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I'm Twofer from RX7club (used to have a FC non turbo) and Miata.net (current car, NC with 2.5 swap.) I helped my buddy purchase a 2007 RX8 Grand Touring without smogging it, and as soon as we got it home the check engine lights started. We got the CEL's worked out (mostly) but when we took it to the smog shop the tech noticed the aftermarket cat the previous owner installed isn't CARB approved and failed the car. As the technical reference on this one, I screwed up big time, and we could use some help.
Looking for suggestions on replacement cats. Or if someone has an OEM we can buy or borrow, please let me know. We're in San Diego.
Looking at CARB options, it looks like the two options are OEM and Magnaflow. And I'm never going to complain about NC Miata prices again. 😭
Since the pics were taken we've removed the tint, raised the ride height, replaced the plugs, o2 sensors, MAF, air filter, cleaned the ESS, gave it the 20 brake stomp... but now the damn cat.
OEM is pricey as you've already learned.
try checking local pick a part locations as they sometimes let them go much cheaper. Lots of guys in CA keep an Oem around just for smog checks every couple years.
OEM is pricey as you've already learned.
try checking local pick a part locations as they sometimes let them go much cheaper. Lots of guys in CA keep an Oem around just for smog checks every couple years.
yeah I didn’t want to go into it on the forum.. but yes.. always have an oem cat if you’re in California.
welcome to the club btw! And welcome to San Diego! We have a local rotary club that meets up the first Saturday of every month. However with Covid that’s been put on hold indefinitely. When things are back to normal, you should join us. The Rx8 representation is lacking in the club.. rest are rx7 people.. they just don’t know what they are missing tbh.
I’m surprised the OEM one is only $1300. I’d go with that one myself.
Yeah probably the plan.
Originally Posted by AllDarkGraves
I have a Oem cat for rent lol
I'll let you know. Rong Beach isn't that far. 😁
Originally Posted by Jedi54
OEM is pricey as you've already learned.
try checking local pick a part locations as they sometimes let them go much cheaper. Lots of guys in CA keep an Oem around just for smog checks every couple years.
I found one on facebook marketplace so that's my current plan. I thought junkyards couldn't sell used cats?
Originally Posted by speed7
yeah I didn’t want to go into it on the forum.. but yes.. always have an oem cat if you’re in California.
I was explaining to my buddy the proud rotary tradition of having a smog cat, in addition to your general purpose cat. 😂
Originally Posted by speed7
welcome to the club btw! And welcome to San Diego! We have a local rotary club that meets up the first Saturday of every month. However with Covid that’s been put on hold indefinitely. When things are back to normal, you should join us. The Rx8 representation is lacking in the club.. rest are rx7 people.. they just don’t know what they are missing tbh.
Thanks, and I would love to. I had a non-turbo FC from 2006 to 2009 (IIRC). The car was 18 years old with 140k miles when I got it, and 5 different shades of gold, but I loved that thing. We did a lot of fun cruises and meets with the RX7 club. I paid $1700 for it back then and they're listed for sale for $10k+ now! If I didn't have to deal with CA emissions I definitely would have a FC Turbo 2 or FD at this point. (And I would get it run right and clean. It's just the way CA does emissions testing, by not doing emissions testing that pisses me off to no end.)
I'll be really excited when Sevenstock resumes.
I've been doing track days with the NC Miata and it's great.... but I've still got that rotor shaped defect in my brain, so I was really happy to help my buddy with this RX8.
Good news everyone: The car passed! My buddy took it to a different shop on a rainy day. I guess the techs looked under the car, saw there was a cat, and didn't have any complaints. 😂
Also I apologize for my late responses. Being a noob my posts go into the moderation queue, so it takes a while for the admins to approve it. Thanks for the help everyone.
OEM is pricey as you've already learned.
try checking local pick a part locations as they sometimes let them go much cheaper. Lots of guys in CA keep an Oem around just for smog checks every couple years.
I thought there was a law against junkyards selling used cats? Can't say that I tried to purchase one.
yeah I didn’t want to go into it on the forum.. but yes.. always have an oem cat if you’re in California.
welcome to the club btw! And welcome to San Diego! We have a local rotary club that meets up the first Saturday of every month. However with Covid that’s been put on hold indefinitely. When things are back to normal, you should join us. The Rx8 representation is lacking in the club.. rest are rx7 people.. they just don’t know what they are missing tbh.
