £430. Apparently the oxygen sensor simply pulled out of thread in the manifold, and because this was badly cracked it couldn't be rethreaded. The garage said that this was a very unusual failure.