MAF Causes Catalytic Converter Failure?

[paulsinger]

I have an S430 1999. Recently the car died and almost stalled in traffic but I stopped the car and restarted the engine after a few minutes and that seemed to cure it. It did not happen again.
The car has just gone in for a service (a few weeks after the stalling iincident) and I have been told that a device called an MAF (Air Mass Filter) has failed and that in doing so it has ruined both catalytc converters which now need to be replaced (at a cost of £341 for the MAF and £1,600 for the cats)!
I have a warranty which will pay for the MAF but the warranty company say that the cats are not covered because it is not "mechanical" failure but misuse!
How can it be misuse when the car does not warn you on the dashboard?
Had it not been due for a service I would not even have known there was a fault. The dealer did an ESKU (?) but Mercedes have refused to assist either.
Help please!!

 

[paulcallender]

MAF = mass airflow sensor.

Its failure would have caused an over-rich mixture, resulting in unburnt fuel going through the cats and ruining them, over time. So, you could say its a consequence of the MAF failure.

Ask them, if a wheel fell off, if you're covered for:

1) just the missing wheel bolts
2) the damaged wheel/tyre, brake components, suspension, exhaust, underbody, etc.

It sounds like they are trying to weasel out of paying.

 

[Copiertech]

try and find a garage with a piece of diagnostic equipment called "the fueller". it has a special cat rejuvinator program which intercepts various engine managment siganls and alters them to artificially raise the temperature of the cats in a controlled manner which can burn off contamination from cats which havent actually broken up the honeycomb but have just been damaged by unburnt fuel. I read about it in a feature they done in "Car Mechanics" magazine. its worth a shot given the cost of the cats. failing that courtney do quality free flow performance cats for a fraction of the cost which any skilled exhaust fabricator could take your existing cats, cut out the cat section, and weld these in befor bolting it back on in place of the originals. this would also give an increase in power.

 

[paulsinger]

Thanks for those tips. Anything is worth a try!

 

[dougtsc]

A little cheaper here. Look through the section on cats. and you can find a price for your particular model. I've never done any business with them so this is not a plug, and of course the parts will be non-genuine. Also you would have to pay someone to fit them !

http://www.carsandcats.co.uk/

Regards
Doug