STREETFIGHTER50

For my 1999 Civic DX/VP. I have to replace my cracked stock manifold/cat. Has anyone passed Cali SMOG with any of these aftermarket non-Cali legal manifolds?

ATP 101122 Exhaust Manifold - $160.44

Dorman 674-439 Exhaust Manifold - $169.99

ezone

How big is the crack? Some have said it can be brazed.


If you buy a non-CARB approved aftermarket cat and you get caught, you just wasted a pile of loot.

If you go ahead and do this and then expect to get an honest, licensed smog tech to "look the other way" and jeopardize his smog license, his livelihood, and the welfare of the shop he works in, you are out of your freeking mind.


Do it right and you won't have to worry about it.



On another note:
Cheapo parts are cheap for a reason.

STREETFIGHTER50

Its the common crack at the o2 sensor. Last time it needed smog i took it off & had it welded up. Passed smog clean, but the crack/weld opened up again a week later & check light came back on again throwing the P0420 code again. The car runs awesome with 210k on the clock. I just wana know if anyone passes clean thru the sniffer with the 49 state cats? They dont even look for any numbers coz its just like the factory replacement. IMO passing clean thru the exaust pipe is what really counts anyway right? What's the differences between the 49 state vs Cali cat anyway. They physically look identicle. Can somebody chime in on this?

ezone

It all depends on what sort of testing your area does. Some may sniff the tailpipe, some may plug in and read the computer. Some might do both. Most do a visual AFAIK.

You can't see what is inside the cat, where it counts. The amount of precious metals, the size, amount, and construction of the substrate, the capacity, the expected lifespan, and the warranty.

CARB approved units are built to better standards (more stringent specs) than 49 state units. (Actually, it's like 40 states since about 10 model their emissions test programs after California.)


The PCM may decide it doesn't like a cheapo cat right away and set a P0420 again far too soon (months). A factory cat may last 150k or more if all stays well with the engine.
Also, misfire can kill a cat in a matter of only a few minutes. Even if the cat is new.



49 state cat might have a 1 year warranty. (Cheap is cheap for a reason.)
CARB approved cat I believe has a 5 year/50,000 mile warranty.
OE cat had 8/80 warranty.

California rules may have upped that warranty significantly on newer cars, maybe to 10/150k (guess).

HTH

ezone

Try welding the manifold while it is bolted onto the engine this time---right before you get it tested?

STREETFIGHTER50

I might just fork out for the Cali version. I'll make sure to check the warranty limits 1st. Thanks ezone for the info!