Getting caught running catless
 

I'm considering buying a UEL header which does not have a cat like the stock header. Has anyone heard of people getting nailed either at a mobile inspection stop or at regular inspection and been fined?

Isn't the bottom of the cat where the header is covered by a metal plate? How would the officer even catch this on a visual inspection?

It seems like nobody is really concerned with this, the fine is hefty too.

i dont think you will get caught by officer...but UEL header is not going pass the DEQ or emission test

be a baller and go catless

It's kind of like running dark tints or no front plate... it's technically illegal and they see you rollin', but they have better things to worry about. If they tagged you for something else, e.g. speeding, then they might cite u for catless/no front plate/tint while they're at it.

I am not sure how strict NJ is. I am in California, arguably a strict state regarding vehicles modifications. There are 2 cats on our cars and they are located in spots you would not be able to see unless you were directly underneath the car. The cat attached to the front pipe is well tucked and the cat connected to the header is covered by the engine/front covering, so visually it is not visible at all. The only way anyone will know you are completely CATless is the smell. You can easily smell the exhaust fumes and it is a lot more pungent and noticeable in that regard, but again it is a smell that you may notice briefly, like if someone is driving behind you for an extended period of time with their windows down, then they will be able to smell your fumes because you are catless. The likelihood of you getting caught is slim to none, unless an officer is tailing you with his windows down and head out of his window with nostrils wide open O_O

You can easily see both of the stock cats from the engine compartment.

"oh, the engine is just cold, officer.... i just started it right before you rolled me.... the cats arent warmed up yet.....i swear!"

Not really...

I disagree a little...

As for the smell...you don't really need to be behind a car nor have your nostrils wide open. I can smell a catless car several hundred feet away, a couple car lengths away, when they drive by me whenever I jog or walk around town. I assume "the other white meat" would be in a similar position, being in their parked car on the sidewalk with window open, quiet and with no music playing on duty. Trust me, they'll be able to EASILY smell you just by driving by them when they're parked on the side. They won't pull you over for other reasons - ignorance of modded cars, ignorance of catless smell, wouldn't know how to check and cite you, too lazy, better things to do, etc.

As for seeing hidden and "tucked" cats...back in the day when street racing was huge..cops had mirrors on long sticks to check under you cars. There were also a lot of smog checkpoints (similar to drunk checkpoints; but for smog/racers). Idk if they still do those though...haven't seen them done in a while.

Generally...probably not something to worry about...since cops usually aren't mechanical inclined to give a correct citation and/or they're too lazy or have better things to do.


These days...I'm over running catless cars and smelling like gasoline everywhere I go. It's embarrassing when girls and teachers ask why you smell the way you do and prolly think you're a junkie lol (since they prolly can't determine the smell is from a car). I say at least have 1 cat on the Twin...for smell's sake lol.

I was exaggerating a little...

Also, I have gone on countless runs with other 86 buddies who are catless and the smell is not as bad as you claim, on 91 or E85. Perhaps in older cars it was bad, like an integra typeR, but in these 86's the smell is not nearly as bad and does not spread nearly as much, in my experience.

I too am running a single cat right now and do not notice any difference in smell. I have stock header, stock op, hks fp, works mp, works ab

Would running catless really make you smell that bad? And this car has two cats? So losing one I still have one so doesn't that help at all and\or make me legal?

Also, I currently have an aftermarket axle back, so if I get this UEL header couldnt I have an exhaust stop build me a front/mid pipe with a cat on it?

unless things have changed, and may have since mid 2000's

According to Title II of the EPA Clean Air Act (Enacted Jan 1 1988) there are multiple regulations concerning the use or misuse of aftermarket catalytic converters, or the removal and/or modification of a stock catalytic converter. According to various parts of Section 203, all aftermarket catalytic converters must be EPA certified, and your car must have a gas conversion device of some manner. If not, both you and the installer are punishable of a Federal Offense by Section 205 (a). The operator's fine can be no more than $2,500 and the installation agency no more than $25,000.


I know it can happen, i watched a friend in Texas get busted speeding and racing, was an ass to the officer, and get cited.. because he did the installation himself, they was going to fine him 15k.. he got away after a court battle for 3k.. then finally 1800~ when it was finally done..

it can happen, but thats the only time i seen it happen

Thomas

I don't think I'd be a magnet for cops wanting to look at my cats. My car looks like it could have rolled out of a Subaru factory..nearly stock sounding exhaust, clean 1" drop w\ wheels, and no decals or any other 'look at me!' stuff.

My car is tinted all around (illegal in NJ) and certain towns in the area break my stones for it. I lost a PBA card last week but avoided a ticket. I've had a modded car of some sort for ~10 years and have never been questioned about mods.

1. yes. completely catless your car will smell like that old 70's chevy pick up or van that seems to be in front of you, every time you are in bumper to bumper traffic with your windows down...

2. yes, this car has 2 cats... Main cat in the header, secondary cat in the front pipe.

3. most gains are made by removing restriction caused by the main cat in the header, so by removing that one, yes you will make your most power by swapping to a catless header either of UEL or EL...

4. tampering/removing either the main cat or secondary cat = you are in violation of the law - depending on the emissions regulations in your state, you are in violation of the law.

