Can a Mitsu dealership report your car for not having a cat?

[GinNBoost]

I'm forced to bring my car to the local Mitsu dealer in order to get my broken gas gauge fixed. (The needle stopped working) I haven't brought my car to a Mitsu dealer in what seems like forever so this might sound like a stupid question but do they have the right to refuse service or can they report your car to the government for not having a cat? I don't want to go through the hassle of taking off my downpipe and putting the stock cat back on for just one day. Anyone know how dealerships are about this kind of thing? Do the techs even care?

 

[1999silverGSX]

To be honest I dont think they really would care. i dont see them refusing service or reporting you unles there absolute pricks.

 

[Avionixx]

In all likelihood they won't. They don't want to lose the business plus it's not like they'll be rewarded for it either.

 

[dsmboy51]

If the tech is a granola treehugger than maybe but i don't think they would do something like that.

 

[16gpoweredgsx]

I worked at Acura for 6 months and I seen alot of cars with no cats and/or straight pipes, nobody cared at all.

 

[wvturbo2]

If they say something then just change your cat back out after that. It's not like your under warranty, so your paying them I doubt they'll want to lose business or even care.

 

[ATLDSM96]

i asked my uncle about it,( hes been a mitsu mechanic for like 12 years now) so i figured he would know what to say, basically he said they technically can, but he has never seen anyone report them or refuse to service the vehicle.

 

[GinNBoost]

Cool thanks guys. I figured I'd ask just in case.

 

[meliketoball]

I went to my state referee inspection, I failed and I told them there was a brand new cat on the car. They looked at it and told me that it wasn't California Legal! They didn't report anything I believe so, yeah I think you're going to be alright.

 

[95CarbonEclipse]

IMO... the guys at the dealership have much better things to worry about. Like who their G/F is with while they're at work.

 

[turboglenn]

When i worked at a dealership as a mechanic years ago the only rule was that if we saw that it had no cat, we couldn't let it leave the shop unless by trailer, it could not "drive off" the lot. That was a policy i believe to cover our asses, but i know a few other shops here in town that said they have to go by the same rules basically. So you might have to trailer it home if anything. i doubt they'd report you to the EPA, they got more important things to worry about (as stated above )and EPA paperwork and inspections are a PITA and take a lot of time. They came down on the dealer i was working at for not properly containing petroleum storage barrels that were leaking into the ground behind the shop hahah.

and if they do say anything, just tell them
A.) it's a car for "off road use only"
b.) i forgot to put my cat back on after the drags this weekend , I'll fix it when i get home

One of those 2 usually works, I've been busted out by a few tire shops for the same thing and told them i forgot to put the cat on after racing and no one gave 2 sh!ts

 

[LTUDSM]

well if you go to that Mitsu service,Which is on route one near to Brunswick,then you will be ok,cause i went there,without a muffler,my friend with his evo went there without a cat,nobody didn't say a word )

 

[GinNBoost]

Yeah I brought it to Brad Benson Mitsubishi on Route 1. Not my favorite place in the world...but I had no choice in this matter. I did get a chance to look at the EVO Xs though. Selling for 35k...yeesh.

 

[MollEclipse]

If they have to remove that part of the exhaust for any reason they are required by law to put an approved cat on at your expense. This is what i was told when i went for my state inspection and emissions license a few years back. As far as i know it is a federal law, not just for PA. But im not sure.

 

[Superfly4943]

You are correct about that being a federal law. Personally, I would just call the place and ask, most techs won't care, they're car guys too.