Just found out my o2 sensor was decapitated by my OEM catalytic converter shifting, and I'm also due for a smog check soon. Finding a low mileage catalytic converter these days has proven to be quite difficult (and also illegal to sell), and a HFC won't pass a visual inspection...what are my other options?

I'm outside of the 8yr/80k emissions warrantee, and I'd hate to have my exhaust hacked up with a universal cat, and Honda wants an insane amount for a new one. Help!!

 

HFC with OEM heat shield welded to it; they won't know the difference ?

 

You can also ask people in your region if they would be open to letting you borrow theirs.

 

Heat shields over a "test pipe" will pass visual inspection as well as a CAN buss scan with the right sensor. May not pass the stink test, though. High flow cat and heat shields should pass every test. Mine does in Ohio, anyway.

-- Chuck

 

It should pass as there are no more tailpipe emmisions testing in CA.

Also, there are two aftermarket cats that are legal in CA, but they are not high flow. You can put them on and then take them off later.

 

Smog laws in CA change all the time. If you go aftermarket make sure its acceptable. What's acceptable this year may become illegal later. So make sure your aftermarket cat is CA smog compliant. Then have receipt of when the cat was installed and don't lose it keep it for inspection.

I had my car inspected this year and they saw aftermarket cat and started the search in their database to make sure the cat was legal. It was when I bought and installed it but is illegal now. They failed my car and made me produce the receipt for install. Because I made the cut off date and inspected receipt they then passed car.

 

Last time I went in for a smog, they requested a "Star station."

They didn't even put the car on rollers (previous two times before that they did).

Anyway, my OEM cat rattles and makes all sorts of noises - it still passed smog the last two times both on rollers and off. I just save it for smog days now. I run a HFC otherwise. I just swap as needed for the smog.

Oddly enough, they didn't even do a visual inspection under the car. The engine bay is stock looking, and still on OEM exhaust - i'm sure all of that helped.

 

Interesting, what kind of cat did you have? What brand?

 

Where are you located? You can borrow my cat for smog

 

Looks like Chula Vista which near San Diego if I am not mistaken.

I would say you can borrow my cat but I pretty far from you too.