Oh No, I'm moving to CA...
 

I first apologize if I'm asking questions that have already been answered; I've been searching and searching and can't find the answer I'm looking for.

I'm moving to California and I looked up and understand that aftermarket parts like intakes and exhaust have to have the Executive Order number to be legal. I drive an environment destruction machine version of an RX8. I bought it from a dealer to discover that the cat had been gutted a year after having purchased it. It has the Mazdaspeed CAI and Cat back exhaust on it as well. The intake has the C.A.R.B. E.O. number on it, so that's good. I cannot find one for the exhaust. I was hoping someone might know where I could find it or if it is not CA legal.

I know I have to replace the gutted cat. I drove the car for a year and a half without a CEL. Then it threw the "Catalyst operating below threshold" code one day. The car was still under warranty period for the cat so I took it to a dealer and discovered that it had been gutted. Would any have any idea why it only intermittently shows the CEL? It comes on every now and then, but will go back out after a couple days.

Thank you for any help.

Mazdaspeed CAI and Catback are OEM Mazda, Mazdaspeed accessory parts. They are not considered Aftermarket parts so you should not have a problem with those.

I'm not sure the year of your 8, but all CATS are under an 8y80k mile warranty required by law.

Not all RX-8s throw the CEL for no-cat. Some do all the time, some never do, and many flip between showing it and not showing it.


The reason of why it does this is something we have never been able to really answer conclusively.

So you really had no idea that the cat was gutted when you bought it? If so, thats good for you. It is illegal to sell a vehicle with emissions equipment removed or disabled, so you need to take it back to the dealer and raise hell. Make sure they know that you know them selling you the car like that was illegal. I would even mention lawyers. I guarantee with enough pressure they will replace it for free.

You might want to double check but the last time I took my car to get inspected for a "fix-it" ticket, you can have an aftermarket exhaust as long as it is below 95 db at 4,000 RPM. This was back in 2009 when I was still stationed at Travis AFB in Fairfield, CA (NorCal). They will do a visual and sniffer test as well for emissions. I failed the first time with a RP cat and Tanabe ultra medalion exhaust with the silencers installed, I had to re-install the oem cat just so I can barely pass.

Thanks for the info, that does help. And yes, I legit had no idea the cat was gutted. The only problem is I bought the car two years ago and after two years they can say I did it myself. There is no way to prove that I purchased it that way. If I had discovered this within weeks or a few months of purchasing the car I could probably get them to fix it, but I highly doubt they will work with me now. Also I don't live near that dealer anymore. I bought it in Pensacola, FL and currently am in Meridian, MS; soon to be Lemoore, CA.