I took my car to Mineake(sp) this morning to have my Cattman cali- spec y pipe and RT high flow cat put on. The guy was helpful and said he has installed these on maximas before, infact he has one on his own maxima. After dropping it off and driving an hour away to school, they call me and tell me they cant do it. its illegal to remove the stock Y pipe because of the catalytic converters and they could get fined $2500. I'm like wtf? He told me he could. Anyway after being let down and driving all the way back to pick up my car, i realized i dont know what to do.

Where did you guys get it put on at? a private installer? And probably the most important question.... how the hell do you have it pass inspection? I know that they are required to look under the car and have it pass a visual inspection. Do you all just go to private inspection stations where you know the guys?

Thanks in advance for your help

 

You're replacing the stock catalytic converter with another one, right? If so, it doesn't seem to me that the shop would be liable for anything. You still have a cat on there. I think they overreacted. Try another shop.

Mike

 

I thought I read somewhere that it is illegal to tamper with a stock cat if the vehicle has less that 30K on it. I could be wrong here, though. But, that is probably what he is refering to.

Why don't you just do it yourself. Sure it is a pain in the !@#, but it isn't real technical. Hopefully, if your car isn't that old the bolts will come right off.

I need to take my car in this month to get inspected. After that I am planning on putting on a WSP Y pipe (wishful thinking), but hanging on to my old pipe so that in two years I can pass inspection.

 

u can still pass inspection with the y pipe....unless the inspector is an *** and want to see what u have underneath there. otherwise, I would drive around the car and warm it up real good before smog check.


anyways, for install...u can try ur regional forum and see if someone will do it for u. or even ask the mechanic that u had a conversation with to do it you for (prob cheaper than what store charges u) worst case is just ask the store to remove warranty or just tell them this car is not for street use.

 

Actually it's 50k before you can tamper with the cat. At least in California...

And yes you can pass smog with a Y-pipe, just make sure to have the car warm. I would recommend leaving it running before the whole time before they do the smog check. Just tell them that your battery had died and you needed to keep the car charging up.

 

in NC, its illegal to mess with any working cat no matter how many miles are on it. i had a shop do a visual inspection during my state inspection but he didnt know what a stock y pipe looks like on a maxima. i had a local shop put it on even though it wasnt a chain like meineke or midas. some of the chains said they would put it on if i did not mention the word converter and only when the bossman was not there.

 

do it yourself, or find a speed shop...

or a shady auto shop

 

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Versace

Anyway after being let down and driving all the way back to pick up my car, i realized i dont know what to do.

Where did you guys get it put on at? a private installer? And probably the most important question.... how the hell do you have it pass inspection? I know that they are required to look under the car and have it pass a visual inspection. Do you all just go to private inspection stations where you know the guys?

Thanks in advance for your help

Hey Versace, mine was installed by a local shop, and they knew by puttin the Y-pipe that the pre-cats where going, so the guy offer me to not show any trace on the bill he just wrote some exhaust work cuz the legislation prohibe the removal of the pre-cats or cats. Just find a local shop, offer them to pay cash and tell them you dont need the bill, this way you will find many place willing to do the job, and they wont fear to be prosecuted.

Hope it help.

Cheers

AA

 

Thanks for all the replies... yeah i found a local shop that said they would do it. I have an appointment on monday... i hope he dosent call me and say that he can do it after i drop it off... there isn't anything i hate more than that...


I dont think minake had a problem replacing the cat... only the Y pipe, because i think the Cali-Spec (or all maximas) i'm not sure... have pre-cats integrated into the stock y pipe.

 

dont spend more than 60 to put it on!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Ask the guy that works there, that put one his own Max, if he could do it for you off the clock.