Replacing Cat In CA
 

Ok, just had my engine replaced under warranty at 97k. Dealer informed me (and I can clearly tell) I need a new catalytic converter. Obviously the $2k they wanted was out of the question.

I've dug around on here and it seems that no high flow cat will pass smog here in CA. I'm also having a difficult time find an OEM replacement cat from most manufacturers that can be shipped to CA because CA is so stringent and everything I se is 49 state legal.

My questions:

1) If I can get my hand on a non-CA OEM converter, will it pass CA smog?
2) Who sells them? I checked Magnaflow and they don't show a CA converter on their website for this car.

I believe all RX-8's are 50 state compliant when they ship from Japan, so OEM cats sold in the US should pass the Cali air tests. I might be wrong on that, so don't chase me down with pitchforks if I am wrong.

If you have a friend nearby that is willing to do so, you could swap cats with him, take the emissions test and pass, then swap back to your original cat until the next time you need to take the test.

Couple of members swapped the entire exhaust system recently to get an engine replaced under warranty in one of the regional forums.

Now I would never publically recommend you do the same to get your cat replaced under warranty by having someone who is still under warranty bring your old cat in for replacement and you keep their still good, but old cat, but if you thought that up on your own, you could consider doing that.

BC.

Yes, you're wrong on that.

:nono:

:rolleyes:

Anyone have any useful LEGAL suggestions? Preferably involving buying one cat for MY car and having it on there ALL THE TIME?

I think you might have read his response incorrectly.

Bladecutter said all RX-8s are 50 state legal, therefore any Series 1 OEM cat convertor will work.

This is the OEM part number: N3Y3-20-55X


Now if your looking for an AFTERMARKET cat converter I believe there is no AFTERMARKET California legal one available. So you must use OEM.

You can probably pass the emissions test portion with an aftermarket cat but you will fail the visual inspection......

check this thread here:
https://www.rx8club.com/west-rx-8-forum-34/cat-covered-warranty-216923/

Check the "Parts For Sale" section.

I've got the visual portion covered :). Just worried about the smog, which is a year away, but more importantly I need one NOW for driveability. The one on there is toast and smells bad. I see two types on Ebay, Magnaflow 49 state (most state they will not ship here) and some other OEM replacement that is a lot cheaper coming from Canada.

Assuming I can get one, does anyone know if either would pass emissions, and if the cheap one is worth the money?

Also, the linked thread referred to a BHR midpipe and that it MIGHT pass emissions presumably with a catalyst. Has anyone confirmed this?

If it's between those choices, I'd probably go with the Magnaflow or the BHR midpipe w/cat assuming you can pass the visual inspection when time comes up. Someone's got to be able to get the Magnaflow to you....just say its for an offroad vehicle maybe???

An off-road RX8???

RX8 for track duty only or for rallying (some people have done it). That's considered off-road.