1999 Toyota Avalon in CA Needs 49-State Emissions CAT

I have a 49 state emissions Toyota Avalon. I brought to CA. I registered it and it passed the smog test in 2012. It just failed the smog check in 2014. The shop said by looking at my results there is nothing in the catalytic converter. They can't put on a new one cause the CA model had 2 cats on the manifolds. I have a single catalytic converter. The shop can't order an aftermarket one because I need permission from the state. The state said I have to buy the original CAT from the Toyota dealer for $1800!! I could get a cat welded in for 450 if the state would let me use a single CA cat. What do I do? Car is worth 4 K and I want to keep it a couple more years. Can I put my own out of state cat on since thats what the car came with? What does it matter as long as thats what the car had on it? It will produce less smog with a functional cat. Please offer any suggestions.

Answer:

Unfortunately, the state is correct. At this point your only options are to install an original (not aftermarket) catalytic converter on your 49-state emission legal 1999 Toyota Avalon, which can only be obtained from the dealer. The California CAT won't work because of your Avalon exhaust configuration, and the 49-State legal CAT can not be shipped to California.

With that being said... the second option you have is to drive your Toyota Avalon to the nearest auto repair shop outside of California and have the catalytic converter replaced. It's the dealership alternative without breaking any California smog laws (in terms of having a 49-state emission CAT somehow shipped to CA, or purchased illegally through a muffler shop)... neither of which we recommend.

posted by SmogTips Support