Why can't you buy emissions parts from a junkyard?
 

I'm having trouble finding an answer to this question. The words are too vague and I'm not getting any direct matches.

I've heard someone mention that you can't buy EVAP canisters from a salvage yard because of some mysterious, dangerous chemicals inside. Other people on here have talked about how the EPA or some other government agency tracks catalytic converters. Car-part.com doesn't even list parts like cats and EVAP canisters.

Why is this? Is there no way to purchase a used emissions part, save through eBay or some other private/individual seller?

hey i have a 96 maxima and i got a code po446 that came up from my understanding that code has something to do with the evap canister my question is what does it lookk like where is it located and can u help with this code

when I got my evap code, I got my evap canister from the junker and no problems... its been a few months and still running perfect

I thought it was just cats you can't buy from junkyards. I know there are signs all over the one near me that say they can't sell cats, but they don't mention any other emissions stuff.

You can buy new vapor canisters and a few other emissions things from Rock Auto for fairly reasonable prices.

Yeah it just cats you can't buy from Junkers, the only thing is finding what you're looking for...

look for charcoal canister at autozone it's like 55 bucks. I'm having the same poblem and been too broke to get it fixed.

me thinks were not the only ones...

Junkyards can't sell catalytic converters because it's a federal offense to install a used converter on a vehicle (unless it's the one that came off of that very vehicle).

A used converter could be clogged, or bad, which would mean your car wouldn't be safe by federal emissions standards. But then again, if you can find someone willing to sell you used cats (you probably won't), what the EPA don't know don't hurt 'em. :nervous:

or move to Alberta where nobody cares about emissions :o

Hmm... I've tried looking for "EVAP Canister," "Vapor Canister," and "Charcoal Canister" and none of them show up in Pull-A-Part's pricing. Then I had the bright idea of doing a search instead of browsing through the pages. Doh! Pull-A-Part calls it a "Smog Canister," yet another term to add to the retinue.

But thanks for clearing that up, guys!

I wouldn't be too sure about that.

When I went to my local "pull-a-part" they didn't have it on the price list but it was only $10 when I got to the register...

salvage emission parts
 

They do the same thing in California but they restrict every thing here.