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My 2001 Honda Civic failed the CA smog check... UPDATE: Need a cat-converter

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Originally posted by: V00DOO
Originally posted by: MrsBugi
Originally posted by: CrackRabbit
Just as a note, catalytic converters are covered by a federally mandated 8 year 80000 mile warranty.
If the cat-con is bad it should be replaced for free.
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I wasn't aware of this - excellent info, thank you CrackRabbit. :thumbsup: Does this still apply if I initially purchased it as a salvage vehicle?
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The 8/80,000 for cats also apply to Salvaged title vehicles, but go luck getting the Honda dealer to replace them with the car throwing OBDII cat efficiency codes.
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You also have to prove the fuel filters were changed at the scheduled intervals.
 
Originally posted by: dethman
if you smogged the car last year why'd you have to get it smogged again?
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The paperwork states "change of ownership" as the reason. Odd, since I've been the only owner since 2002.
 
premium fuel in an car that DOES NOT require it will make you fail it.. cause the gas will not combust properly.

I would really suggest driving a lot before the smog check so the cat can warm up thoguh.

Change your air filter, plugs and wires.. it will do wonders.. and what ever you do, dont run premium when you are going to smog your car.

I did that once by accident.. nearly failed it.

Last time i went, i passed with flying colors. Make sure you drive it quite a bit before you go to the smog.. the NOX is coming from a non working / not warm enough cat.
 
yup premium fuel has nothing to do with emissions. no benifit at all for a civic. its only about high compression engines and preventing preignition. look it up at howstuffworks.com

did you change the oil before or after the test?
 
Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
yup premium fuel has nothing to do with emissions. no benifit at all for a civic. its only about high compression engines and preventing preignition. look it up at howstuffworks.com

did you change the oil before or after the test?
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After, apparently my oil was low. I also had my filters changed ($50, yikes!).

So putting in premium gas won't help my civic at all? Argh. I guess I'll drive it around for a bit beforehand and just try again today instead of putting in premium gas and then going in on Friday.
 
I don't see premium helping, but changing spark plugs, filters, etc may help marginally. Most important thing is to drive around 10-15 mins to warm the cat up, like others have said.
 
Originally posted by: MrsBugi
...at the 15mph level, the ppm for NO was 750, and the max allowable is 450 or so.

Is there any truth to the second reply to this question?

I had an oil change yesterday and will be going in for a second try tomorrow. If the "putting in premium fuel" and driving around on the highway to heat up the catalytic converter actually works, then I'll go in for my second try at the end of this week.

I'm really surprised it failed, since it passed last year without a problem.
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Have you read your manual to see what the minimum octane fuel your supposed to use is? If you've been putting in the lowest grade when it says in the manual to use premium - and you've been doing that all of its life then yes that tip you received might do something.
 
Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
yup premium fuel has nothing to do with emissions. no benifit at all for a civic. its only about high compression engines and preventing preignition. look it up at howstuffworks.com

did you change the oil before or after the test?
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I agree with you, but depending on the Civic it might require high octane fuel. It just depends on which one she bought. If the manual says to use 87 minimum then just use 87, if it says it requires 91 then you want to use at least 91 octane. As you said, if you use premium when it isn't required, that could cause issues - the same as using the low grade fuel when premium is required
 
My car failed the smog test again this morning, so I took it in for a diagnostic today. I was told that I will need a new catalytic converter, and that the part isn't under warranty since it's a salvage vehicle. For the part, labor, and sparkplugs, I was quoted between $800-1200+ between different automotive repair shops. Is that the going rate for a cat converter+labor these days? Ouch!
 
$1200 seems a touch on the high side to me. I'm guessing that cat probably runs about $500, but I base that on absolutely nothing so take it with a grain of salt 😛
 
Originally posted by: MrsBugi
My car failed the smog test again this morning, so I took it in for a diagnostic today. I was told that I will need a new catalytic converter, and that the part isn't under warranty since it's a salvage vehicle. For the part, labor, and sparkplugs, I was quoted between $800-1200+ between different automotive repair shops. Is that the going rate for a cat converter+labor these days? Ouch!
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Sounds about right.

If you drive older cars you need to budget for this or put a few dollars away each month for repairs.....consider it your car payment after you're done paying the loan. $20-50 or so just to take the sting out of majors like this. Best case scenario you never need it and you use it for a vacation to Fiji.
 
Originally posted by: HeroOfPellinor
Originally posted by: MrsBugi
My car failed the smog test again this morning, so I took it in for a diagnostic today. I was told that I will need a new catalytic converter, and that the part isn't under warranty since it's a salvage vehicle. For the part, labor, and sparkplugs, I was quoted between $800-1200+ between different automotive repair shops. Is that the going rate for a cat converter+labor these days? Ouch!
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Sounds about right.

If you drive older cars you need to budget for this or put a few dollars away each month for repairs.....consider it your car payment after you're done paying the loan. $20-50 or so just to take the sting out of majors like this. Best case scenario you never need it and you use it for a vacation to Fiji.
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Sigh. I didn't think a 2001 was that old of a car, but since it's a salvage I might as well be driving something from the 60s. Thanks for the tip, I'll definitely start doing that until I can get a new car.
 
Originally posted by: Mike2002
What was the reason for the salvage title if you dont mind saying?
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I'm not sure, when I bought it back in 2002 the seller told me that the engine, etc. had to be replaced after a front-end collision. Apparently it was pretty bad.
 
A few months ago I had a new catalytic converter and flex joint installed on my '93 Corolla. It cost about $500 total. Guy didn't charge the usual full retail markup on parts so that saved me over $100. IIRC the cat was under $200. Don't have my receipt here at work to check...
 
Originally posted by: OS
wait if your cat is bad shouldn't you atleast have a check engine light
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Nope, the check engine light isn't on.

They said that everything in the car is perfect... except for the cat-converter, which isn't good enough for me to pass the smog test.

My ASM Emission Test Results pass everything except for NO. The Max PPM at 15mph is 477, the average is 16, and my car measured 781.
 
Originally posted by: FeuerFrei
A few months ago I had a new catalytic converter and flex joint installed on my '93 Corolla. It cost about $500 total. Guy didn't charge the usual full retail markup on parts so that saved me over $100. IIRC the cat was under $200. Don't have my receipt here at work to check...
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That's an awesome price! I guess I just have to keep price checking. Apparently I need spark plugs too (platinum?), which are an extra $100 or so.
 
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