Warning re exhaust systems.

[Fatjim]

They're gonna have to have a cuttoff. But the problem is that 1000's of people have thrown away CAT's or bought cars without CATs,and it would be prohibitive to refit them, as they are not cheap.

In the same way, I'm surprised they have been able to make Radar detectors illegal, considering the investment people have made.

[MSTRS:Me]

They're gonna have to have a cuttoff. But the problem is that 1000's of people have thrown away CAT's or bought cars without CATs,and it would be prohibitive to refit them, as they are not cheap.

In the same way, I'm surprised they have been able to make Radar detectors illegal, considering the investment people have made.

Surely only talking about that, at this stage?
I would think that although the idea sounds good on paper, that it would in reality be almost as difficult to implement as swapping us to driving on the right.

[Ixion]

6 months (approximately) is when the new emission rules come into force.

A lesser noticed clause forbids tampering with any emissions control stuff in an exhaust system . ie you won't legally be allowed to remove a cat.

But I doubt it would be practical to require retro-refitment of all those that have been removed over the years, or never fitted. And I very much doubt that the law allows for that, it would have to be explicitly stated, which it is not.

Ah. Found it. Here

Removal and tampering: Prohibit removal of, or tampering with, a vehicle's emissions control equipment

23. What is emissions control equipment?
Emissions control equipment includes technologies on petrol vehicles such as catalytic converters and electronic engine management systems blah
24. Why should removal of, or tampering with, a vehicle's emissions control equipment be prohibited?
blah 25. Who does this affect?
This applies only to vehicles first registered for use in New Zealand after the new Rule came into effect. It is not considered practical to apply such a requirement retrospectively.
26. How will it be administered?
Used vehicles will undergo a metered emissions test during inspection at the time of their arrival in New Zealand, to ensure that the emissions control equipment is working as intended.
Vehicles are also expected to undergo a visual check to confirm that key elements of emissions control technologies are present, as part of ongoing Warrant of Fitness/Certificate of Fitness inspections associated with the visible smoke check and checking of the exhaust system. If there is reason for an inspector to suspect a vehicle may have been modified, it may be required to pass the same emissions test that applies for used vehicles at entry.
The prohibition on removal of, or tampering with, a vehicle’s emissions control equipment is important because it lays the foundations for any future metered emissions test. There will no longer be any excuse for a vehicle not to meet a test standard.
27. What will happen if I repair or modify the vehicle?
If a vehicle’s exhaust emissions equipment is modified or repaired, it will be a requirement that the repair enables the vehicle to continue to comply with the standard to which it was built. If there is doubt over whether the modification is appropriate, a vehicle may be required to undergo an emissions test to demonstrate compliance. This provision applies only to vehicles that are required to comply with a specific standard when they enter the New Zealand fleet, it does not apply to vehicles that are already part of the in-service fleet.

[vifferman]

I'm surprised they have been able to make Radar detectors illegal, considering the investment people have made.

:spudwhat:
Would it be a bigger investment than that made in big bore zorsts, illegal suspension mods, etc.? I can't see the bureaucrats for a minute even slightly entertaining the idea of beginning to think about the vague possibility of doing (or not doing) summat because of the financial impact it might have.

[The Pastor]

dont bother me anyhow. you dont need that extra 5% of power on the road

[scumdog]

In the same way, I'm surprised they have been able to make Radar detectors illegal, considering the investment people have made.

Investment-inschmestvent...the Gov't cares little about the 'investment' people have made....can you imagine them ever seeing the purchase of a device designed to allow driving/riding at a speed over the legal limit as an 'investment'?

Re the convertors, I think RM summed it up quite nicely.

[Daffyd]

Surely only talking about that, at this stage?
I would think that although the idea sounds good on paper, that it would in reality be almost as difficult to implement as swapping us to driving on the right.

Swapping to driving on the right isn't difficult. Do what Ireland did.
Several steps...first, start with trucks!

[ManDownUnder]

The funny thing is a catalytic converter is about the least ecologically friendly thing you can stick on a car.

Forgive the ignorance - but why?

[James Deuce]

Two things.

1. They need to be disposed of using a process that recovers the heavy metals that act as catalysers. Instead the cars are dumped and as the cat rots heavy metals leech into the ground water. Takes years, but the end result is the same. People dying of systemic organ failure. Once that stuff is in the food chain it concentrates with each step up the chain until we get decent doses of things you're not supposed to eat.

2. Ever follow a petrol powered car up a hill and wonder why it smells like a diesel? Sulphur. The catalyser has ceased to function and is now pumping sulphides. No one replaces a worn cat. So the car goes back on the road with no emissions controls, usually at the recommendation of your friendly neigbourhood mechanic.

[RantyDave]

Emissions control equipment includes technologies on petrol vehicles such as catalytic converters and electronic engine management systems blah

Perhaps more to the point:

"Emissions control equipment includes technologies on petrol vehicles such as catalytic converters and electronic engine management systems blah"

Would imply (in theory) a ban on chipping, remapping and power commanders. In practice, of course, you need to enforce laws and I don't really see a WOF examiner popping the lid on my ECU and diffing the uploaded map against the stock one.

What I don't get is why they don't just state what the emission regulations are, then leave us to it. Then you could piss with cats, ecu's, zorsts or whatever and all the WOF centre has to do is shove a gas analyser up it's butt to see if it with tolerance.

Dave

[Ixion]

Well, there actually is provision for that. If you DO modify an emission control component (and as you say, Power Commanders would fall foul of the rule) , and admit to it (why ? FGS), then you cango and get the emissions tested at a LVV certifier place. Get a compliance cert and all sweet. Too complex and expensive for standrd WoF places, that's been knocked right out.

As you say, most such changes, WoF will never pick it up, and only an idiot would advertise it.

EDIT rechipping ECUs is specifically illegal in some US states.

[RantyDave]

Ever follow a petrol powered car up a hill and wonder why it smells like a diesel? Sulphur. The catalyser has ceased to function and is now pumping sulphides. No one replaces a worn cat

Ohhhh, this is interesting. Now, according to Wikipedia

Depending on the contaminant, catalyst poisoning can sometimes be reversed by running the engine under a very heavy load for an extended period of time.

In other words, going for a really huge fang is actually environmentally friendly. Right, I'm off to save the planet

Dave

[more_fasterer]

Well, there actually is provision for that. If you DO modify an emission control component (and as you say, Power Commanders would fall foul of the rule) , and admit to it (why ? FGS), then you cango and get the emissions tested at a LVV certifier place. Get a compliance cert and all sweet. Too complex and expensive for standrd WoF places, that's been knocked right out.

So if you had a vehicle that needed LVVTA certification anyway, and were to go through the emissions testing process as part of the certification, you'd have a legitimate, documented reason why your "noticeably different from standard" exhaust, with no cat, is perfectly legal?

Doesn't sound that idiotic to me...

[Maffoo]

see this is why i stick to old cars & bikes

retrospective rules - i love'em !!

[Robbo]

Well, it's good to see that LTSA is concentrating their time, money and resources on such an important and worthwhile cause (not) instead of wasting their efforts on the obviously minor things such as Driving Standards, Road Conditions and Safety (wire rope barriers come to mind here) and the many cars that have No WOF and are Mobile Death Traps on our roads (and probably No Catalytic Converters either)
Go LTSA, you deserve a big fat one up you.