Well, I just bought a 95 LS auto and I need to get it smogged. I know the previous owner is legally responsible to smog before the sale but we all know that's not realistic. The car is 100% stock and runs great, although it has 173,000 miles. I did a minor tune up and took it to a shop and the mechanic told me I need a new cat. Is there a CA legal direct replacement cat? I hate paying mechanics for labor lol and I can't weld. Here is what I have done and will do before my test. Any advice is appreciated. Anything done as of now was done last week on Monday and I will take it to get tested this Friday.

Oil Change (Done)
Spark Plugs (Done)
Fuel Filter
Air Filter
Catalytic converter
Fuel Injector Cleaner (Do I test with it still in the tank or do I burn the tank completely then refill it with fresh gas? The gas in there is like 3 weeks old)
Take off O2 and wire brush it clean
Over inflate tires
Run the car for 20min before the test and leave it running while talking to the mechanic

Anything else that anyone recommends? I read something about C2P stuff that supposedly "guarantees" you pass smog but I don't know where to get it. Would an Autozone carry it?

Other than that, the car runs great

 

just go to a muff shop and have them put on a cat. that way its guarenteed to be good.

i got a new cat put on and the smog place said i still needed a new one so i went back to the shop and they replaced it again even though it still looked new inside. back to smog and passed.

 

i dont see why it shouldnt pass, my 90 da passed smog with a horrible idle problem and a bad muffler and possible bad cat as well as possible vacuum leak. i dont know if it was a legit pass cause the old owner got it smogged as part of the deal.


go to a shop that is pass or retest for free, i know that there are plenty of legit shops out there like this

 

^

You may want to grab yourself a new gas cap as well. (Very typical reason why cars don't pass, and only cost like $10 at autozone)

GL

 

Yes they do test the gas caps for leak down pressure test, so get a new one. And make sure you have a full tank of gas also.

Mine failed the first time in 17 years this year, only needed tuned up to pass (plugs,cap, rotor, timing set). Inspector said I will definitely need a cat next time though.

 

change pcv valve, change cap and rotor
run it on the open highway to get it fully warmed up.
why did the mechanic say you need a new cat? seems like he was trying to squeeze money from you

 

that mechanic was trying to get some extra cash out of you for the cat. I have no doubt that your car will pass, and like i said above find a place that is a pass or retest for free. but just reading your description i have very high faith that your car will pass with flying colors.

 

i think imma take it to that same mechanic cuz he wanted $360 for the test + repairs, which included air filter, fuel filter, injector cleaning and cat. then i asked how much for everything minus the cat and test and he said $110. IMO $250 isnt bad for a test + new cat and theres no way in hell im paying him $110 for those simple repairs. i even told him i knew they were old
word. ill take it to a retest for free only place. i didnt know about the gas cap thing so ill just switch it out. he "inspected" the car before wanting to run the test (he tests it at his neighbor shop apparently so he was trying to make $$$ through repairs) so im assuming the timing, cap and rotor are all good since they are easy things to inspect.

btw i thought its better with less gas to put less of a load from your motor when the dyno comes around?
didnt think about pcv valve. i might as well get one since they are cheap. ill inspect the rotor today.

idk, he said the cat wasnt working at all and the rods inside went bad. i didnt want to believe it but then again after 170k+ miles its likely. now im wondering if the primary o2 might be bad. fuuuuuu obd1 sucks at finding whats bad and obd2 is too sensitive. fml