Just took my car to get smogged and it passed the sniffer but not the visual because apparently the previous owner removed the precats. I'm in CA. Where can I buy new precats?

 

You're not going to like this , but, you may have to buy it and have it shipped to somebody you know out of state, and then ship it to you. I couldn't find one that would ship to CA by any "reputable" company.

The other option is to buy a carb approved universal cat and have a shop weld the flanges on it and install it.

The reason the pre cat is so problematic is because nobody is going through the hassle of getting that cat carb approved in California when not a lot of people are buying them. . . ..It's also of notice that any aftermarket pre cat has a limited life before the rotary engine causes it to break due to the intense heat. It's best to have the three cat setup removed from the car and replaced with a single cat bonez setup. . .. You change it out every two years for smogg. My car would pass with a single cat bonez setup for several years before wear had it's way with it. The car was so low, and so rare nowadays, techs wouldn't know the car came with 3 cats. They would see a completely stock engine bay, and a cat with the return air port so it would "pass" visual.

You might want to find another shop and hope the guy misses it assuming it still passes smogg. .. . The pre cat exists to handle smogg during cold starts. .. . It's not required to pass if the car is running right and hot.

 

most of us have a set of cats just for smog checks, because its so onerous to try to get them. aka the Sunday cat
the rest of the time you run the thing on the car because it works fine.

 

One source would be the used market, which is illegal in California.


Does Mazda sell them?

I believe the state referee is a source for where to find emission components. I know for some objects if they are no longer available, the state referee is the person who can give exceptions to other replacement parts. Stop by and ask your local state referee. I do not know if something as impactful as the catalytic converter can be given an exception.

 

they have a list of stuff you can't get, and they can grant an exception for.
there is a list of stuff that is NLA, but since you called you're required to buy from them. they have someone rebuilding S4 EGR valves, and its $300.

 

Went for my California smog inspection today. First thing they did was look under the car and count the cats. This thread motivated me to get a catted pipe made and preserve my stock cat for smog season.

 

Thought I would follow up in case anyone could use this info in the future. Magnaflow sells precats that worked out. I contacted the state ref to verify and he confirmed. Got the car resmogged and all good now. It's part no. 337304 (2 inch pre-obd II CA legal pre-cats). They also sell ones in smaller and larger diameter.