Learned a very interesting fact tonight, and wanted to see if anyone had input on this issue....

According to http://www.epa.gov/otaq/cert/factshts/catcvrts.pdf

it's illegal to replace the catalytic converters on our Z's with aftermarket cats for the sake of performance!!! Anybody gotten busted because of this? $2500 fine! Holy-****!!!

I'm totally blown away by this! I know that many aftermarket cats are smog legal, but do we need to worry about getting "reported" by auto-shops who spot aftermarket cats while working on the cars?

Any input VERY appreciated. I'm about 3 weeks from ordering my RT cats from Evolution, so I want to get educated.

Thanks again.

 

i didnt look at the link, but i know that it is illegal to change the cats before 50,000 miles.

that is why on all the aftermarket cats for the mustangs, they state that in their ads. seems like none of the nissan vendor's ads say that anywhere.

i guess maybe because there are probably not many 350z's that have hit the 50,000 mark yet and it would really hurt their sales if they let the consumers know that it was illegal to change them out so soon. could be wrong.

 

I would check the local ordinances. My car is registered in N Georgia (long story) long and skinny, no emmisions requirements!

 

Yeah, I knew this was the case in California (since we have *all* the smog laws), but didn't know it was a federal thing. It's interesting to know about the documentation requirements for shops that install cats, though. Ouch.

 

yeah but there are always those shops (at least here in So Cal) where you slip the kid an extra $20 or $30 and say let's pretend this never happened, and he lets you go free

 

yep it is illegal.

 

i know its illegal unless for "offroad use only" i think it does say it on performancenissanparts.com

 

And illegal it should be. I understand the desire to mod the heck out of these great cars, and I'm anything but a tree hugger, but I do enjoy going outside and being able to breathe the air with out choking on fumes. I believe it it is horribly irresponsible to either remove the existing cats or replace them with a model that doesn't meet air quality laws. As a responsible citizen with respect for everyone that has to breathe the air we share, I would never consider doing this mod to my Z.

 

Find the thread from about a month ago started by Jeff @Performance Nissan regarding a meeting with the NISMO reps in which one of the hot topics was the ECU. Basically NISMO told them/us no way on ECU mods or changes. It's apparently a big no-no to muck with anything that affects emissions. That would include cats.

 

The law allows replacement if the cat is damaged or plugged and not repairable. If the aftermarket cat is EPA certified I believe you can legally use it. Lets say you accidently ran over an 8lb sledge hammer that damaged both stock cats beyond repair, why couldn't you use a replacement of your choice?

 

In the state of maryland as with many other states it is illegal to change ANYTHING on your car from factory specs.....

everyone mods their cars and no one really cares but it is however illegal to do so if the cop wants to he can give you a ticket for any mod you have
will this happen? doubt it as long as you don't **** the cop off realllly bad

however if you run no cats at all that can be up to a $5000 fine in maryland
if you have racing cats you should be ok as long as they can see their is a cat/s under your car they wont care

well that is unless you live in CA

 

LOL Those darn sledge hammers lying in the road. I hate it when you don't see them and they end up destroying your oem cats.

 

Certainly you aren't talking about just using aftermarket parts, right? Cuz if you are ...

See the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act

 

Actually, the document I linked to says that if your car is under 50K miles and the cats are functional, it is illegal to replace them. Am I reading this wrong?

I guess really what I'm looking for is input on whether I'm asking for trouble if I just say "f*** it" and replace my perfectly functioning but highly restrictive cats on my car that has 1000 miles on it?

 

The document does say that, it also says they can be replaced if they are not functioning properly at any time. You can use factory or approved after market replacements. I don't know how your state determines if they are defective. If you have to take it to an inspection facility it may be their call. If its up to you, then.............
People in my state have taken stock cats and drilled them out so they are essentially straight pipes, we have no inspection, but I believe the fines are federal and would apply here as well if caught. Whether it's worth it is up to you. I don't know if the laws would be different for using replacment cats or just straight pipes. Why not contact Random Tech for thier take, they should know for sure.
Random Technology
4430 Tuck Road Loganville, GA 30052
Phone: (770) 554-4242 Fax: (770) 554-4244

 

 

Did that happen to you too?!

 

Not yet, but you never know. Accidents... um... happen.

 

TZUNAMI wrote:
Without putting too fine a point on it... I call BS.

KCobean is talking about putting SMOG legal cats on a very late model car in a state that requires annual emmissions testing. There's nothing irresponsible in that.

And KCobean, remember that time you were headed down Rte. 7 and ran over that... um... [insert appropriate object here] and your first thought was, "Damn! I hope I didn't damage my cats, thus requiring me to pay good money for replacements that might, incedentally, improve hp!"?

Remember?

Scott

 

I've heard that it's illegal before 50k, but I've also heard that the RT cats do a better job than stock ones...