(My main response is in the moderation queue, so it may show up in the future. I guess noobs can't post pictures?)
Thanks! I used to have a 1987 non-turbo FC from 2006 to 2009, and went to a lot of the monthly meets and cruises with the rx7club. Really had a good time and met some great people. Hope to see you all out there. (Eventually.)
Good news everyone: The car passed! My buddy took it to a different shop on a rainy day. I guess the techs looked under the car, saw there was a cat, and didn't have any complaints. 😂
Also I apologize for my late responses. Being a noob my posts go into the moderation queue, so it takes a while for the admins to approve it. Thanks for the help everyone.
thats good to hear. Yes unfortunately in California the smog process can differ from station to station. My suggestion find a station you like and always go there. I have one in university city I go to that is great. Every 2 years they love smogging the track car. It’s 100% legal but they get a kick out of something that’s a bit different. If I moved around to a different station.. I’d be examined throughly each visit.
(My main response is in the moderation queue, so it may show up in the future. I guess noobs can't post pictures?)
Thanks! I used to have a 1987 non-turbo FC from 2006 to 2009, and went to a lot of the monthly meets and cruises with the rx7club. Really had a good time and met some great people. Hope to see you all out there. (Eventually.)
Yeah eventually is the word of the year. I’ll be sure to send you a pm when we actually do do something.
Good news everyone: The car passed! My buddy took it to a different shop on a rainy day. I guess the techs looked under the car, saw there was a cat, and didn't have any complaints. 😂
California is all about finding your own catalytic identity right? Who does some smog tech think he is to just ASSUME the car's NOx conversion preferences???
Every time my buddy's dad tries to start the car, he gets a misfire cylinder 1 check engine light. My buddy says he's "Got the midas touch" (for turning on the golden light.)
No, we cleared the codes and drove a bit to get the smog readiness statuses to be "Complete", then took the car in for smog.
To read and clear the codes we used a OBDLink EX USB cable and the program FORScan to read the DTCs (Diagnostic Trouble Codes) then clear them. With FORScan you can also perform one of the engine tests to read the emission self test statuses. To get the emissions status monitors to be "Complete" it seems to take an hour of city and highway driving. (The Evap one stays incomplete, but it doesn't seem to matter for smog purposes.)
Your favorite OBD scanner and program probably has a similar function, those are just the ones I have.
We were getting the P0301 code, cylinder 1 misfire, when his dad would try to start the car. No problem when my buddy or I would do it. His car doesn't seem to start very vigorously. It's got a Series 2 starter and cranks around 300 rpm, but we have to over-run the starter for a good 5-10 seconds then it'll catch and fire up. As a mitigation, on startup we've been dry-cranking for 5 seconds then going for a start, and on shutdown revving to 3000 for 5 seconds then cutting the ignition. My buddy says the procedures seem to help with starting, but I'm not there to see it first hand. (Also going on my past RX7 experience.)
By dry cranking, I mean holding the gas pedal all the way down during cranking. This cuts the fuel injection and spark, so the only thing it does is use the starter to turn over the engine. The theory being that it blows out any lingering fuel, coolant, or oil sitting in the combustion chamber.
Startup:
1. Clutch in, gas pedal all the way down
2. Key switch to start, keep holding
3. After 5 secs, release gas pedal, still holding key
4. Engine starts to fire up, release key after a few secs
So I also just failed the damn CA "smog test" . Really appreciated sitting in the shop for 30 minutes only to hear that the sole reason the car failed is that "upon visual inspection" the catalytic converter isn't in the database.
I need to register my vehicle soon since my previous state's registration is soon expiring. Anyone near San Diego/LA selling/willing to lend the OEM cat so I can get the car registered?
03-01-2021, 12:44 PM
Failed smog 😭 Borrow a cat? Suggestions?
. Really appreciated sitting in the shop for 30 minutes only to hear that the sole reason the car failed is that "upon visual inspection" the catalytic converter isn't in the database.