2008 Chevy Tahoe Catalytic Converter fix?

[408sjtahoe]

Ok, so i have 2008 chevy tahoe and it is now time for the tags, but unfortunately it will not pass smog due to the code for the converters. Tags are due every 2 years and from the last time we got them it had just passed smog, but a couple months later check engine light went on and got one of those pricey "codes". So the estimate our mechanic gave us was going to be around $3000 and up which isn't really worth that much to put into it as we have a couple of other small issues, still a great suv as we still use it as our 3rd back up car when we need it, but he did say we can run it like that until we decide what to do. We made it work for this long and now my son is starting to drive so he will be using it. Because of the size we preferred it for him since he just starting and maybe a lil safer for him. eventually we will look into a newer used car for him, but even now folks want new car prices for used ones, crazy.

did some research months back and noticed that amazon and eBay along with other online stores sell them, but i didn't look further into and not knowing they wont sell to California .

is there any Californians that have gone thru this issue of the converters? We really don't want to spend $3000 on it, what's the best way to fix this? Maybe used ones from a junkyard?

any and all info will be helpfull, thanks.

 

[Fless]

@Doubeleive might have some suggestions.

 

[Doubeleive]

Ok, so i have 2008 chevy tahoe and it is now time for the tags, but unfortunately it will not pass smog due to the code for the converters. Tags are due every 2 years and from the last time we got them it had just passed smog, but a couple months later check engine light went on and got one of those pricey "codes". So the estimate our mechanic gave us was going to be around $3000 and up which isn't really worth that much to put into it as we have a couple of other small issues, still a great suv as we still use it as our 3rd back up car when we need it, but he did say we can run it like that until we decide what to do. We made it work for this long and now my son is starting to drive so he will be using it. Because of the size we preferred it for him since he just starting and maybe a lil safer for him. eventually we will look into a newer used car for him, but even now folks want new car prices for used ones, crazy.

did some research months back and noticed that amazon and eBay along with other online stores sell them, but i didn't look further into and not knowing they wont sell to California .

is there any Californians that have gone thru this issue of the converters? We really don't want to spend $3000 on it, what's the best way to fix this? Maybe used ones from a junkyard?

any and all info will be helpfull, thanks.

go by any legit muffler shop, carb compliant cat's typically run about $650 installed (each) the code will tell you which one you need, hopefully not both
a good shop will have them in stock or will have it the next day.
you cannot buy used ones unless you get lucky and find a private party parting a vehicle out, a junker/dismantler (or anyone technically) cannot sell used ones it is against federal law. with that said money talks..... and cash is king

 

[swathdiver]

Ok, so i have 2008 chevy tahoe and it is now time for the tags, but unfortunately it will not pass smog due to the code for the converters. Tags are due every 2 years and from the last time we got them it had just passed smog, but a couple months later check engine light went on and got one of those pricey "codes". So the estimate our mechanic gave us was going to be around $3000 and up which isn't really worth that much to put into it as we have a couple of other small issues, still a great suv as we still use it as our 3rd back up car when we need it, but he did say we can run it like that until we decide what to do. We made it work for this long and now my son is starting to drive so he will be using it. Because of the size we preferred it for him since he just starting and maybe a lil safer for him. eventually we will look into a newer used car for him, but even now folks want new car prices for used ones, crazy.

did some research months back and noticed that amazon and eBay along with other online stores sell them, but i didn't look further into and not knowing they wont sell to California .

is there any Californians that have gone thru this issue of the converters? We really don't want to spend $3000 on it, what's the best way to fix this? Maybe used ones from a junkyard?

any and all info will be helpfull, thanks.

Park the car and wait until the feds put the final nails in the coffin for CARB. Shouldn't be long now. The EPA has eliminated its criminal enforcement arm, the DOJ will not criminally prosecute people who delete or modify their cars. Many of the changes were passed with a supermajority and cannot be undone without the other side having a supermajority.

 

[Doubeleive]

Park the car and wait until the feds put the final nails in the coffin for CARB. Shouldn't be long now. The EPA has eliminated its criminal enforcement arm, the DOJ will not criminally prosecute people who delete or modify their cars. Many of the changes were passed with a supermajority and cannot be undone without the other side having a supermajority.

it will be nice to buy the $250 exhaust systems online, but that day has not come yet......

