Passed Emissions, Failed Visual
 

Hi guys,

Honestly, I've searched high and low for some answers regarding my smog issue, but I keep hitting a brick wall. I'm turning to you guys for help and would appreciate any advice.

My 84 GS passed emissions, but the tech failed her on the visual.

1) Timing was off (easy enough to adjust, no problem)
2) Fuel leak (fixed already)
3) "Tampered" cats.... and this one is not true.

I had my cats installed by a professional muffler shop about ten years ago. I've probably put 3,000 miles on the car since (yes, she stays in the garage a lot and I take her out on Sunday drives). He's saying he cannot locate any "numbers" on the cats and then he went on to say my first cat is MISSING. When we took it home, my dad got under the car and could clearly see the first cat. As you can imagine, I am frustrated. I've never had problems before and she's passed smog easily the past 10+ years. I'm not sure if the guy was trying to say I would need new cats altogether, but it just doesn't make sense or seem right to me. I don't know if this guy just doesn't know a thing about Seven's or what...but he was kind of an ass anyway. My Dad wants to take it somewhere else to see if it will pass. I don't know if that will be a waste of money or not.

Has anyone had this issue with their cats? The "numbers" not being there?

Honestly, if anyone has any ideas or suggestions, I would appreciate it. I would hate to have to put a non-OP on her over this. :-/ But, if they're saying I need new cats, she will probably have to sit a while. California is so frustrating!

Thanks for reading. I look forward to your feedback.

CA requires that catalytic converters sold in 2009 or later to have the application number on it.
If you had it installed before that, you're grandfathered in. (Ex. There's no number on the OEM cat)

If you have a receipt from the exhaust work, that would be definitive proof.
Other than that, the operator can choose to take your word on it based on the condition of the car and the mileage between inspections.

There is a good chance you'll have better luck at another shop. If the tech can't find your first cat, it's either laziness or incompetence.

I've never had a Smog Check Tech look underneath my car at the Cats (not on any of the many brands of cars I've owned, including my 85 SE). Go to another shop.

If you are 100% sure of the cats being legal take it to a Referee for final say so.

Thanks guys.

Took it to another shop and he said that there needs to be numbers on the cats. Didn't say anything about one missing either. First guy was definitely an idiot. Went back to the original shop that put them on, and they basically said the same thing. The ones that are on there were definitely installed prior to 2009, but I can't find the paperwork and I'm no longer in the system at the shop. They quoted me $638 for new cat.

Unfortunately, I'm going to have to Non-Op her for a while, probably until September. Don't have the extra money laying around for something I don't even really *need* (other than California telling me I need it). How frustrating!

Someday, I'm going to move to Fort Bragg. It will be awesome because Mendocino County is exempt from smog for vehicle reg.

Thanks for your help. Always nice to know I can count on your knowledge!

Take Care.

What inspired these guys to inspect your exhaust system? Do you have an aftermarket muffler that is excessively noisy?

contact the ref if you pass go back to the shop and ask for your money back if they refuse to comply with your request then contact BAR and file a complaint and they will try to get you the moeny you spent back

Cameron...
Nope, I don't have anything like that. Everything on my car is stock. She runs absolutely beautifully, which is why this entire thing is so frustrating.

Essentially, they are saying I need new cats because they don't have the "numbers" on them..because they were installed before 2009. Cats were installed by a legit, good shop. Went back to the shop and they looked at them, immediately recognized their work, then went onto say the BS about the law changing in 2009. Of course, I don't have the paperwork (although I can find every other receipt!) and I'm no longer in their system. I am just irritated that I have to spend $600+ on cats when there's nothing wrong with mine.

And, by the way, we did take it to a second shop, who pretty much said the same thing. Cats won't pass visual. Everything else is fine.

So, unfortunately, she has to sit for a little while until I figure some stuff out....

Thanks for your help and replies. Much appreciated.

You may want to consider buying the catalytic converter yourself and paying a shop/installing it yourself.
According to Magnaflow's site, this cat is CA legal and is much less than $600.

i got the main cat for my s4 that was a direct fit that is CARB legal for 150ish

edit: an s4 uses the same cat that you need in other words you can use my cat if you dont wanna pay and just swap it in and swap yours out for the day mine was only used for a week on the car

Really good info here