Car Smog Check? Help?

Question

So I live in California. I went to a mechanic about 2 years ago: my father told him that he wanted a dealer catalyst to pass the smog check... the legit way. The mechanic agreed to install it for almost $800 with the part. I went to the smog check and it still failed. My father called the mechanic to complain. The mechanic told my father, "you wanted it to pass the smog check right?" My father said "No, I wanted a dealer part." Now that 2 years have passed, my car failed the smog check again! I think my mechanic committed fraud and installed a crappy part. Can I still sue? I mean how else can I tell if the part is real or not. When he installed it, he took it out of a dealer box, but I know fraud can still occur. Can I still hold him liable or am I screwed and need to pay $1000 for a new catalyst again? Help!

Update:

I have a Nissan Altima 1999.

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

Easy to tell. (for a CA Smog Tech)
Factory cat generaly looks bigger (but not always)
Aftermarket Catalytic Converters (Sold or installed) IN CALIFORNIA after 1-1-2009 are REQUIRED to have CARB-EO number stamped on the Outside of it in about 1.5 to 2" high numbers.   If it is aftermarket (not "crap" but not Factory) it would look (generaly) more like a football and have something like D-283-18 stamped on it.

For $800.00 cant be sure if you got a Factory one or just a high price on aftermarket (or reasonable price for an expensive aftermarket Cat)

How about listing the details about your car
Make, Model, Year, Engine, Milage.
What part of the Smog Check did it fail this year... if the tailpipe part then list ALL the numbers in table form so we can look at it.   CATs (even aftermarket ones) can last a long time on a WELL Maintained car (and if your dad is asking for Dealer parts it sounds like he maintains his cars well.

two years later you are pretty much out of luck on making any "fraud" claim...YOU cant  PROVE that you didn't replace the part (again) yourself...

***********************************************************
Whatever CAT you did get it looks like you did Not get taken. . Here are some pictures and prices for them from an Aftermarket (Legal...not Crap)   Unfortunately besides the EO number being stamped on the CAT...with your car they look almost identical to the Factory one (and many times are under a heat shield so you can't look easily anyway......

Universal Fit (Cut and Weld On) one:   $654.55   (MSRP product only..no installation included)
http://www.car-sound.com/02product/displayuniversal01.asp?catalogid=50432&universal=44005
Direct fit: (bolt on) $881.38   (MSRP product only...no installation included)
http://www.car-sound.com/02product/displaydirectfit01.asp?catalogid=50442&directfit=41705.

The direct fit one you can order On-Line (for less then the $881.38 I am sure) and litteraly bolt it on yourself. (It goes on the front of your engine right between the Engine and Radiator)

Again though... what part of the smog test DID your car fail this time , it might not be the CAT.   Replacing the CAT every time your car fails smog is like having Knee surgery every time you scratch your knee falling off your skateboard.   Most of the time the CAT is still OK...the problem is something else.

? · Answer

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Car Smog Check? Help?

2 Answers