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Nov. 1, 2011 9:47 a.m. Wally SuperDork

About 30,000 miles ago I needed to replace the cat on my wife's 02 chevy Malibu. Last winter she drove about two months with the themostat open until it finally triggered a check engine light. I replaced the tstat and an oxygen sensor that was fouled from running rich. Now it seems that cat has died as well. The CEL comes on for Cat Efficency and she struggles to climb hills. I was going to change it myself this time but have some questions on which to use. Every site I look at just mentions not for use in California but I thought at some point NY started using Cali emmisions, though I can't find a date. I don't want to buy something and still get a check engine light, but I also don't want to buy something I don't need.

GM wants almost $600 plus an $80 core, which is abit more than I want to put in to this car.

Rock Auto lists the following: CATCO Part # 4863 Direct Fit; Not Legal For Sale Or Use In The State Of California Federal & California Emission vehicles. $146.99

WALKER Part # 54629 Ultra Direct Fit Converter Fed. & Calif. Emiss. Models.; Air Gap Pipe. Appearance may be different than O.E. Pipe. Air space between Pipes acts as a Heat Insulator.; Not legal for sale or use in the state of California. $221.79

WALKER Part # 54756 Ultra EX Direct Fit Converter Fed. & Calif. Emiss. Models.; Air Gap Pipe. Appearance may be different than O.E. Pipe. Air space between Pipes acts as a Heat Insulator.; Optional Ultra EX Converter - Extra Precious Metal Loading. ; Not legal for sale for vehicles licensed in the state of California $308.79

WALKER Part # 81757 CalCat Direct Fit Converter Front; Engine Family # 2GMXV03.8043.; Legal for use in the state of California. $373.79
Nov. 1, 2011 9:58 a.m. alfadriver SuperDork

As far as I have read the rules, if you are covered in the Green State numbers, the suppliers will NOT ship you a catalyst that is not legal for your state. So if they send you the cheap one, then the date that your car was made/sold in your state was under Federal rules, and not California.

And I can't recall the year New York was added to the Green State list.

that, and your car should tell you what it was built for- look for a bright yellow tag under the hood. Should be a decent stick drawing of the emissions control system.
Nov. 1, 2011 10:02 a.m. Gearheadotaku Dork

The california / green state thing is is just paperwork, it will fit the car just fine. The law wants to be sure that you're using the exact same thing the car was built with.
Nov. 1, 2011 10:07 a.m. alfadriver SuperDork

Gearheadotaku wrote:

The california / green state thing is is just paperwork, it will fit the car just fine. The law wants to be sure that you're using the exact same thing the car was built with.

Not really- some of the OBD monitors are custom to the green state hardware.

And it's not just paperwork- there are many green state cars that are not the same certification/emissions level as their federal versions. OBDII is tuned for the certified emission level, and will have different triggers.
Nov. 1, 2011 10:38 a.m. iceracer SuperDork

NYS and most of the NE follow the Cal. rules. But then again, my 2011 Fiesta window sticker says 50 state emissions. Check with DMV or an inspection station. I know upstate NY is visual. If they see it, it's OK
Nov. 1, 2011 10:53 a.m. 44Dwarf Dork

They taste like chicken...what else did you need to know.

Should state on sticker under the hood what level it was built with and they is all you need to maintain it too. They can not force you to use Cali standards if the car was not built for them.
Nov. 1, 2011 3:30 p.m. Curmudgeon SuperDork

In California, you can't substitute an aftermarket catalyst for an OE. Period. That's why the Websites all say 'not for California'. An aftermarket catalyst can be better than OE and fart clouds of pine scent but it's still not Cali legal. NY adopted Cali emission standards for pollutant output but not necessarily all of the added 'this number only' BS like that. Also, if the boss's car was built before NY adopted Cali rules then you are in good shape and it appears that it was. http://www.dieselnet.com/standards/us/
Nov. 2, 2011 7:47 p.m. TIGMOTORSPORTS Reader

Check Magnaflow also. I recently replaced the factory CAT on my wife's 2000 Sunfire with a Magnaflow bolt on CAT (headpipe and CAT together) for the same price as the CATCO through Summit Racing.

It is slightly louder, but I did notice more power,better MPG.