Date: Tue, 23 Jun 2009 18:48:09 -0400
Reply-To: Jeff <vw.doka@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Jeff <vw.doka@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Emissions failure Nox (the epilogue)
In-Reply-To: <326845.17947.qm@web33607.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
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)
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