YACT: CA Emissions conversion

[43st]

Has anyone had a California emissions conversion done on a new car to get it to meet local emission laws? I live in NY and I need a California car... but I just found this out after getting my car from a non-california state. (D'oh!)

The emissions equipment is an option, I'm just not sure where it's installed; at the factory, dealership, or elsewhere? I'm calling Mazda tomorrow morning... I just thought I'd try here since ATOT has a large motorhead population. 🙂

 

[TechnoKid]

Ususally its just easier to buy the car that comes with CA emissions than to retro a non CA, because sometimes its more than just a different catylitic converter, they might have a different ECU etc.

and uhh...if you live in NY, why didn't you buy the car in NY if you needed CA emissions? (I thin NY and CA have the same emissions requirements, with CA being a little more restictive.)

 

The differences are many, including but not limited to the following ;

E.C.M. <---- $$$$$$$$$$
P.r.o.m. chip,----- $$$$$$$$$$
Wiring harness<----- Some makes only
Charcoal cannister(s)
Gas cap and/or related plumbing to and from the gas tank and engine
P.C.M. (Power train control module)

 

[43st]

Originally posted by: TechnoKid
Ususally its just easier to buy the car that comes with CA emissions than to retro a non CA, because sometimes its more than just a different catylitic converter, they might have a different ECU etc.

and uhh...if you live in NY, why didn't you buy the car in NY if you needed CA emissions? (I thin NY and CA have the same emissions requirements, with CA being a little more restictive.)

I realize that I should've purchased the car locally now, but it's a bit late for that. I honestly had no idea NY had this law, I haven't lived here very long. In the end I just screwed up by not knowing local laws. 😕

The emissions equipment is a "$0" option so I'm hoping a local dealership can convert the car without much hassle. I guess the real question is how is this stuff fitted from the start? Is this factory installed equipment or is it dealer installed equipment?

Thanks for the list Roger. I can only hope that car standardization techniques make this list shorter rather than longer. 🙁

 

[TechnoKid]

Originally posted by: Thera

Originally posted by: TechnoKid
Ususally its just easier to buy the car that comes with CA emissions than to retro a non CA, because sometimes its more than just a different catylitic converter, they might have a different ECU etc.

and uhh...if you live in NY, why didn't you buy the car in NY if you needed CA emissions? (I thin NY and CA have the same emissions requirements, with CA being a little more restictive.)

I realize that I should've purchased the car locally now, but it's a bit late for that. I honestly had no idea NY had this law, I haven't lived here very long. In the end I just screwed up by not knowing local laws. 😕

The emissions equipment is a "$0" option so I'm hoping a local dealership can convert the car without much hassle. I guess the real question is how is this stuff fitted from the start? Is this factory installed equipment or is it dealer installed equipment?

Thanks for the list Roger. I can only hope that car standardization techniques make this list shorter rather than longer. 🙁

Its a factory equipment as far as I know. I know that in california, if you register a non Californian car, you have to pay something like $300 fee for a non complying california emissions equipment car, I don't know if NY has this as well. Your car may not meet current california smog indexes and emissions, however, if you pay the fee and pass smog, I think you can register the vehicle.

 

[43st]

Update... Doesn't look good. Mazda said it was factory fitted equipment and NYSDMV (via phone) said they would not title the car.

This is so unbelievably sh!tty.

 

[NutBucket]

I was under the impression that there isn't anything extra that needs to be done. My friend's 91 Volvo doesn't have CA emissions (no EGR for example) and he doesn't have any problems registering it in Cali.

 

[43st]

Originally posted by: NutBucket
I was under the impression that there isn't anything extra that needs to be done. My friend's 91 Volvo doesn't have CA emissions (no EGR for example) and he doesn't have any problems registering it in Cali.

This is what New York State says:

[*] the vehicle has an odometer reading of more than 7,500 miles, or
[*]the vehicle was registered to you in another state when you were a resident of that state, but you are now a resident of NYS, or
[*] the vehicle was transferred to you through an inheritance or court decree, or
[*]you purchased the vehicle in another state to replace your previous vehicle that was damaged, stolen or had a mechanical failure while you were outside NYS.

EDIT: BTW, this law is new for 2004 in New York State. Here I am a sucker.

 

[NutBucket]

Oh, ok. I misread it the other way around. That's dumb. Cali has the strictest emission laws.....

 

[desertdweller]

The big problem you're going to have having an emisions sticker that says it is California emissions compliant. If you look under your hood, you'll see the emissions sticker there and where it says, in bold letters, Federal Emissions; in a California car it will say California Emissions. I don't think that sticker is allowed to be replaced by law and that will tell anyone that you take it to that it was not originally equipped with California emissions equipment.

Adding all that stuff onto your car may be a waste of money because it wasn't originally equipped.


DD