I had the same thing happen to my rabbit years ago here in California,
6 months after I installed a new cat myself. The smog tech wanted to
replace the cat. Had I been an ordinary Joe Blow I would have let him
do it. It happens all the time, they sell you new parts and then put
the same one back on, spray painted. A fresh paint sign might help.

The internet really helps us all, though, in getting input from
brethrens. Thanks Al Gore.

Matt

On Wednesday, January 15, 2003, at 02:42  PM, Harald Rust wrote:

> A few days ago, I got a email from a VW friend, who
> drives a late model vanagon camper.
> Let's call him/her Mr/Ms Q.
> So Q says, "my vanagon (auto tranny) runs very well,
> 20 mpg on the freeway, no smoke, no loss of
> power, no complaints."
> Smog inspection is coming up, so Q takes his/her
> vanagon to a mechanic that Q hasn't been to before
> to have it prepped for smog test.
> The mechanic does something unknown, then tells
> Q at length, that the "catalytic converter is weak
> and the O2 sensor is not working, and he can't get
> a reading. It also might need a new or rebuilt ecu."
> The mechanic doesn't specify what reading he's talking
> about.
> So Q, asks me "what's your opinion?"
> So I write back,
> in no uncertain terms to Q,
> "If your vanagon runs well, doesn't smoke, gets
> 20 mpg with automatic, and you don't have any
> complaints, then there's nothing wrong with it,
> and the mechanic could be trying to pull one over
> on you. Go to a different mechanic or just have
> the smog emissions tested. If it doesn't pass,
> then have it fixed."
> So Q brings his/her vanagon over to official smog
> testing, and the vanagon passes with no problem.
> End of story, and lots of money saved.
> So what do you think? Was the mechanic trying
> to rip Q off for unnecessary repairs?
> It makes one wonder.
> Harald
> '90 westy
>
>
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