Before you purchase a CARB Compliant catalytic converter, here are a few tips or things to keep in mind.

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What is a CARB converter?

A CARB compliant catalytic converter is a converter that has been "approved" by the California Air Resource Board to meet the standards set forth by the State of California for aftermarket catalytic converters. California has the strictest emission standards in the US and only allows the sale of catalytic converters that meet or exceed their testing standards and have been proven to last 50,000 miles or five years. Any CARB converter must have an Executive Order (EO) that allows that converter to be sold in California. Only a handful of manufacturers make CARB compliant converters because the EO process is expensive and can take nine months to years to get a converter approved. 

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Why are they so expensive?

When you purchase a CARB converter you know that it has been approved and tested to meet California's strict emission standard and meet its warranty requirements (50k/5yr). In order to do so, the converters need to have enough precious metals in the substrate to reduce harmful emissions for the expected life of the converter. In sum, it is all about the amount of precious metals inside the converter.

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How do I make sure my converter doesn't fail again?

Converters are the canaries in the coal mine. They rarely "fail" but are indicators of an issue with your vehicle. Meaning, if you do not correct the issue with your vehicle, your converter will fail again. So before you install a replacement converter, make sure you do the corrective maintenance and address the reasons for converter failure. This could be a tune-up, fix a oil leak, engine misfire, spark plugs, O2 sensors, etc. If you do not do this, you will void your warranty and have to pay for another converter. It is highly highly recommended to replace your O2 sensors with new ones. If you do not, your old sensors could lead to engine management issues and cause your converter to fail.

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CARB converters are managed differently than any other aftermarket part. It can be difficult to understand if you do not have the institutional knowledge required to know how to correctly diagnose the issue, recommend a replacement, and ensure your vehicle runs as long as it can. Your local repair/muffler shop should be relied upon, but if you do have questions or need confirmation, we recommend calling around and make sure the work that is being done is correct and thorough. 

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