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California catalytic converter

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by Katsurimi, Jul 11, 2023.

  1. Katsurimi

    Katsurimi New Member

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    So I'm looking at catalytic converters on eBay and they seem great.

    But I believe if they were meant for California, are supposed to have a serial number printed on them.

    I don't know much about cars so I'm trying my best here.

    My other option is to buy a set of magnaflow catalytic converters but I don't know what exactly I'm supposed to buy.

    I have the money saved it's just a matter of what do I do?

    Any help would be greatly appreciated, I'm a carless mom and it sucks :'c
     
  2. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    You have to buy a catalytic converter that's probably not on eBay that's made I think by MagnaFlow or Toyota they will advertise the fact that they are carb California air research board certified that will be a big selling point and make them cost a lot of money. The stuff you see on eBay for $120 is legal where I live but they still don't put the light off and just beware when you change your converter in California your light may not go off You may spend another whole bunch of money trying to get the light off which will have to be in your state in my state I don't have to have the light off where you live you will. I don't know the difference between the carb certified non Toyota converters and the Toyota converters as far as the difference in price goes I would say buy the cheaper one as long as it has the carb certification it'll be on paper etc California can probably tell you who those manufacturers and suppliers are.
     
  3. AzusaPrius

    AzusaPrius Senior Member

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    Only Magnaflow is CARB compliant and then there is OEM but may be a wait list.

    Sometimes there is a wait time for Magnaflow, I waited a year until they were back in stock.

    When you go the Magnflow way, just go to their website and enter your car details and they will list what is for your car.

    I paid $3K for mine, get on their email list if they are out of stock!!!
     
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  4. andrewassurance83

    andrewassurance83 New Member

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    Yup, you will be safe with Magnaflow catalytic converters.
     
  5. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    would seem to me. If everything is back ordered nothing can be delivered nothing can happen. The place where you live should have something in place to make things happen not just tell you you have to spend $30,000 on a new car or whatever the answer is thank God I am in none of those carb compliant states and never would be personally No one's going to tell me I have to go out and get a bank loan because parts aren't available for my ice engine and I can't drive my ice engine missing this stupid part of course I can and I will be and I do My problems are not the supply problems of the world the state's problems are not the supply problems of the planet either so then the state has to do something with their stupid regulations or make it so people can continue to get to work and live without trying to get another bank loan every 3 years because of parts problems or whatever the case may be I'm certainly not going for it. I live in a state purposely where emissions has been dumped so they were smarter than that here We know it's all a big racket let people that want to have good jobs and big bank and all of that pay for that stuff I'm not going to pay for it.
     
  6. Georgina Rudkus

    Georgina Rudkus Senior Member

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    If you are considering Magnaflow, I would sign on to this vendor's web site.

    Hottexhaust

    They are currently offering 20% off on all products in their extended July 4th holiday sale.

    If you buy the universal ones, you'd have to get a muffler shop fabricate the complete assembly. That may still be less expensive than the complete unit.
     
    #6 Georgina Rudkus, Jul 12, 2023
    Last edited: Jul 12, 2023
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  7. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    I'll have to go look at the universal I'm guessing what that would mean is I could use my original Gen 3 assembly wack out the converter part the part that has the brick in it weld in magniflows piece . Reinstall and I'm off that would be way cheaper here depending upon what that bulbous piece I'm buying from MagnaFlow with the brick in it costs $1,500 1800.? Just to be clear a regular converter that goes in most normal cars like a Corolla and all that is done by weight under 5,000 lb converters round bulbous parts cost me about 80 to $120 for every other car on the planet except just for this one at least as far as I know as of today. In all of the other cars not Prius I can just put a pipe there where I live It's legal no issue in my other cars The light will still be off even with the converter gutted and pipe put there. So it seems the converter is kind of no consequence The light doesn't come on and I still pass a sniff test with it not there seems to me the question is why is it there in the first place because somebody wanted maximum dollar extraction from the society.
     
  8. Georgina Rudkus

    Georgina Rudkus Senior Member

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  9. Katsurimi

    Katsurimi New Member

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    I was looking at this exact one but it does not have the executive order stamp on the body.

    On the subject of magnaflow catalytic converters, which one should I buy there appears to be two of them for the front and the rear. Can anyone help me with this part? I can't post a link yet because my account is too new.
     
  10. Georgina Rudkus

    Georgina Rudkus Senior Member

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    That eBay one has the markings that comply with the executive order.

    The Magnaflow ones have 2-1/2 inch inlets and outlets. A custom muffler shop would have to cut off the current front and rear cats on your car and expand all the pipes to the larger diameter before welding.

    Your best bet would be the OEM eBay one. It's a simple install.
     
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  11. Katsurimi

    Katsurimi New Member

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    I don't see the executive order the GD3 and the EA6 arent enough. It has to have something like EO D-193-152 printed on it unless there is an exception to oem cats that I am not aware of.

    It seems the magnaflow route is my best option here. But now I am at a crossroad.

    Do I buy two cats for about $1900 and pay a muffler shop put them in

    or should I get a complete direct fit for about $2550 and sell the spare parts then pay (hopefully) less for labor

    the first option seems best but the second option is most simple.
     
  12. Georgina Rudkus

    Georgina Rudkus Senior Member

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    If you go Magnaflow, it's cheaper on the long run to go with the direct fit unit. Having some shop fit the separate units would be more prone for failure. The Magnaflow unit is guaranteed fro 5 years. It would be simple and easy to replace if need be. The separate units would need extensive fitting again, even if they were replaced under warranty. Labor is not cheap.
     
  13. Goodcitizen

    Goodcitizen Junior Member

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    From what I've read and seen,

    A stock Toyota cat from a Gen 2 will have GD4 stamped on the cat closest to the engine and EA6 stamped on the second cat. Next to each GD4 and EA6 will be a small stamped Toyota symbol. NO OTHER stampings
     
  14. lexidium

    lexidium Active Member

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    It's absolutely criminal that you have to pay such prices.
    Here in UK, the annual MOT test isn't allowed to check the exhaust output on a hybrid and when mine was stolen, it cost me a bit less than $200 to get an aftermarket one that's never given me an ounce of trouble in three years.
    It might be cheaper just to move to the UK :D:D
     
  15. Katsurimi

    Katsurimi New Member

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    If this is true I'll just buy one off eBay. But I see that they legally need to have an executive order stamp on it.

    I still have not decided if I should chance an OEM or get a full cat
     
  16. Katsurimi

    Katsurimi New Member

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    Can anyone help me confirm what is stamped on a carb compliant OEM catalytic converter? Is there an executive order?
     
  17. Goodcitizen

    Goodcitizen Junior Member

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    There is no executive order number on my 2005 prius converter. I live in California. It just has the toyota markings
     
  18. Katsurimi

    Katsurimi New Member

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    Thank you I really appreciate the help!
    Where did you get it at? Did it come with your Prius because I am about to just buy one and go for it.

    Do they give you any issues when you smog it?
     
  19. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

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    Considering the OEM cat is CARB-compliant, I really don't understand your line of thought.

    Methinks your overthinking the whole thing.
     
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  20. Goodcitizen

    Goodcitizen Junior Member

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    It's literally the correct markings that the smog tech is looking for. Yes it came on my prius.