Are ALL vehicles everywhere in the state of Texas required to have catalytic converters? Vehicle in question is a 93 Bronco. Thanks

I think all vehicles manufactured starting in 1975 are required to have one.

My 79 CJ5 doesn’t have one and passes inspection. I think that a 95 might be new enough that it does require one. Did it come with one new?

It may have I am not sure but inspection station said it had to have one. I thought that certain rural areas were not required to have one inspected for the converter.

This answer it?
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.kx...-of-older-cars-reaches-25-years-old/amp/

Yes. But no. Older than 25 years and you can be considered exempt if registered as an antique vehicle.

When you apply for an antique vehicle tag, it is not legal as a daily driver.
This is the contents of the last box on the TXDOT form where you sign and date:

I certify I am the owner of the above-described vehicle, and as statutorily required, I also certify the frame, body, and motor are at least 25 years old;
the vehicle is a collector’s item that will be used solely for exhibition, club activities, parades, and other functions of public interest;
it is not a replica or aftermarket vehicle;
will not be used for daily transportation except when routine maintenance is needed;
and will not carry advertising.

My best friend just went thru major problems while on the way to the beach in his "antique" 81 GMC short bus RV conversion.
It's probably going to get worse - do a UToob search for all the diesel truck shops and aftermarket parts houses that just got crazy fines from EPA.

I think you are referring to the smog test as certain areas arn't testing for that rigid test but they do still check vehicles to make sure they comply with state law.

I do not have it registered as an antique. I simply get a safety inspection every year.

Same goes for my 88 Samurai. Basic safety inspection. Even says on the title that it’s emissions exempt.

'Seems to be a lot of leeway with inspection techs. My '86 Bronco failed in one town, then passed in another, both NAPA Auto Parts stores.

I grew up watching my dad drive his 1915 Dodge around the corner and argue with whoever they'd hired that year to do inspections. "Original equipment" were the key terms. He finally bought a side mirror, that was an option in 1915. It didn't help a whole lot.

Speaking of catalytic converters, anyone hear of thieves targeting them? Supposedly there's a rash of parts thefts at the San Antonio airport.

Catalytic converters have precious metals in them including platinum, palladium and rhodium. Shops will also cut them off while working on your car and you'll never know it.

You’ll know real quick when the check engine light comes on. Unless they fake the downstream O2 sensor.

'74 is when emissions controls were started. My first truck in HS was a '74 Chevy 4x4 and I still have a '74 K5. Both trucks had an air pump if you remember those, but no cats. The air pump was pulled when I put headers on them as it's role was some kind of additional air injection into the stock exhaust manifold. Not exactly sure, but I do recall they were famous for bad /howling bearings.

The rules are generally it has to have what it came with. The Air Pump or lack of one in mine, has never been questioned, cats would be an easy catch for someone looking for one. You can buy high flow cats now that make it almost a non-isssue.

Charlie

As a licensed state inspector in the state of Texas, in an emissions county

24 years old or older get a safety only inspection.

I don’t make the laws and I done enforce them either, just like most of y’all.... I follow them

👍👍

That settled that.

Thanks

Quite a few years ago my Daughters car started to loose power. I took it to a Chevy dealer and just do a scan and tell me what it needed. They said it showed it needed a tune up. A new cat. converter and also the torque converter was bad. I took it home. Removed the Cat. and used a digging bar to knock all the guts out of it. Put it back on. Put in new spark plugs. The torque converter BS they fed me I knew was BS. The car ran great for the next 3 years. No lights and since the cat was still on would pass the inspection.

Even a "state only" inspection requires the emmission item to be there, functiong or not. No smog test but if it came with cars, they are still required to be there. Granted my stations Will overlook it but it's still a ticketable offense.