 

[swathdiver]

it will be nice to buy the $250 exhaust systems online, but that day has not come yet......

CARB has no authority to stop anyone. They will be prosecuted by the Feds if they go after citizens for commerce violations. We're in a transition period and things will be tidied up soon. Freedom is coming to Kalifornia!

 

[Doubeleive]

even if carb rules are revoked, smog testing for existing california spec vehicles would not change (it's a state law). I would not be able to "downgrade" the cat's to federal cat's
the rules would no longer apply to "new" vehicles, at least that's what it says online.

 

[strutaeng]

FYI:

Also, make sure your truck is running good. If you keep driving your truck (or any vehicle for that matter) with a misfire, you'll damage your catalytic converter(s). Then you'll think that's the problem, but in reality the problem is the misfire.

On these GM trucks, a "flashing CEL light" means you have a severe misfire and risk damaging your cats. Only drive it to get home, a repair shop, or out of a highway to get towed.

Guys here know that, but just in case a newbie doesn't. And that needs to be a PSA for women 'cause a lot of them never even look at their cluster until the vehicle dies because they ran out of gas...

 

[Tonyrodz]

Some guys in other states have hollowed out the cats and have the down stream o2 sensors tuned out. These newer vehicles will sometimes still burn clean through the tailpipe without the cat converters. Not a suggestion, just other guy's experiences.

 

[donjetman]

Some guys in other states have hollowed out the cats and have the down stream o2 sensors tuned out. These newer vehicles will sometimes still burn clean through the tailpipe without the cat converters. Not a suggestion, just other guy's experiences.

I have a 51 Chevy PU with a Gen4 LS, stock except for headers, no cats or downstream O2s. Burns clean and great MPG. I can run briefly in my closed shop without it gagging me.

 

[swathdiver]

even if carb rules are revoked, smog testing for existing california spec vehicles would not change (it's a state law). I would not be able to "downgrade" the cat's to federal cat's
the rules would no longer apply to "new" vehicles, at least that's what it says online.

Federal law takes precedence over state law when they are in conflict. The feds have stripped California and other states ability to do smog testing or enforcement. Thus far, they are following through, albeit more slowly than we'd like but still lightning fast in government time.

Gavin is thinking of ways to keep the testing going, brake dust and safety inspections but those schemes are under scrutiny as well.

Some guys in other states have hollowed out the cats and have the down stream o2 sensors tuned out. These newer vehicles will sometimes still burn clean through the tailpipe without the cat converters. Not a suggestion, just other guy's experiences.

As you know Tony, our old Buicks with essentially the same sequential fuel injection as our LS motors used to pass emissions inspections "chipped" and without the cat 40 years ago. We just turned down the fuel pressure and they sailed right through.

 

[fredcook]

Ok, so i have 2008 chevy tahoe and it is now time for the tags, but unfortunately it will not pass smog due to the code for the converters. Tags are due every 2 years and from the last time we got them it had just passed smog, but a couple months later check engine light went on and got one of those pricey "codes". So the estimate our mechanic gave us was going to be around $3000 and up which isn't really worth that much to put into it as we have a couple of other small issues, still a great suv as we still use it as our 3rd back up car when we need it, but he did say we can run it like that until we decide what to do. We made it work for this long and now my son is starting to drive so he will be using it. Because of the size we preferred it for him since he just starting and maybe a lil safer for him. eventually we will look into a newer used car for him, but even now folks want new car prices for used ones, crazy.

did some research months back and noticed that amazon and eBay along with other online stores sell them, but i didn't look further into and not knowing they wont sell to California .

is there any Californians that have gone thru this issue of the converters? We really don't want to spend $3000 on it, what's the best way to fix this? Maybe used ones from a junkyard?

any and all info will be helpfull, thanks.

What were the DTC's? Have you done any diagnostics? I've put many miles on three GMT9000 Tahoes (160k+, 265k+, and 310k+), and every time CAT related DTCs came up, it was not due to bad CATs. All of these Tahoe still have their original CATs. Issues over the years that pointed to bad CATs have been bad OS sensors, one pinhole exhaust leak, one vacuum leak, and a couple of intermittent misfires (misfires that did not generate DTCs). So now, every time I get a CAT related DTC, the first thing I do is check incoming and outgoing temps on each CAT with a thermal camera. CATs temps have never been out of spec. Then I start the diags. 99.9% of the time, it's an O2 sensor.

