Catalytic converters & California, what's up?

[4xcrazy]

I have an uncle out in the San Diego area, been told by the emissions places and a couple of "mechanics" out there that the Cats are bad on his 2002 Tahoe/5.3.

He has been given quotes of $2500 to replace the y-pipe assembly, which houses both Cats and 4 O2 sensors. This price not including labor.

Someone out there is ripping him off as far as I'm concerned. I looked around just for a few minutes on the internet for replacement Cats, it's apparently sold as a complete y-pipe setup, but like on Rock Auto, every listing I saw so far is saying not for legal sale in California.

Is there something identifying these to be different from stock setups? Not sure why he couldn't come over here to Arizona, visit me for a week during Thanksgiving or something and have them changed out while here.

Anyone have any other further info about what's going on out there?

 

[80' 427]

I know factory cats are at least 1800 or so in nebraska. I would expect it to be about that in cali. Most of the aftermarket cats are cheap because they don't have enough of the metal to properly function long. Honestly it is line with what I would expect to pay there and it is illegal to use used converters from what I have been told.

 

[4xcrazy]

Yeah, I know about the used converters law.

I did another quick search from another site and found a Magnaflow converter setup for $807... Hard to imagine that brand being considered "cheap"

It did also state that they were legal for California use.

 

[sweetk30]

cali has new laws and the casings need #'s and info stamped in them in specific sizes and visable from a certian distance to be able to read. also thay are the strongest on emmisions laws / rules.

y-pipe and cats with 4 new o2 sensors and gaskets and hardware with mark up and labor will prob be around that range .

but no reason if you want and he is cool with it if you install them and just make sure there legal for cali and also installed correctly with cali rules.

 

[4xcrazy]

So is this saying that if I were to install some non Cali legal cats/y-pipe assembly to the Avalanche here in Arizona, because they are legal here, while we still live here, and then for some odd reason, decide to move to Cali, that they would fail it through emissions? even though it would most likely pass the sniffer test?

 

[sweetk30]

i cant say for sure as i am in ny state . but i have read some crazy story's on this stuff. and as a mechanic i hate it when you find out its a cali emmisions equiped vehicle as the price and quanity of parts goes crazy.

 

[ktmoutfront]

Not if it was originally an Az car. But all cars meet the Ca standard from the factory.
Just another good reason not to live in Ca.

 

[rampage]

If it was originally a CA vehicle that was sold from the dealer in CA then it must have all the original smog equipment. Any smog equipment installed must have a visible CARB sticker. It's also suppose to be installed by a certified tech but the smog guy I talk to laughed and said they have no way to verify who installed it.

 

[4X4HIGH]

So is this saying that if I were to install some non Cali legal cats/y-pipe assembly to the Avalanche here in Arizona, because they are legal here, while we still live here, and then for some odd reason, decide to move to Cali, that they would fail it through emissions? even though it would most likely pass the sniffer test?

If your vehicle is a 49 state (meaning any state except California) you can install any CAT you wish BUT if your vehicle is a 50 state (meaning any state INCLUDING California) then you can only install California compliant pieces.