California air cooled Vanagon Catalytic Converters

[Robert Berglund]

are no longer allowed to be sold or used in the State of California.This certainly will put a crimp in someone wanting one.
The new Converters must have a CARB stamp on them ....problem is they cant be found.
Or can they and Im just not finding out where ??

[Bookwus]

Hiya Robert,

........are no longer allowed to be sold or used in the State of California.

What's the reason given for this?

[Amskeptic]

Hiya Robert,

........are no longer allowed to be sold or used in the State of California.

What's the reason given for this?

All catalysts must now meet the OBD II standards introduced in 1996.
Colin

[Robert Berglund]

Hiya Robert,

........are no longer allowed to be sold or used in the State of California.

What's the reason given for this?

All catalysts must now meet the OBD II standards introduced in 1996.
Colin

That said Colin have you any idea on where to find a California approved cat.
All sites I have visited in the past two days now have a warning about shipping to California.
Mines an 82 air-cooled Westy.
We have CARB to thank for this inconvience.. =D>

[Robert Berglund]

Hiya Robert,

........are no longer allowed to be sold or used in the State of California.

What's the reason given for this?

Stricter polution measures I suppose.

[regis101]

I'll give the same answer as on TS.

It's the "man" squashin' us with that big fat thumb of his. basterdz

[Amskeptic]

I'll give the same answer as on TS.

It's the "man" squashin' us with that big fat thumb of his. basterdz

There will be some scrambling for a while, but trust capitalism, someone will find a way to profit and OBD II catalysts will be available for the earlier cars. Might take some time.
Colin

[Robert Berglund]

I'll give the same answer as on TS.

It's the "man" squashin' us with that big fat thumb of his. basterdz

But its just for our own good though .

[regis101]

So for 20+ and in my case 30+ years all was well. My smog numbers are way below the max. The CAT chews everything up nicely. So what's the deal. I'm all hip for clean air but not at the expense of trying to fix what ain't broke. Whatever

[regis101]

Here is a link. One of many.

http://www.car-sound.com/04basics/04california.asp

Seems that the CAT's now need CARB approved stampings. They will be vehicle specific. It seems like a thin line to me that our OE style CAT's are now illegal. This law appears to be more suited to the aftermarket rodding crowd. I'm sure, as previously stated, someone will come to our rescue.
Basterdz

[tristessa]

.. road trip?

While I'd be surprised if you could show up at the smog station with a shiny-new cat w/o the CARB stamping and get away with it .. it seems plausible that a slightly used one could be convincingly explained as being installed before the new law came into effect.

Not suggesting anything, just thinking out loud.

[Robert Berglund]

.. road trip?

While I'd be surprised if you could show up at the smog station with a shiny-new cat w/o the CARB stamping and get away with it .. it seems plausible that a slightly used one could be convincingly explained as being installed before the new law came into effect.

Not suggesting anything, just thinking out loud.

Exactly my thoughts as well.
I was browsing the CARB web-site and looking at what approved cats are available.
So far nothing for an 82 air-cooled Westy.

However while browsing Bosal web-site I found a company E-Catalytic Converter that had one that I suppose is OK for California, its BO099035.
All of the other cats listed for my vehicle are carrying the warning "not legal for California use" or "cant be shipped to California address".

Allthough some manufacturer will hop on the bandwagon and put into production the various cats for the older models I bet the cost will be sky high for us consumers.

According to CARB if you have a cat thats allready installed but is not approved, alls well.
When it comes time to replace it, the replacement must have the CARB stamp of approval on it.
The numbers that are stamped on the cat.." must be visible from 5 feet away".

I wonder how long CARB debated over the distance ??
Oh well.

[dtrumbo]

According to CARB if you have a cat thats allready installed but is not approved, alls well.
When it comes time to replace it, the replacement must have the CARB stamp of approval on it.
The numbers that are stamped on the cat.." must be visible from 5 feet away".

I wonder how long CARB debated over the distance ??
Oh well.

I'm all for clean air, water, etc. but this is bureaucratic crap. I am happy to offer "freight-forwarding" for anyone who needs it. I'll buy it, have it shipped to my Washington address, and then forward it on to wherever it needs to go in CA for the original cost plus the additional shipping. It sucks, but I guarantee it will be cheaper than the new "CARB approved" cats that may or may not find their way to market.

Let me know if I can help.

[Robert Berglund]

Just an update....got an E-Mail from E-Catalytic Converter and they said that the BO099035 meets the California new CARB restrictions but they cant ship any catalytic converters to California and I would have to purchase one through the VW Dealer.

MMMMM, sounds like 7 lbs. of horseshit crammed into a 5 lb. sack.

I did call them at the 800 number posted on their web-site ,but got some other company called US Auto. After questioning them for a few minutes about a catalytic converter I came to the conclusion that I knew more about catalytic converters and why water was wet than anyone at US Auto did.

What a waste of time

[Ritter]

I'm Californian. I'm an environmentalist. I work in an environmental field. That said, California's environmental regulations are getting ridiculous. Left foot doesn't talk to the right and both are regulating walking (although California appears to have about 27 feet walking each regulation). Can't wait for my turn to have to smog again!