California Emissions question.

[post-it-note-killer]

Hey guys, I have a cousin that lives in California. Recently his CEL came on and his mechanic told him that both of his catalytic converters are out. He has a 2001 Audi A6 front track with a 2.8L. His mechanic is quoting him $1,400-something dollars per cat. Obviously, that is a bit ridiculous. He must be calling to get cats from the dealer and selling them at full retail.

So the question is… Does anyone know of any software that he can buy to flash the ECU so that he can get rid of the cat code and pass emissions? Or is he best off just replacing the cats? I'm trying to help him save some money here.

Thanks.

[joeeee]

Even if he flashes the ECU to remove the codes, A. the codes might come back on their own, and B. the car will definitely not pass the sniffer test.

Your cousin has at least 3 options:

1. buy aftermarket cats and have them welded on to where the stock ones are, they range anywhere from 100-500-ish and should theoretically perform the same.

2. take it to a shop that passes cars for a price.

3. find used OEM cats on car specific forum.


either way hes gonna have to shell out some money, i'd just get new aftermarket cats or try to find used ones on forums like these, people are always taking off their stock exhausts and may have some.

[ilie.vw.tech]

here's some prices on that car https://www.google.com/search?sugexp...w=1280&bih=893

[post-it-note-killer]

Even if he flashes the ECU to remove the codes, A. the codes might come back on their own, and B. the car will definitely not pass the sniffer test.

I guess I should have asked that question first. In Arizona (where I'm from) they don't do a sniffer test if the car is OBD II. They just hook up the computer to the ODB II port and see if there's any codes. I should have assumed that California with all their stupid laws would still put a stick up the tail pipe on newer cars.

[that240guy]

I think California is only doing sniffer tests on OBD2 for another year and then they are going to switch to the OBD2 readiness test and visual check only.