Just want to express extreme frustration

Burnin' oil · 01-26-2011, 03:49 PM

with trying to locate a catalytic converter for my 2003 Suburban that is LEGAL IN CALIFORNIA. 99.9% of all converters sold online are "49 state compliant. Not for sale in California. Cannot be shipped to California."

I can find one, but it's over $700. If I buy locally, it comes from the dealer at $1500. But for CARB regulations, I could weld in a $90 converter.

I am about to blow a gasket.

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

Vote with your feet.

Joeaksa · 01-26-2011, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by red-beard

Vote with your feet.

Totally agree. Maybe not you yourself but the voters in Kalifornia have done this to themselves.

Thats part of the reason why I left years ago and you could not pay me enough to return.

Hugh R · 01-26-2011, 04:25 PM

Try a junkyard and get it in writing that you can return it if it doesn't pass SMOG.

rcecale · rcecale's Garage

If it helps...

Order one that can be used in Georgia. Have it delivered to my address and I'll send it out to you. (Shipping can't be that much, can it?)

Randy

azasadny · azasadny's Garage

We left CA in 1991 and I'm glad we did! I miss the weather, but not the ridiculous laws!

vash · vash's Garage

want me to look around up here?

slodave · slodave's Garage

I've got to find one for my Toyota as well.... Was planning on finding a friendly person in a neighboring state that would help me.

Burnin' oil · 01-26-2011, 04:48 PM

Thanks for the offers. I had a muffler shop owner friend try to find an after-market cat with no success. He said a dealer is the only California source at $1500.

Our smog checks include a visual exam of the Cat to make sure it has the proper CARB (Cal. Air Resources Board) ID on it so non-compliant cats are not an option. I have seven months before it has to be smogged so no rush. Thanks to CARB, I will be spewing toxins in the air until the very last second possible.

Leaving this State is a frequent topic of conversation and is likely , but no time soon.

cgarr · cgarr's Garage

Whats a catalytic converter? Is that like a muffler bearing?

Tim Hancock · 01-26-2011, 04:59 PM

I feel or ya! Thank god I don't have to worry about that kind of BS regulation where I live..... yet..... I woud likely be jailed out there as I would spend every waking moment trying to figure ways to get around the regulations.

BeyGon · 01-26-2011, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Burnin' oil

with trying to locate a catalytic converter for my 2003 Suburban that is LEGAL IN CALIFORNIA. 99.9% of all converters sold online are "49 state compliant. Not for sale in California. Cannot be shipped to California."

I can find one, but it's over $700. If I buy locally, it comes from the dealer at $1500. But for CARB regulations, I could weld in a $90 converter.

I am about to blow a gasket.

Call Kennedy @ 661 272 1147, I got mine for the Vanagon Subaru from him, I would have to look it up but it wasn't anything like 400 or so, I am sure it was a lot less. Has all the numbers and stamps The Republic needs.

deanp · 08:09 PM

Magnaflow lists two California catalytic converters for a 2003 Tahoe. The direct fit Y pipe with both converters is #45419, found it online for $727. They also list a universal fit on the California page that is welded in. Part #45006, Summit Racing lists it at 199.89 and lists 50 state emissions legal. Do you need one side or both?

http://www.magnaflow.com/02catalytic_converters/00catalyticconverters.asp

slodave · slodave's Garage

Thank you, Dean! You solved my problem too. $547 for my Toyota. Better than the $1200 the dealer wants.

HardDrive · 01-26-2011, 10:34 PM

California kinda sucks, mkay?

slodave · slodave's Garage

I totally agree on this subject.

Porsche-O-Phile · Porsche-O-Phile's Garage

While I miss some things about CA, all I can say right now is...

HA! HA!

Drive to AZ or NV or OR for an afternoon (whichever is closer) and pick one up at any auto parts store.

I'm sure there has to be SOMEONE out there (ebay?) that will ship one to you that you can put on, although you're running the risk of not passing the visual, which is asinine. In a friend of mine's case his (highly modified) 951 passed the emissions across the board due to tuning with no cat at all but they still failed him (turned into a gigantic headache for him too) because there was no cat.

CARB is one of the most ridiculous and out-of-control Kalifornia bureaucracies ever... I don't miss having to deal with them at all.

Try to get a permit for a paint booth sometime (project I worked on for a client a few years ago). Let me know how that goes. You don't think they just jerk around the vehicle owners do ya?

slodave · slodave's Garage

Jeff, if the smog tech does check for a CARB sticker, then going to AZ is not an option. I don't remember the guy even checking for one on the Toyota a few weeks ago, but I also wasn't paying attention. I did not notice him grabbing for the mirror on a stick though.

slodave · slodave's Garage

BTW, I checked the magna flow site for the 49 state cat for a 2001 Corolla, same prices.

Porsche-O-Phile · Porsche-O-Phile's Garage

Yeah, I think most places will just check for the obvious/simple stuff that they can see with the hood open unless there's something that raises a red flag perhaps. At the end of the day I suspect most guys just want to get 'em in and get 'em out - there's not much money in this stuff for them to belabor these inspections. I have no idea what inspired the guy to check in Dan's case, but once they saw there was no cat on the car all holy hell broke loose - they flagged him as a gross polluter and all kinds of other crap - ended up having to go to a referee station and cost almost $1k IIRC to finally make the whole mess go away.

I love a lot of things about CA but it's just not worth going through the B.S. to live there anymore. I suppose if you're a good little lemming who's okay with being subjected to all kinds of stupid laws and indignities constantly and is okay with handing over half (or more!) of your money to the government for the privilege of them dictating everything to you from birth to death (inclusive), you'll love it.

It's been really eye-opening living out this way for the past year. I honestly didn't think places like this still existed in America. I can actually do (for the most part) what the heck I want here and nobody cares or gives me grief about it.

Yeah the weather might be nicer there, but it just ain't worth the price tag anymore... IMHO of course.