Is it illegal to change your cats in California?
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Orange County, CA
Is it illegal to change your cats in California?
I am thinking about getting hi-flow cats but I've read that they're illegal in CA. Is that true? Will it void my warranty or cause me problems at the dealer? I have a damaged y-pipe and possibly bent cats, so I have been researching it. Thanks.
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From: Marietta, Georgia
It is illegal to change out oem cats unless they have failed [which of course would be free under warranty]. The shop must retain the changed out cats for 6 months for EPA on demand inspection and fill out paper work.
Shops can be fined $10,000 and the owner is responsible if they sell the car and it fails emission testing in the future because the cats don't meet specifications. In theory you can be sued in future to replace any non oem emission system you chose to tamper with or delete.
Now enforcement is another thing!
This is actually a more fined version of Federal Law each state is responsible for enforcement. Never know what state your used sold car could end up in future.
Shops can be fined $10,000 and the owner is responsible if they sell the car and it fails emission testing in the future because the cats don't meet specifications. In theory you can be sued in future to replace any non oem emission system you chose to tamper with or delete.
Now enforcement is another thing!
This is actually a more fined version of Federal Law each state is responsible for enforcement. Never know what state your used sold car could end up in future.
I'm not sure how warranty would play into this, but if your cats are bent, you can legally change them out to high flow units, not sure what regulations they will have to meet.
Originally Posted by Random Technology
Under Federal EPA regulation, replacement of original catalytic converters is allowed only if the original converter(s) is missing, or the vehicle has more than 50,000 miles or is at least five years old and the need for a replacement has been established and documented, or a local inspection program has determined the existing converter is in need of replacement.
So, say I bend my OEM cats on a speedbump, because they hang a bit low. To avoid encountering the same damage time and again, I'm able decline the warranty work and opt for an aftermarket manufacturer who's cats tuck up a little tighter? 
(no warranty coverage or labor on these, I understand).
(no warranty coverage or labor on these, I understand).
Originally Posted by GT-Ron
So, say I bend my OEM cats on a speedbump, because they hang a bit low. To avoid encountering the same damage time and again, I'm able decline the warranty work and opt for an aftermarket manufacturer who's cats tuck up a little tighter? (no warranty coverage or labor on these, I understand).
(no warranty coverage or labor on these, I understand).
The point was not to find out if they'd be covered under warranty, but rather to determine if such a scenario would justify the use of aftermarket cats.
FWIW, it was all a hypothetical question. Just trying to figure out if there is good justification to use if found running aftermarket cats.
FWIW, it was all a hypothetical question. Just trying to figure out if there is good justification to use if found running aftermarket cats.
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Oh, well, in that case, a damaged cat is justification enough to swap it out wouldn't you think? 
dude... we need more smileys here... the ones we have are too basic to represent the... mood? of the posts... words don't show anything besides laughter and anger or any other emotion without good smileys
dude... we need more smileys here... the ones we have are too basic to represent the... mood? of the posts... words don't show anything besides laughter and anger or any other emotion without good smileys
Last edited by dofu; Mar 23, 2006 at 05:44 PM.
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From: Southern California
i think ...... think...... if you damaged your cats.... you need to have them replaced by OEM up to 50K miles.... after that, you are free to replace it with aftermarket.......not before.... i believe it's $5K per cats for the fine.... which in our car 2 cats=$10K
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From: Marietta, Georgia
My point is if you sell the car and for some reason it fails a FUTURE dyno emission test and you have changed out oem cats you are liable to restore the car to oem cat condition for up to 100,000 miles [varies by state].
When you sell a car it must have an emission test which is your certification that you didn't tamper with emissions..........even if it passed when you sold the car you are still responsible in the future.
Of course it then becomes a matter of proving you did it, not the new owner trying to lie.........guess the jury would have to decide who is telling the truth.
Don't sell a car in State take it to another State or try to sell it to a dealer who is supposed to check emission before they take the trade, if you slip thru you may be protected from future litigation [?].
Many of the after market cats have thinner layers and bigger honeycomb passages so they don't last as long as oem............some of the worst ones give up and quit working in a year or two or less.
The aftermarket cat business depends on people looking for a cheap way to just pass emissions that year. Be sure to look at the warranty is it 50-100K no run away fast!
When you sell a car it must have an emission test which is your certification that you didn't tamper with emissions..........even if it passed when you sold the car you are still responsible in the future.
Of course it then becomes a matter of proving you did it, not the new owner trying to lie.........guess the jury would have to decide who is telling the truth.
Don't sell a car in State take it to another State or try to sell it to a dealer who is supposed to check emission before they take the trade, if you slip thru you may be protected from future litigation [?].
Many of the after market cats have thinner layers and bigger honeycomb passages so they don't last as long as oem............some of the worst ones give up and quit working in a year or two or less.
The aftermarket cat business depends on people looking for a cheap way to just pass emissions that year. Be sure to look at the warranty is it 50-100K no run away fast!
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Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Marietta, Georgia
http://www.epa.gov/OMS/cert/factshts/catcvrts.pdf
Federally it is 8 years/80,000 miles on cars made after 1994.
Federally, it is $2500 per cat or $10,000 for all 4 and $25,000 for a dealership or shop who does the work.
Federally,After market cats must be warrantied for 2 years/24,000 miles internally IF the vehicle is properly maintained!
Federally it is 8 years/80,000 miles on cars made after 1994.
Federally, it is $2500 per cat or $10,000 for all 4 and $25,000 for a dealership or shop who does the work.
Federally,After market cats must be warrantied for 2 years/24,000 miles internally IF the vehicle is properly maintained!
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