Universal CAT for 2003 Corolla (in CA)

[Skubysnak]

I have a 2003 Corolla LE that's short of 130K miles and I'm in California. Like everyone else, I got the dreaded P0420 and have been driving around with the check light on. I put a sticker over it because all it does is remind me that it'll cost about $1400 to get it fixed.

I may have found a guy that has some universal CATs that were authorized prior to the Jan 1, 2009 law change for CAT's. His quote is under $400 for the CAT. Anyone have any experience with an aftermarket CAT that lives in California??? I hear both sides of the story that they will only last a few months to they are good for 3-5 years. I'm not due for a smog check for another year, but I want the car fixed.

Need to hear from some fellow Corolla owners.

[JasonA]

I wouldn't worry about the longevity of the converter...I'd worry about the inspection. The "guts" of the catalytic converter are pretty much the same, whether you buy a direct-fit converter or a universal one. The main difference is the front and rear pipe, flanges, hangers, etc...made to be a direct-fit for your car. Universal ones have the same "guts"...but without all the customized flanges and fittings.

So a universal cat should be just as good as a direct-fit cat in terms of actual performance. Now, if California inspects your car next year, and fails it on the visual aspect because they can see you had a universal cat welded in, you might be spending that $1,400 anyway.

[Skubysnak]

Crap, they do a visial inspection too???

[XR2003]

The OEM cat. has more precious metals inside to oxygenate the exhaust gases.

The aftermarket has less which is part of the reason why they cost less then an OEM replacement.

I have the same issues as the OP, and that $1400 from the dealer is for the entire midpipe including the cat. converter.

Once again California regulations are a PITA

[XR2003]

Originally Posted by Skubysnak

Crap, they do a visial inspection too???

In California, a visual inspection means opening your hood and looking around there for any alterations not legal to emissions regulations, aftermarket intake, nitrous lines, etc.



They normally do not put your car on a lift to see the cat.

I have had my Matrix for exactly 7 years on May 31st, and have had only 1 smog test (in 2004).

Even with my P0420 code that I just reset with the EFI fuse pull, I only get that code once every 4 months. I am convinced it is a false read, but eventually I do need to replace the cat.

[JasonA]

Originally Posted by XR2003

The OEM cat. has more precious metals inside to oxygenate the exhaust gases.

The aftermarket has less which is part of the reason why they cost less then an OEM replacement.

Oh, are you talking about a Toyota catalytic converter vs. an aftermarket OEM fit converter? In that case, I don't have an argument. I thought they were talking about an OEM fit vs. a universal that has to be welded in. That said, if you buy this converter:

http://www.autopartswarehouse.com/de...EAST40407.html

How is California going to know that it's made by "Eastern Catalytic" vs. "Toyota"? In other words, if they don't even do a visual inspection (which surprises me, even NC does a visual inspection on the catalytic converter), I'm not sure I see the problem with using an aftermarket one.

I'd bet dollars to donuts that if California put a sniffer up the tailpipe, there'd be no distinction between the aftermarket and the Toyota converter. I know that makes no difference to CA laws, but it at least meets the intent.

[XR2003]

^ I agree with you.

The sellers are reluctant to sell California registered vehicles any cat. replacements even though they would still pass the smog checks.

So frustrating to live in the state that gave birth to car modding but is hampered by its regulations.

[JasonA]

North Carolina has a really stupid "smog check" system. They plug a computer into the car to see if there are any OBD codes. If there are codes, you fail. If there are no codes, you pass. You could easily hollow-out the converter, put an O2 sensor simulator in there, and pass the test.

In my opinion, use the tailpipe sniffer test, and ONLY the sniffer test. That's really the bottom line...is your car spewing more than designed or not? It's really a yes/no answer. Hollow-out the cat and put an O2 simulator on it. You'll pass the test. But your car's exhaust is REALLY REALLY dirty...and they don't even know it.

I'm sure California would fail my Dodge Dakota if I ran true duals on it, with a cat on each pipe, just because it's not the OE design. It might be even CLEANER than stock because each cat only has to process 4 cylinders' worth of exhaust rather than 8 cylinders that the one original cat had to process. Doesn't matter: fail.