'03 Seville STS - Dealer wants $1100 for Cali. Catalytic converter - what's the diff?

[ktraub]

Hi All,
I have an '03 Seville STS and I've gotten a P0420 code several times over the last 6 months, reset it and it goes away for 6-8 weeks. The dealer says I need a new catalytic converter.
He wants $1100 for it though! I've checked my emissons label under the hood and it says it is for Federal and California.
I'm having trouble finding a catalytic converter for California and very few shops here in Maryland will touch it.
Can anyone tell me what the physical difference is between the California catalytic converter and the Federal one?
I can get a Federal direct fit with the flange for $173 bucks so what makes the California one so special?
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks.

[ewill3rd]

ktr,

I had a similar problem on one not long ago.
The thing is the CA cat only comes as part of the complete exhuast system, while the federal version has a kit that allows you to remove the old cat, cut the exhaust and install just the cat.
The flange on the rear of the manifold pipe will not mate properly with the federal cat flange because of the difference in the pipe.

If you put a federal catalyst on then from a technical standpoint you are tampering with the emission system because you may be affecting the tailpipe emissions. I don't know what the specific internal difference between the two might be so I don't know that the tailpipe emissions might be different from a technical standpoint and I don't know if the computer would know the difference either, but....

A P0420 is a definite indicator that the catalyst is not doing its job.

[jwanes]

Your 03 STS should still be covered by the bumper to bumper warranty. If not it will defintely be covered by the 8 year emissions warranty. Have you tried that route?

[ktraub]

The car has 81500 miles on it. I was told the catalytic was out of warranty.

[EcSTSatic]

I can't find any relief in Google. Sounds like you are screwed if it makes or breaks the CA emissions test. Hey, think of all that sunshine and ocean you get for the price!

[ktraub]

Man that sucks!
I live in Maryland and the car is registered in Maryland and goes through Maryland emissions testing but I have to abide by California emissions laws because when the car was built, it was built to pass California emissions?
It's especially lame since the car has NEVER been to CA!
It was originally sold new in Mass, then resold in PA where I bought it and now it is registered in MD.
How lame is that!
So it's going to cost me an extra 8 or 900 bucks because this car is Califormia Emissions capable!
What a bunch of BS!
I have no issue with meetiing Federal reg's and my state reg's but why the F!@# should I have to meet California reg's in MD?

[99esteees]

Have you tried talking to any exhaust shops regarding this matter? Don't just listen to the dealership as they will take you for everything you have.

[Playdrv4me]

Take it to an exhaust shop. They should have the tools to weld in (or whatever it is they do) a federal cat versus the Cali one. I just can not see this being so damn complicated that it can not be cut out and a Federal emissions unit put back in. Then again, these cars surprise us everyday.

Also, MD may just be a-holes enough, that since the car IS CALIFORNIA emissions ready, they ALSO may TEST for california emissions versus the standard emissions testing. If this is the case, you are truly screwed and you need to find THAT out before you go to the muffler shop and have a federal mandate catalyst put in. I really doubt this is the case though.

[jadcock]

Originally Posted by ktraub

It was originally sold new in Mass...
I have no issue with meetiing Federal reg's and my state reg's but why the F!@# should I have to meet California reg's in MD?

There is a grouping of 4 or 5 or 6 states that require a different level of emission standards. Mass. is one of them. Thank the liberals up there. I think the emission standard is generally referred to as the "California standard", but more states use it than just California, and NY and MA are a few of them.

I second or third the notion to visit a local exhaust shop. Don't tell them anything about the emissions certification; just say that you need a new catalytic converter and need a quote. See what they say.

[ewill3rd]

The reason it has to pass CA emissions standards is because that is what it was built for.
If it was built for 48 state emissions it would need to pass 48 state emissions tests.

As I mentioned, I am not really aware of the specific differences between the 48 state cat and the CA cat, and there is no real way to tell if a 48 state cat will pass emissions for a CA certified vehicle.

The point of contention is that Federal law mandates that you replace the catalyst with a component that will do the exact same job, or better... but no less.
In other words, a federal cat might work, but it might not. An exhaust shop can install a catalyst, but if it doesn't do the same job the one they take off was designed to do and it won't pass emissions then they can get in big trouble with EPA.

Will it happen? Who knows? Does it suck? Yes sir.
I feel your pain. I had a customer in a similar predicament not long ago.
I forget what we did to get him going. (I have slept since then)

Good luck.

[lbwd]

Don't know what I have. I took mine in and they just put a catalytic converter on there. Cost me like $200, installed.

[submariner409]

For your vehicle, dear ol' liberal tax & spend Maryland uses the OBD II port under the steering column to rip you off for $14 as an "emissions check". As long as the wheeled mirror, wielded by one of our highly qualified inspectors, shows that there's something under the car which sort of resembles pipes or a cat or mufflers, they'll drive it past the dyno rollers to the end of the line and plug it in. 34 seconds and $14 later, you're good to go for 2 years. A good aftermarket highflow cat, after a couple of weeks of driving cycles, should pass just fine. The political BS about CA and lower 48 emissions justifies the ridiculous taxes and fees our West Coast neighbors have to endure in the name of "emissions". !!! DON'T !!! go to the test station immediately after your cat job......give it a couple of weeks for the codes to settle out and DON'T reset the codes just before you go in for test...the machine will kick you out on a driving cycle error sequence. Big Brother is watching.........Just think.....in a few years, ONSTAR will tell the state whenever you exceed the speed limit or hit WOT.........comforting.

[ktraub]

Hey guys, I found this. Think it's worth a shot?
http://www.exhaustwarehouse.com/inde...ig=&cylcount=8