Berkeley CSUA MOTD:Entry 27890
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2025/05/25 [General] UID:1000 Activity:popular
5/25    

2003/3/28-29 [Transportation/Car] UID:27890 Activity:high
3/28    The dealer said my jalopy needs a new catalytic converter, and it's
        gonna cost $900. I read on the web (yes I stfw) that they simply
        burn unburned gas so that you wouldn't pollute as much. Now here
        is my question, does it affect the safety and longevity of my
        vehicle?
        \_ I had the same problem - honda told me the part would be
           $1000 when my smog test failed, and suggested I go to a
           muffler shop where they could custom-fit a more generic model
           instead of buying the specific honda-civic-only ($$) type).
           Had it done at Ken's on Shattuck near Alcatraz, worked great
           (passed smog with almost no emissions on those tests).  Was
           only ~$200. - mds
        \_ I thought that it turned carbon monoxide to CO2 + H20? And I
           thought that unburned gas could actually harm it? Anyways, it's
           a good idea to have a fully functioning cc as a good citizen of
           this planet (think Mexico city or most cities in China type
           pollution). Also, when it comes time to get smogged, it will
           fail. One thing that you can try (I did this with my volkswagen)
           is to get an after-market cc and have a muffler shop customize
           it to fit your vehicle. Specifically, I went to small car world
           in Albany and got a universal cc that fit my vw camper (it was
           cheap, like $140 at the time), and went to a muffler shop on
           gilman and they did their thing for like $70. This was over 10
           yrs ago, so i'm not sure of today's prices. Also, the dealer will
           almost always charge you the highest prices for anything. Find
           a good non-dealer auto mechanic.
           \_ as far as plantery citizenship, it's the CO_2 that's the
              problem, not the smog producing polutants.  you can stop
              driving, but that won't stop the developing world from
              ther comming onslaught of CO_2 production. without
              fundamentally new technologies we're just fucked, regardless
              of what kind of exsaust system you put on your car.
              \_ In the meantime, get the cc and make it a tad easier to
                 breather here in the Bay Area.
                 \_ that is correct.  i just hate to see earnest doogooders
                    who overestimate the positive effects of their actions.
        \_ Your car won't pass the smog check without a cc in CA.
        \_ A related note.  If you see a smoking vehicle on the road and you
           want to file a complaint, write down the license plate # and then
           call 1-800-EXHAUST or go to http://www.baaqmd.gov/exhaust
        \_ aka 1-800-FEEL-GOOD-TO-VENT. all they do is send a letter *asking*
           the reported victim to do something about the problem.
2025/05/25 [General] UID:1000 Activity:popular
5/25    

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	...
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www.baaqmd.gov/exhaust -> www.baaqmd.gov/exhaust/exhaust.asp
By reporting a smoking vehicle you are helping to eliminate unhealthy particles of exhaust smoke from the air we breathe. You may report smoking vehicles with California license plates seen in these nine San Francisco Bay Area counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano and Sonoma.