Quote:
Originally Posted by meanjoe75fan
I see two problems with this as a business model (in the US):
1. In 49 states, a replacement "universal" cat can be had for roughly $100. This means you'd have to undercut that price for your service...not a whole lot of profit.
2. In CA, you'd be installing a "used" cat on a vehicle...which is prohibited by CARB rules. You'd have to convince them that a "reconditioned" cat is the equivalent of a new one...a task that I'd guess falls somewhere between "extremely arduous" and "impossible."
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2. I wouldn't be selling any converters as I would not be buying it in the first place. When you have someone washes the dirt off yer car...are they selling you a used car when they git done washing it? I'm not replacing the converter...only attempting to clean it...so it would still be the same ORIGINAL OEM converter they owned before the cleaning process. In California, are you allowed to clean yer MAF or do you have to buy a new one every time it's dirty?
I didn't find anything in the CARB that specifically
prohibits the cleaning of the converter...only the replacement of the converter with non-approved converters (which some aftermarket converters were rescinded as of Jan 10, 2012 (
http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/aftermktcat/catrescind.pdf). If the converter on there is already approved, cleaning it will not change the approval status. The only way it would be rejected is when the converter is no longer performing up to the emissions standards set forth by the California Air Pollution Control Laws, California Air Quality Legislation, and the Federal Clean Air Act.
When yer vehicle fails an emissions test, does the inspector force you to relinquish yer vehicle to them on the spot? When you bring it back fer a second test, what do they do? As long as you pass the visual and emissions test...that's all that really matters to them. If you stuck some "additive" in yer gas tank and went driving fer 100 miles in order to "clean" yer converter, do you tell them that's what you did? Does the inspector ask you what you did to improve on the emissions test? I don't believe they will as their machine will tell them if you pass or not.
1. Show me a receipt of someone who had their converter replaced fer $100 or more and tell them they could've cleaned their original converter (provided it wasn't broken or rusted out) fer a cheaper price and see which way they vote.
