"I'm selling my beloved Syncro, only to out of state buyers, or moving out
of this insane dysfunctional state."

Oops, sorry, just an idle threat, luckily it is Friday :).

I already bought one of the "regular" CATs from Van Cafe, $145.00. (but just
got notice they are on special this month for $130.00) and some sparkin'
plugs. Sitting in the garage, should get to it tomorrow.  Gonna try that,
and maybe also some HEET; there was a report here on the list a couple of
weeks ago that HEET will blow it all out or something like that -- gotta
study that approach more before I try it.

Roland

On Fri, Oct 2, 2009 at 12:42 PM, Roland <syncronicity1@gmail.com> wrote:

> Dug,
>
> BTDT: I did apply to for the CAP program (Customer Assistance Program) and
> got approved.  This means that CA will pay something like $500 of repairs
> after I pay the first $100.  This only works at one of the approved smog
> repair facilities, you have to select one from the list they send with the
> approval package.  Well... no joy.  The bill there was another $163.80.  All
> they did was debug; found that one cylinder was lower in compression than
> the others, so they would do no further repairs. They had no metric on what
> compression is too low, just a judgement call on their part.  Now, I told
> them that the CAT was bad and that was my requested service from them.  But
> of course how could they possibly have done what the customer requests!!!
> No, the shop does what they want, and the customer pays.  It was one of
> those shops where, when I dropped it off, I gave them as much information as
> possible to help, and they always reply with "we'll take a look at it".
>
> Instead they gave me an estimate of $2,266.72 to do a valve job.  Evidently
> the CA law is that they can do no repairs unless the car is in "fuel
> control", and their interpretation was they have to do a valve job to get it
> in fuel control.  They refused to put on one of these handy-dandy new super
> CATs unless the car is in fuel control.  Of course I could have spent the
> $2,266.72, but that was just a first step, then they probably would have
> found other stuff including a new CAT for $500.00  So I blew my CAP
> assistance opportunity on paying them $100.00 while the state covered the
> $63.80.
>
> I'm selling my beloved Syncro, only to out of state buyers, or moving out
> of this insane dysfunctional state.
>
> Roland
>
> On Fri, Oct 2, 2009 at 12:02 PM, Dug Smith <dug@dugbert.com> wrote:
>
>>  Hi Roland,
>>
>> Yup, that's the one I saw, but here:
>>
>> http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=390090571235&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT
>>
>> The thing is, you have to cut and weld it in :o(
>>
>> I'm tempted to use the BAR "they pay to help fix it" process.  As a matter
>> of interest, what were your readings?  I've had it suggested that it could
>> be a inlet / exhaust leak somewhere, too.  A friend suggested just running a
>> bunch of ethanol in the gas to get it to burn so hot that everything
>> passes...
>>
>>  ------------------------------
>> *From:* Roland [mailto:syncronicity1@gmail.com]
>> *Sent:* Friday, October 02, 2009 10:23 AM
>> *To:* Dug Smith
>> *Subject:* Re: California catalytic converter needed
>>
>> Here is one that I found, since I am still struggling with the same
>> problem:
>>
>>
>> http://www.car-sound.com/02product/displayuniversal01.asp?catalogid=61597&universal=39034
>> $390.16
>>
>> or start with the products page, then select the vehicle/year, be sure to
>> select "Volkswagen Truck" from the one drop down.
>> http://www.car-sound.com/02product/shopdisplayproducts.asp
>> This list actually shows 3 cats associated with the Vanagon (at least for
>> the 1989 like mine).
>>
>> Unfortunately this subject goes back to early August when I was doing the
>> learning and research on the subject, so I can't recall exactly how I found
>> this one.
>>
>> I speaking with smog shops (and others) evidently there are now 3
>> manufacturers that make the newly acceptable cat, seems I have a vague
>> memory that perhaps the CA smog web site lists them, or something like
>> that.  There are also discussions on this subject over on thesamba.
>>
>> I can find nobody who understands the new CA BAR rules.  Evidently there
>> is no information about why the old OEM model CAT is no longer acceptable,
>> or why it's performance is not as good as these new ones that are required.
>> Keep in mind that these are rules for the certified SMOG repair shops, there
>> is nothing that prevents you from installing an old style CAT (for ways less
>> $) and then seeing if it will pass.  The SMOG testers don't know the
>> details, they'll just look for a CAT being present.
>>
>> In my case I've already dumped $500.00 into the subject, with no joy.
>> Everything runs just fine, all is well, but the government insists on
>> sucking money out of us!  But one shop did a before and after test of the
>> cat, using that little tap port, and stated that mine was bad.  So that is
>> the path I am now going down.
>>
>> Roland
>>
>>
>> On Thu, Oct 1, 2009 at 3:02 PM, Dug Smith <dug@dugbert.com> wrote:
>>
>>> So, I took my '85 for its smog test, and it failed:
>>>
>>> 15mph  14.1%CO2 0.3%O2 108HC 0.56%CO 2656NOx
>>> 25mph  14.4%CO2 0.1%O2  54HC 0.35%CO 1111NOx
>>>
>>> The problem being the NOx at 15mph - 2656PPM where 1085 is allowed (at
>>> 25mph, 1120 is allowed, so I'm close on that, too).  I'm told that this
>>> is
>>> probably a catalytic converter problem, and it's likely that my 11,000
>>> mile,
>>> 3 year old Emico is dead.
>>>
>>> I've started looking around for a cat, but it's hard to find one for
>>> California, as they have the new laws about them that came into effect
>>> 1/1.
>>>
>>>
>>> Any suggestions?  I'm tempted to get a Magnaflow that needs to be welded
>>> in
>>> where the old one was... Does anybody have any experience with these?
>>>  Does
>>> it even follow that the problem is definitely the catalytic converter?  I
>>> understand the engine mechanics, but the emissions stuff is all Klingon
>>> to
>>> me...
>>>
>>> toodle pip,
>>> --
>>>       Dug Smith         | Terry Pratchett: It's almost
>>> (mailto:dug@dugbert.com) |  impossible to ride a rock and roll
>>> (http://www.dugbert.com) |  motorbike and stay on for three verses.
>>>
>>
>>
>