Yeah he did take you. The cat you needed was only 100.00. I think he was
playing off CA
new rules where it must have the "special labeling" ect... on it. Supposed
to be visible from a certain distance blah blah blah...I just hope CT
doesn't adopt CA rules!!!

Bill
87 Westy
with a new $99.00 Cat just installed

On Tue, Jun 23, 2009 at 6:48 PM, Jeff <vw.doka@gmail.com> wrote:

> David,
>
> You definitely got screwed on that catalytic converter.  Only the
> air-cooled
> Vanagons had different cats for the CA models.  What a bunch of crap he was
> spouting...
>
> He made an extra $300+ off of you by welding a generic cat onto the old
> flanges.
>
> Oh well, at least you're legal again.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Jeff
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> David M
> Sent: Tuesday, June 23, 2009 5:42 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Emissions failure Nox (the epilogue)
>
> My 1987 2.1L Vanagon finally passed the emissions.... The total bill $985.
> Pretty expensive if you ask me to reduce the Nox from 5.5 grams per mile to
> just under 2 grams per mile. I did get the oil changed, a tune-up and
> injector seals replaced. He also replaced the radiator fan switch with a
> 'special one for Arizona'. Now here is where I need the lists help. The
> shop
> owner spun me a tale about needing a 'special' California catalytic
> converter because a non-CA one would need the exhaust to be repiped. I did
> not know at the time but it turns out this was total b*llsh*t. He told me a
> new one would be $795 but he knew of a mechanic 'buddy' who had one he
> could
> fit for $500. The catalytic converter by the way was $500 of the bill (a
> sublet repair - no idea who did it). I looked at the cat and it has no o2
> port on it. It's just a cylindrical unit with thick seams on each side.
> Also, it appears that whoever did the job cut off the old cat at the pipes
> leaving
>  the flanges behind and welded in the new cat. The new cat has no sticker
> on
> it (federally mandated?), I also did not get any warrantly card with my
> bill. Does anyone know if this is legal?
> Another strange thing, the shop owner drove the van and got it through the
> emissions himself - which means I have no idea what he wrote on the back of
> the failure certificate (the repairs made to pass). I did not ask him to do
> this and was very surprised when I found out.
> The repair shop was German Auto-Tec of Main Street, Mesa. It got great
> reviews on the website I checked. But somehow I feel I was fleeced on this
> one.
>
> -David (Tempe AZ)
>