5. your front pipe already has a secondary cat, no need to have a shop add another one, the whole point is to remove restriction, not add restriction back that you've already taken out.

long story short, it boils down to 2 things...
1. which is better, modding the car the way you want or staying 100% street legal because you don't want the hassel?
2. mood and laziness level of cop who is trailing you with windows down?

for me it was "make power and hope cops are chasing drug dealers.." :)

I am not trying to gain 4.75 horsepower (or whatever) by getting the header, I want to get the boxer rumble, and make my exhaust a hair louder. So my goal with adding a cat to the front pipe would be to replace the primary cat lost by the header switch, and hopefully make it legit.

I hit a mobile inspection stop once in my life when I had my S2000 and got a ticket for no front plate. I think they were targeting no seat-belt and cell phone people. I dont think cops in my area would think to check stuff like that, unless they themselves were savvy with cars and knew what to look for.

You should ideally be looking for a "Catted UEL". Will give you the sound you are looking for, and a slight bump in power. Though you won't be "legal" with that setup, you will pass emissions tests in NJ, and you won't smell so the cops shouldn't have a reason to suspect your exhaust or emissions systems haven't been modded.

Just get a hi-flow catalytic converter or a header with a cat included.

Yea but catted UELs go for close to a grand. I'd rather spend less on a cheaper header and have a front pipe made with high flow cat.

I'm completely catless, and honestly it's a little annoying. It smells. AND it's pretty raspy. I do however, have a high flow catted front pipe on it's way from the guys over at P&L for $299. True 2.5" stainless.

I ran completely catless on my last car, which was a saabaru with jdm sti swap and a rotated gt30 turbo set up 3" turbo back exhaust. LOUD AND OBNOXIOUS if giving it anything over grandma acceleration... never got pulled over and she stunk. But that car was not about luxury after everything I had done to it.

It's your call, I'm going high flow cat because, fuck it... it's only a few whp..

I went HFC, and I'm wishing I just went the straight pipe route. Still smelly, the HFC does little to nothing to disguise the fact that I'm missing the primary cat


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Another thing to consider is you might be voiding your insurance. Here, in Australia, insurance is conditional on the car being roadworthy. That is, it meets the relevant laws regarding Australian Design Rules. If the car is not roadworthy the insurance company doesn't have to cover you. The situation may be different in the U.S. I appreciate the chances of getting caught are slim but for me I don't want to run the risk.

If you are that concerned about the law, know that under federal law it is illegal to remove a functioning factory cat.

Ive never in my 18 years of driving and having friends with modded cars driving in NJ have ever heard of a cop in NJ looking for a cat on a car. Keep your stock header and swap it on when you go in for inspection at the inspection station. Its not hard to do every 2 years.

That's the point of this thread chief.. Everyone is aware its against the law

Shoot one fireball in-front of an unmarked car and see how well your day goes. :lol:

I have no cats (or resonators) and the smell isn't that bad, in my opinion. Maybe I got lucky, or maybe it's the fact that I'm on E85? :iono:

:respekt: :burnrubber: LOLOLOL Soooo true!

This made me lol.

Is the raspiness bad when the primary cat is removed? I'm not super worried about being catless, but if it (UEL header) will end up sounding like crap anyway then I won't bother.

If you read the thread more carefully, and some of the others like it, you'll see that not everyone is aware of it. There are clearly members who think it is okay to swap them out and just don't fully understand. Read before posting snide comments and you won't look like an ass, okay? Chief?

I think I emphasized in my first post that my concern was getting caught/nailed running catless which would mean I'm aware (and readers can ascertain) it's illegal to do so. And I don't feel like an ass, at all. But ok. And fine, maybe the chief was inappropriate.

spot on...I do all of those things at the same time :)

I think you can understand my confusion.

Correct me if I am wrong here but if you go catless with a tune you will an inspection if the shop checks emissions via the obd port and not with a device in the exhaust. So maybe a tune will help you?

With a tune you should be able to pass an OBDII scan and usually even a sniffer test, but you'll fail a visual inspection.

My understanding was that if you're catless (without spacer), you will throw a check engine light. You can get a tune to turn off the CEL, but that also disables OBD readiness. I could be wrong though.

I do too! Minus the front plate not required in GA. I have 20% tint all the way around 5% strip on the front and I have a catless front pipe with Perrin Cat Back system. Got pulled over last Saturday on I75 coming home from Kentucky the day after the 4th of July lasered at 86 in a 70.

Just got a speeding ticket only I know the county Sheriff saw the illegal tint and I know he could smell the exhaust while I was sitting there idling I just think they dont give a sh*t about that stuff......

Everything is a gamble its all relative.... roll the dice dude do what you want :party0030:

One more thing

If you're looking for a safe way to get the boxer rumble as others stated run a catted uel header if your worried and add a catless front pipe to liven it up a bit (I know its more money but worth it for piece of mind and if I learned anything with my car dont go cheap you'll regret it latter and inevitably spend more money in the long run making it right).

You'll still pass every OBDII test and visual inspection chances are the people working the inspection buildings wont know its supossed to have two cats to begin with... since most vehicles only have one to begin with nothing will seem out of the ordinary...

Either way good luck!:cheers:

I went the other way catless header and catted front pipe. I would think this would give more performance. But :iono:

If you're super paranoid, the hi flow cat front pipes don't take THAT much away as well, but that's going over the top.

Like I said, I have no cats, and the sound is easily manageable (it's only very very loud when I'm on it), and my personal catless smell is mild. If I get pulled over, which I haven't yet, I'll shut of my car and the officer wouldn't have a clue. I even live next door to an officer and he's never minded my car.