 

[justirv]

Ok, so i have 2008 chevy tahoe and it is now time for the tags, but unfortunately it will not pass smog due to the code for the converters. Tags are due every 2 years and from the last time we got them it had just passed smog, but a couple months later check engine light went on and got one of those pricey "codes". So the estimate our mechanic gave us was going to be around $3000 and up which isn't really worth that much to put into it as we have a couple of other small issues, still a great suv as we still use it as our 3rd back up car when we need it, but he did say we can run it like that until we decide what to do. We made it work for this long and now my son is starting to drive so he will be using it. Because of the size we preferred it for him since he just starting and maybe a lil safer for him. eventually we will look into a newer used car for him, but even now folks want new car prices for used ones, crazy.

did some research months back and noticed that amazon and eBay along with other online stores sell them, but i didn't look further into and not knowing they wont sell to California .

is there any Californians that have gone thru this issue of the converters? We really don't want to spend $3000 on it, what's the best way to fix this? Maybe used ones from a junkyard?

any and all info will be helpfull, thanks.

SoCal here... if you're positive that your O2 sensors are good, and you really need cats, you're at the mercy of CARB approved (E.O). I ended up getting a nice Y-pipe unit with 2 cats from MagnaFlow... a few years ago it was under $1k, now it's about half of the number you mentioned. If DIY, very easy to do, bolt-in.

 

[justirv]

SoCal here... if you're positive that your O2 sensors are good, and you really need cats, you're at the mercy of CARB approved (E.O). I ended up getting a nice Y-pipe unit with 2 cats from MagnaFlow... a few years ago it was under $1k, now it's about half of the number you mentioned. If DIY, very easy to do, bolt-in.

And if you get Federal cats, they will fail visual. I keep a copy of the E.O. for the MagnaFlow in the glove box for future inspections.

 

[Shunto]

Ok, so i have 2008 chevy tahoe and it is now time for the tags, but unfortunately it will not pass smog due to the code for the converters. Tags are due every 2 years and from the last time we got them it had just passed smog, but a couple months later check engine light went on and got one of those pricey "codes". So the estimate our mechanic gave us was going to be around $3000 and up which isn't really worth that much to put into it as we have a couple of other small issues, still a great suv as we still use it as our 3rd back up car when we need it, but he did say we can run it like that until we decide what to do. We made it work for this long and now my son is starting to drive so he will be using it. Because of the size we preferred it for him since he just starting and maybe a lil safer for him. eventually we will look into a newer used car for him, but even now folks want new car prices for used ones, crazy.

did some research months back and noticed that amazon and eBay along with other online stores sell them, but i didn't look further into and not knowing they wont sell to California .

is there any Californians that have gone thru this issue of the converters? We really don't want to spend $3000 on it, what's the best way to fix this? Maybe used ones from a junkyard?

any and all info will be helpfull, thanks.

NY here same issue.
The online and other places i looked Magnaflow and all that... told me they would NOT ship to NY. I have a 97 4 runner which i love. The LAST CC in the country was found for me @ $2200. A dealer/warehouse had one and shipped it to my dealer here in NY. i'm told that part is not available through Toyota anymore... while at it i also did the entire exhaust system- THAT i was able to get through MF. A lot of money for an old truck but i really like the truck.

 

[opfor2]

deleted

 

[opfor2]

And if you get Federal cats, they will fail visual. I keep a copy of the E.O. for the MagnaFlow in the glove box for future inspections.

How would it fail visual inspection?

 

[mikez71]

Reminding me of the time my buddy got failed, at his own brothers shop!
He had 5.0 mustang that had factory headers, and the smog tech thought they were aftermarket and failed him!

Ultimately he got it taken care of, but smog testing is nonsense..

 

[opfor2]

Reminding me of the time my buddy got failed, at his own brothers shop!
He had 5.0 mustang that had factory headers, and the smog tech thought they were aftermarket and failed him!

Ultimately he got it taken care of, but smog testing is nonsense..

I had a similar issue with my 2008 Ford Taurus, and it was an easy fix so long as you have someone who lives out of state. lol