Settlement Agreement Reached On Illegal Emissions Control "defeat Devices"

The Department of Justice and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) settled a case with a company that had been accused of selling electronic devices that allowed cars to emit excessive levels of pollution in violation of the Clean Air Act. The products are known as oxygen sensor simulators (O2 Sims) and signal to the engine computer that the automobile is functioning properly even when the catalytic converter is missing or disabled. These types of products are known as "defeat devices" and are potentially illegal under subsection (B) of 42 USC Sec. 7522 (1990 Clean Air Act Amendments), which states:

"(B) for any person to manufacture or sell, or offer to sell, or install, any part or component intended for use with, or as part of, any motor vehicle or motor-vehicle engine, where a principle effect of the part or component is to bypass, defeat, or render inoperative any device or element of design installed on or in a motor vehicle or motor vehicle engine in compliance with regulations under this subchapter, and where the person knows or should know that such part or component is being offered for sale or installed for such use or put to such use;"

The company had sold an estimated 44,000 units since 2001 and will pay more than $74,000 in civil penalties. It is also required to undertake a buy-back program. The EPA estimates that the O2 Sims sold had the potential to allow emissions equivalent to half a million vehicles with fully operational emissions control systems over their lifetimes.

 

yeah sucks for guys in states like cali

 

What's funny is I had one on my old car simply because it was cheaper to buy then the second O2 was (post cat). It's not like it did anything other then let the ECU know the cat was working anyway.

 

may end up like that back here in a few years if they get their way....

 

meh probably not

 

Heh, it give me warm fuzzies to know that I operate a 2-smoke pinger that belches oil everywhere.

 

If your car is old enough, none of that crap matters

 

If the CEL annoys you so much why not just pull the bulb like I did on my turbo RS :dunno:

I'm still under the opinion, and I know this is tough love for some, that if you modify your car you take a chance. If something goes wrong you're SOL. Don't mod the car unless you're ready for the consequences, even if they're abstract consequences. Modifying the car enough to cause a CEL isn't always a big deal so you can leave the solid CEL and hope the ECU overrides it with a flashing one if anything is seriously wrong, but if you know your car well enough you'd know when something is wrong. Sometimes we know something is wrong before the CEL even goes on.

As for the emissions thing I don't see how this company was fined if they made it abundantly clear that their devices were for "offroad" use only. What's next, required checks for racing licenses/endorsements before being able to sell cat-less items? Maybe instead of the company they should be going after the individuals who used them "onroad" :laugh:

 

What they don't tell you in that lawsuit is that millions of people a day mow their lawn with old 2-stroke mowers. Even the 4-stroke ones emit TONS of polution. Go after the small engines if you want to save the ufking world....

Also, wth do antifowlers do?

 

stops the poultry from overcooking

 

So was this targeted at the CEL fixes that come with alot of aftermarket DPs (like Helix/Invidia/ect..)? that blows...

As for what RallyNavvie said i whole heartedly agree. My CEL has been on for just about 3 yrs now. when it starts flahing at me i know something is really wrong (has happened before) otherwise the car runs fine. Last time i pulled the codes i got 11 of them. car still runs fine with them in there (and still gets same gas milage 24-32).

Pretty much I would be more scared if the CEL light wasnt on all the time... then something is really wrong.

 

I've never had a cel light in any of my subarus.

 

I have put several electronic ones on cars, I've also installed the anti-foulers, I wonder how this "buy back" will affect the local shops that sold and installed them....Since owning my Subie, even with the catless TB, I have yet to see a CEL!! I'm sure most of it is due to the TPT(Tom's Power Tune) I had done!!:biggrin: