Colorado Catalytic Laws

[Chestercopperpot]

Looking in getting a new catalytic convertor for my 1.9l.

In 2021, Colorado adopted CARB standards and thus I am to purchase a Cali/ Co approved cat at a cost of over 4x that of a universal. 1200 v. 300

All things aside, I understand I shouldn't be able to purchase a universal or have one installed for me, but just how exactly would they emissions shop know I have a new cat? Or installed one 2 years ago that I purchased 4 years Or, a good used one I had laying around.

How could they differentiate between one I installed yesterday versus 3 years ago when 49 state cats were available?

Im on a budget and plan to swap to a 2.5 once I am thru emissions, the 1200 spent on a new Cali/ Co cat is crazy, I'd be willing to throw $300 for a new part but $1200 for a temp part leaves me scratching my head.

Anyone have a Cali/Co cat for rent? I can send a deposit electronically.

Thanks for the input

[Californio]

The first thing I'd do is get some of that magic "guaranteed to pass" gas additive at the FLAPS. The second thing I'd do is take the van to some sketchy neighborhood and find a "pass or don't pay" smog test place. Somehow they all seem to pass...done it many times.

If you absolutely have to buy a CA cat, wouldn't it work on your new 2.5 when the time comes?

[Chestercopperpot]

[skills@eurocarsplus]

unless your emissions tag says CA emissions, i'd put a 49 state cat in there, just like it left the factory.

i don't see how any state can mandate older cars pass CA emissions when they clearly weren't built for that (Colorado) market
_________________

[r39o]

[do.dah]

I've used a product called "Oxicat" on 2, non-vanagons as a hail mary on cars failing emissions.
I had done the basic tune ups, and still failed, and didn't want to pay for a cat.
Seemed like the stuff actually worked.
Even though I don't hafta deal with emissions anymore, I still put a bottle in my tank about every year.

[syncrodoka]

You can reuse the cat on a subaru conversion with a smallcar exhaust, don't know about other systems.
If the cat looks new they will look for the carb numbers stamped in the body. A old cat with new hardware can be easily explained as having fixed an exhaust leak since that is often something that will make the engine run rich and fail.

[Abscate]

Skills is right on this. There is another CO thread floating which quotes the regs as you have to meet your placard, which will be a Fed placard in CO.

I don’t think CO adapting CA regs includes upgrading every car registered from Fed to CA

They have adopted the ‘later of the engine or car” policy for engine swapping though.
_________________
.ssS!

[mikemtnbike]

As I said in the CO thread, the Clean Air Act affords CA the right to have more stringent standards as they were already in place. It also affords other states the right to adopt CA standards if they so choose. When the previous federal administration chose to scrap their predecessors' plans to proceed with expanded clean air regulations, some states chose to enact their existing right to adopt CA standards. This is why vendors now list the "stock" cat as a 46-state cat, not 49.

Please note this is not a political post one way or the other. I am just stating the facts as I understand them.
_________________
1991 Vanagon GL 2.1 AT Westfauxlia. "Frankie" Totaled https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=764510&highlight=carnage
1995 Eurovan Camper "Marzivan"
2020 GTI SE manual

[Wellington]

Are you saying that the car sold in Colorado that met all emissions at the time of sale, must now some 35 years later meet the more stringent emissions of a California vehicle, which it never met when new?
I thought Putin was insane.

[Abscate]

snip for new cars

[skills@eurocarsplus]

[jimf909]

[bobbyblack]

[Corwyn]

Not a problem here in Washington, but does this mean there are NO classic vehicles in Colorado?
_________________
'90 White Westy ("The Longship")
FAS Gen V 2.0
The Annual Baja Rally
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=604813&highlight=baja

"If anything's" gonna happen, it's gonna happen out there"
~ Captain Ron ~

[Butcher]

I had a friend move to CA with a diesel that did not have CA emissions. To register the car, he had to pay a 'fine' so it could be registered. This was a few years ago and I do understand laws change.

There is more than a catalyst that makes it CA approved. I highly doubt if putting in a CA converter is required but it's not my problem to deal with.

As long as society is pushing green, it's only going to get worst. I have 3 daily drivers that are 30 years or older. I do understand at some point of time, I may not be able to drive them. I'm banking on my death will happen first. I do not see some common sense coming in to save the day with these tough decisions.

[Chestercopperpot]

[valvecovergasket]

[heimlich]

You are close to Texas. Create a company in Texas. Buy an address in Texas. Buy Vanagon with company (no emissions in Texas). Drive the company Vanagon in Colorado. That's the gist. Find someone in Colorado who knows the local laws well to make it work.

You could also just register it out of state and drive it. If you get a ticket pay it. Usually, the tickets are non-moving violations so don't mean much. You need to check your local laws to see the effect of getting multiple of these types of tickets and if you are ok with that.
_________________
www.vwnos.com [email protected]
Classic Brands. Classic Quality.
Not all parts are made the same. NOS OE/OEM parts made mainly in West Germany, Early Germany, and Early Brazil are where VW produced the best quality parts and best fitting products.
5% Off your order with coupon code: 5%OFF
Restored Distributors Available (<--Click here)

[steve244]

um, all the cool guys register in Montana.

Here's a website that has the dirt. It reads like a Better Call Saul episode, so buyer beware.

https://www.dirtlegal.com/blog/why-is-everyone-registering-their-car-in-montana
_________________
82 AC vanagon approx 200K miles (3K are mine).
DD is a 2015 Leaf
Road Trip to Hell (FL 2023)
The Vanagon's drivetrain and chassis restomod thread. Best sung to the tune of I Did It My Way...