1997 LX 450 Aftermarket Catalytic Converter CARB Woes...

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I had to deal with this with a past 80. I just went to my preferred muffler shop and they installed the Magnaflow California approved ones. It cam out to about $600 if I remember correctly. Living in the megatropolis of SD/OC/LA I fully support smog requirement laws. I could see why guys who live out in more rural areas don't see a need for it.
 
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dallen341 said:
Interesting that Magnaflow lists the front cat on their website as p/n 447103 and rear as 447217 and both are listed as Tier 1 Direct Fit, with EO # D-193-103.

http://www.magnaflow.com/catalytic-converters/california/products

Don
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You probably searched for the 97 Land Cruiser or the 96 LX 450.
I'm having problems with the 97 LX 450...
 
baldilocks said:
What if your cats got stolen like my neighbor's did right here in front of his house?
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you'd need to make absolutely certain that you have the shop install the one authorized for the exact make, model, year...and hope it's not one that fell through the cracks like it appears the 97 LX 450 has...
 
Beej said:
If it passes, who's to say that wasnt your old cat that you have now put back on? If they manage to screw you on the aftermarket cat, which I hope doesn't happen, how could you not tell a white lie? I'd go to the mattresses for that 2000 since it's a large portion of the cars value.
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I'm "in the system" now as not having the OEM cat installed...
but this might work for others, I suppose...or maybe it could work for me too...I'll make sure I ask the powers-that-be...
 
bajaphile said:
I had to deal with this with a past 80. I just went to my preferred muffler shop and they installed the Magnaflow California approved ones. It cam out to about $600 if I remember correctly. Living in the megatropolis of SD/OC/LA I fully support smog requirement laws. I could see why guys who live out in more rural areas don't see a need for it.
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again...I'm not anti smog or clean air laws...well...as long as everyone has to play along too...but that's a whole different topic for discussion...

my specific issue seems to be that my specific vehicle doesn't seem to have an aftermarket cat option...
 
NorCalDoug said:
Yes. I found that same link and printed the document. I may be able to argue that the 1997 Land Cruiser uses the same TEST GROUP NAME as the 1997 LX 450.
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This is a good direction to take, since it is THE EXACT SAME EVERYTHING under the hood...

So you're "in the system ...", does that mean that you've passed legally all these years and they "know" that you have an aftermarket cat?

Sometimes you just have to go to a different smog monkey.
 
surfpig said:
This is a good direction to take, since it is THE EXACT SAME EVERYTHING under the hood...

So you're "in the system ...", does that mean that you've passed legally all these years and they "know" that you have an aftermarket cat?

Sometimes you just have to go to a different smog monkey.
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They rescinded the make/model aftermarket cat after my last smog check...which I had passed.
I seriously considered going to the local quasi-tweeker smog shop to see if they'd skip the visual, but didn't want to take the chance.
I've had the aftermarket cat for 8 years, it hasn't mattered until now. No one actually looked at it until this year. I suspect that the problem with the CARB system was around when I got the cat installed because they changed the model year on the paperwork from indicating 97 to show 96...

What I meant by "in the system" is that because I'm now working with the Smog Referee, they know that my vehicle has a non-compliant cat installed. So...I don't know what would happen if I were to show up to a smog shop with an OEM cat and passed the test.

I want to think that somewhere along the way they'd cross-check the systems...but I strongly suspect that Cali's computer systems aren't that sophisticated...
 
NorCalDoug said:
I want to think that somewhere along the way they'd cross-check the systems...but I strongly suspect that Cali's computer systems aren't that sophisticated...
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:lol:

Sorry, that's just funny (not really). You've got three, maybe four, or more, agencies trying to cobble this system together. Things are bound to be fxxxed up.

:doh:
 
surfpig said:
:lol:

Sorry, that's just funny (not really). You've got three, maybe four, or more, agencies trying to cobble this system together. Things are bound to be ****ed up.

:doh:
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agreed. so...I might be able to fly under the radar...
 
Can you rent a cat from someone just to pass the smog check?

Also, screw CARB. I will never forgive the state of California for what they did to portable gas cans that are now stupid expensive, pour slow, and spill gas everywhere. The whole state needs to slide off into the ocean and leave the rest of us alone with their red tape.
 
Good Luck Doug! I was asked a question at one smog shop on whether I still had my original cats. Walked away sure he would fail me immediately w/o even looking if I said they were aftermarket...approved CARB or not!

Son and I were just talking last night about whether American Toyota was still offering up mud discounts or not. Local dealer is a pain to deal with when it comes to internet price matching.
 
Doug, you don't have a cat skid plate that would take them 2 hours to take off in order to do a visual, I take it...? mmm....
 
mct75 said:
The whole state needs to slide off into the ocean and leave the rest of us alone with their red tape.
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Not the whole state. We just need to trim some fat.

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I am curious how this cat thing plays out since I have a '97 LX450 too and suspect my cats are beginning to fail.
 
mct75 said:
Can you rent a cat from someone just to pass the smog check?

Also, screw CARB. I will never forgive the state of California for what they did to portable gas cans that are now stupid expensive, pour slow, and spill gas everywhere. The whole state needs to slide off into the ocean and leave the rest of us alone with their red tape.
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You can still buy the old spouts for the gas cans. I got some at Menards and put them back on all of my cans that had the new spouts.

Does anyone have any idea how those ever passed muster? As noted, the new style spouts shoot gas all over the place, no matter how careful you are. I can't see any way that this is an improvement.
 
Red Merle said:
Does anyone have any idea how those ever passed muster? As noted, the new style spouts shoot gas all over the place, no matter how careful you are. I can't see any way that this is an improvement.
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This was probably the best revision of a terrible idea. When they looked at their earlier versions, this design didn't seem quite as boneheaded.
 
Also, the new style (or at least the 3 kinds I have in my garage) are just about impossible to pour into a car's gas tank. Either you're at such a funky angle that you can't open up the flap in the filler, or the gas can is horizontal and you can only pour out the top third of the gas can. Normally a gallon or so ends up on the side of my truck and on the ground.

Yeah, you can buy the spouts to retrofit gas cans so they actually work, but it's crazy to have to spend another $10 fixing what is already a $30 plastic jug.
 
I ran into the same exact issue with my 1996 bronco 351 while living in Cal. Only change from 95 to 96 was the addition of ODBII controls, same cats as 95. After the 2009 law change there was no legal part replacement part for my vehicle. 96 was the last year of the 351 and no manufacturer would pay again to certify a cat for a single engine and year. I ended up getting it registered out of state to keep it on the road. With the non-carb 49 state replacement my smog tests were lower than 60% of the vehicles tested in Cal. If would only fail the visual inspection. Money was the only reason it wasn't legal in Cal!

I'm not sure how good my cats are on my 96 LC(182K) but I plan on upgrading to a high flow single since I'm no longer restricted by money grubbing legislation. Let me know if you are interested in a cheep used solution.
 
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