[flash]

I found out today that the OEM Catalytic Converter is no longer available anywhere on the planet.



It further appears that the OEM cat does not last nearly as long as was previously thought. I have one here that is plugged up after only about 80k on it, and another that fails tests at 100k and shows to be just plain worn out. Both seem to be at least partially as a result of running rich. Both cars had chips and stuff for at least the last couple of years. There is no telling what led to the failures though, as we don't have enough history on them.



I called CARB to find out what the protocol was for a discontinued Cat, and they gave me a replacement number for an aftermarket Cat. Here's the problem though. That was exactly the Cat I tried when I had the header on it. It barely passed after getting it REALLY hot. It failed all the way up to that point.



So, given that this is likely the only Cat that works, and that they are now unobtanium, I would do everything you can to keep that thing in good shape. If you plan to run stuff to add power, whatever that may be, the only way I see to prevent problems is to remove the factory Cat and run something aftermarket and replaceable., which is technically illegal. You also may not pass emissions tests. I may have to grab another OEM one to keep as a spare. This is not good.

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[tamathumper]

So all 968's are doomed to fail emissions tests at some point in the (reasonably) near future?

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[Cloud9...68]

Ruh-roh.......



But there are obviously thousands, if not millions, of cars on the road with cats that are no longer available, and seeing as they are all by definition on older cars, these cars have to have emissions testing (as opposed to just hooking up to an OBD reader - at least that's how it's done in Texas) as part of their annual inspections. There would be rioting in the streets if all of these cars had to go through what the 968 appears to be going through, with the OEM cat being marginal at best, and therefore technically not able to pass inspection. Something sounds not right here, although clearly the rarity of the 968 surely exacerbates the problem significantly...

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[Darryl]

No emissions required in many states after the car reaches a certain age. Here in VA, it's 25 years and we have to do it every 2, so let me get my abacus out...............





click, click, clikety, clikety, click.....





OK, so I have to squeak by 3 more tests on the Cab and 3, maybe 4 more on the Coupe. Last tests were pretty low numbers, so I may be OK!



- Darryl

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[94SilverCab]

Under 5,000 miles/year I am entirely exempt from testing. I could burn coal in my car and pass as long as the horn and lights work <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/rolleyes.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />



Regards,



Jay

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[Cloud9...68]

Hmmm... I'll hve to check the laws in Texas as far as how long I'll have to keep doing emissions testing. If it's through 25 years, I still have six more to do. So far, my numbers have always been extremely low, but who knows how long that will continue? Seems ironic that the older, and therefore dirtier cars get off the hook eventually; I would have thought emissions testing would be required until the car was ready for the automotive equivalent of the glue factory.

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[flash]

yeah - it's kind of wacky right now, since the new laws came into effect - each area undergoes air quality testing twice a year - if the are reaches a certain point, they implement the dyno testing - there are also grandfather laws and such that differ from area to area



the bigger issue i see is what the aftermarket stuff different people might have and how that might affect the cat - the more fuel you throw at them, and the longer you do it, the faster they clog - if it's lean, it will burn out - unfortunately there is no way to tell without plugging in a wide band



not good either way you look at it though, whether you are stock or not - makes me crazy that they require something to be on your car, but don't require somebody to make it so you can comply

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[rhudeboye]

My first emissions testing with the 68 went very well. I pulled up on the roller. The guy took my sheet. Passed me and remarked "the boss said we aren't to touch these cars". True story. Thing is, they don't touch them anyway. it's was due again last Dec. i called to delay it because It snowed on my deadline date. I called and emailed to explain that I have sport tires on the car. They pushed it back to July.



So things are a bit lax in MD.

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[Lear35A]

Our here in the boondocks I don't get inspected for anything on any of my vehicles. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/biggrin.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

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[ds968]

If the OE cat replacement is not available, your damaged cat is not repairable, and/or the aftermarket cats inhibit in any way shape or form the performance of the car..whether it's heat, or power, or anything you can document might change from stock specs.. no State can require you to install one and should allow you

an exempt status from emissions testing regardless of the car's age. If not I suspect you can easily challenge that, if the above criteria is met <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/unsure.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

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[tamathumper]

So these after-market "50-state legal" cats are a no-go?

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[flash]

i have not yet found an aftermarket cat that truly passes the emissions tests for california - i had to fudge it to get the one that i did find that was close to pass - i have no idea about other states - i'm not done looking though



ds968 - in california, they make you go through a repair attempt, and reach a certain dollar amount - then you get a 2 year exemption - then you get to do it again in 2 years

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[ds968]

" in california, they make you go through a repair attempt, and reach a certain dollar amount - then you get a 2 year exemption - then you get to do it again in 2 years "



right that's what I meant by "if not repairable" ..

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[tamathumper]

After just so many attempts, you win a Prius.

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[Cloud9...68]

So are a whole bunch of 968s in coming years going to be turning into full-time track cars...? Maybe I'm ahead of my time...

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[rxter]

I'll just sell mine to someone in Covington - problem solved.

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[craigawoodman]

I hate to be a party pooper - but we don't even need to get an annual road worthy inspection done over here. You can imagine the clunkers that are still running around. The only time you need a roadworthy inspection is when you sell the car and transfer the registration. No smog testing, nothing - just pay your rego and drive.



Other states have annual inspections, but not QLD. It is a bit like the South in America (no offense to those in the South at the generalisation al ah Top Gear and Mexicans).



You would think that the older the car, the slightly more leanient they would become.



Running an older car is better for the environment as it takes much more Carbon to produce a car (especially a Prius) than it consumes during its life. So running an old car is good for the environment.

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[flash]

i'd like to conduct a rather informal study to see if there is any correlation between cat failure and long term use of aftermarket mods



of those cars that are out there with OEM cats, and are also running chips of any type, or any other device that might affect mixture or timing (airbox mod, etc), i'd like to see emissions test results, which will show me what the cat is doing



to qualify for the test, you need to have at least a couple of years on the mods, and preferably have test results before and after the mods



you can just post the readings - i'm looking for CO, HC and most importantly NOX

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[ds968]

If I can find it, I'll send you a copy of my last emission test results which I typically keep until the next test .. it's post a six year use of the Speed 6's Racer X chip. ( keep in mind, that except for @ idle , and the fraction of a second while shifting, this car has never been driven below 4,000 rpm )

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[flash]

that will be a good test model - thanks



anybody else?

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