Sometimes NY just tries to get you any way they can…

[mudpit]

So, time for a catalytic converter on my 2011 fiesta. They’re known for going bad pretty quickly.

Doing some digging on replacements, I can get one that is the same compliance New York required in 2011 model years for just under 400 bucks.

Thanks to new emissions laws passed in 2022 and 2023, even if my car didn’t require a California compliant catalytic converter when it was manufactured, all replacements in New York must be current year CARB compliant.

I can’t even buy one in New York to replace the existing one, I would have to buy it and ship it to dad’s house in Connecticut for the current replacement. A CARB compliant one is at at least $1300. I just can’t justify spending $1300 on a catalytic converter for a car that I paid $2500 for. 

I can’t get my car inspected because it’ll fail emissions because of the catalytic converter.

I’m trying to figure out if I want to take the chance, buy the $400 one, and hope the inspection station doesn’t notice that it’s a replacement, if I’m going to buck up and spend the $1300, or just wait until I get a ticket for my car being out of inspection.

New York also recently started not allowing registration renewals unless there is a valid inspection. I just dealt with that whole mess with the XJ. (Thankfully I don’t have to worry about that until July of 2025.)

I talked to the local guy that does all of our inspections, and he said they don’t typically look for replacement catalytic converters, but if it’s obvious they have to say something. When they plug in the computer to do the emissions test, it asks them if it’s a replacement catalytic converter so that it can test for current CARB compliance versus the ones that were on a model year when it was manufactured.

Gotta love NY.

 

[Horn]

When I did a search of the differences mostly what I came up with is the CARB certified ones are supposed to have a longer lifespan.  It doesn’t sound like there would be much cleaner running, just mostly longer time before it becomes ineffective. 

I wonder if NY is going to see a slight increase in vehicles that people just fail to get inspected and registration renewed and just keep driving.

 

[YJScrounge]

That’s like requiring a home be brought to current code at every upgrade done. This is a good reason to move IMO. That said, it pulls all junk and older vehicles from the road.

 

[massxj]

if they force your cheap car off the road they get more tax money

 

[mudpit]

Best part is, 1999 and older is now exempt from emissions. Too bad I *had* to have a shiny new car


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[BC Miller]

Just go steal one.  People do it all the time.  Just make sure your sawzall has a sharp blade.

 

[redjeep]

Here is a cheap one to try.

 

[A new level]

Scuff it up and cover it in salt so it looks old lol

 

[Red Rocker]

I second Ken's recommendation, install the cheaper one throw some mud at it let it bake on and then rinse it off and then throw some other crap at it to make it look worn and original.

 

[RedJeepster1]

I’d buy the cheap one and say it was installed before the rule changed. So it’s newer, but not new.


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