Clogged Cat, Slip Control Warnings, stealership ranting

[ViPER1313]

the cost was just for the cat, not the O2. I think I am pulling it out today and running my san angelo bar through it and calling it a day. Go-Go no emissions testing in WV!

If you do this the car will definitely throw a CEL constantly - the downstream O2 sensor will be able to tell that the converter isn't doing its job and throw a code.

Service ESC soon sounds like a problem with the electronic throttle or the wheel sensors - that would explain why your car was bucking going down the highway. Reading around on the Malibu forums, someone also said they had a loose connection to a fuel injector solenoid that caused the message to be thrown - that might explain the O2 codes and the warning message??

I really doubt that the converter is clogged - the car would drive like a slug 100% of the time if this was the case. Most likely the cat would be glowing red hot after you got off the highway as well - just take a look under the car. Depending on the design of your exhaust system you might be able to check for yourself by taking the cat off and looking through it.

EDIT: Does your car have the 4 or 6-cyl engine?