Hello All,

Need a source for getting a new catalytic converter for California 1993 Civic HB VX, Engine: D15Z1 (fits right after the exhaust manifold) . Most of websites I see sell the 49 state direct fit and are not legal to ship to CA . The car has failed smog and I believe the converter is the last step I can take to resolving the smog test issue. Thanks

 

junk yard, the CX and VX exhaust manifold/cats are the same.

 

He'll be as likely to find a junkyard that will illegally sell a used cat as he'll find a shop that will illegally pass him for SMOG. Why pay & do extra when both ways have the same result?

 

Does your VX still have the original cat on it?

You could install an inline cat underneath the engine like the other trim levels of the Civic have for that year and have two cats. That should do it.

You should be able to pick up a cat for $150 and do some mods to the exhaust.

Good luck trying to find an OEM cat for a cali CX/VX. That would be your best bet. However,most CX/VX in cali are still on the road, aren't they?

 

Did this work? Mine is failing smog right now as well and I don't want to pay the dealer $600 for a new cat

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1992-Honda-C...#ht_500wt_1413

"in its stock form it bolted directly to the catalytic converter (which I have as well if you need it)"

Send the guy an e-mail, I bet he'd consider selling the converter outright to you.

Found a direct fit replacement, $250 but it's only 49 state I guess. If you drove the car to a different state, had that replacement installed and brought it back would it pass with the 49 state one? Or do you HAVE to have the cali-spec emissions if a car comes out of a different state with the 49-state equipment?

Another option you could try out is using a D16Y5/Y7 exhaust manifold and downpipe. That manifold has the catalytic converter on the manifold itself as well. Theoritically, I would think all you'd have to do is swap your 5-wire o2 sensor over to the other manifold. I'm not sure if the design, port flow, etc. is different though. Maybe somebody else could chime in.

I don't know if installing a second converter would solve it. That seems impractical anyways.

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Civic-DX-LX-...ht_2166wt_1396

This is what I was talking about on the 96-00. If you can use the 5-wire o2 on that manifold I don't see why it wouldn't work.

 

There is no difference between the CA and 49 state cat converter on a VX.

I have a complete manifold/cat/downpipe but would only sell it whole. It passed smog in CA before I swapped the engine on that car.

You could get a used aftermarket header and downpipe, then have an exhaust shop weld flanges to a universal cat and extend the pipe so that your exhaust matches that of every other Civic.

First determine what killed your cat converter. Cat converters never wear out. If they fail, it's only because of physical damage, bad fuel ratio, or chemical contamination. If you put a new one on it will fail within months.