This has been covered before... the main reason California is requiring all
new catalytic converters to meet OBD-II standards is to improve the overall
quality of the cats sold in CA.  OBD-II cats must come with 50k mile/5 year
warranties.

That pretty much eliminates those cheap $100 Vanagon cats.

Cheers,

Jeff

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Scott Daniel - Turbovans
Sent: Monday, February 09, 2009 5:51 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: new CARB rules for cats in Calif?

thanks for posting the Jerry.
I'll be real curious to find out what the real deal is......
since what's quoted below doesn't make a lot of sense.

partly what doesn't make sense, as far as I know, is that a cat for a 1996
car, for example, isn't any different in how it works from a cat from a 1986
car ...........
the later cat might have a spot of a post-cat oxygen sensor .........
but the material used in the cat isn't different or anything like that, as
far as I know.....
it's the entire engine management system that's different in OBD-II compared
to OBD-I and pre-OBD cars.

what they are leaving out is the very very fine print ....the fine print
from Ca that says ( we, the State of California,  are trying to get all
older cars off the road in Ca. )

----- Original Message -----
From: "azsun99" <azsun99@EARTHLINK.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Monday, February 09, 2009 1:43 PM
Subject: new CARB rules for cats in Calif?

>I was browsing a parts catalog (not one of the usual list vendors) and when
>I looked
> up the catalytic converter for a '90 Vanagon, there was this note on the
> page:
>    "With oxygen sensor hole. New CARB regulations that went into effect on
> January 1,
> 2009 now require all exhaust catalyst devices that are sold in California
> regardless
> of model year must meet the tougher OBD II emission standards that were
> introduced in
> the 1996 model year. Until further notice, this catalytic converter should
> not be used
> on vehicles registered in California."
>
> Anyone in California subject to CARB rules care to comment?
>
> Just wondering.
>
> Jerry