Tenneco and the Walker® emissions control brand have developed an extensive educational outreach program to assist automotive service businesses affected by new regulations covering many vehicle emissions repairs performed in New York state. Effective June 1, 2013, it became illegal to install, sell, offer for sale or advertise a new aftermarket catalytic converter on certain vehicles in New York unless the converter complies with California Air Resources Board (CARB) requirements. The regulation, which will be enforced beginning in January 2014, applies to all aftermarket converters for sale or use on 1993, 1994, 1996 and later model-year vehicles that were certified to California or U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 50-State emissions standards.
“As a leading global manufacturer of original equipment and aftermarket converters, Tenneco embraces the responsibility to help New York repair businesses and their parts providers understand the new regulation and implement processes to ensure compliance in every emissions repair,” said Steve Myers, director of product engineering, North America aftermarket emissions control, Tenneco. “We encourage any business owner who has questions about the requirement to contact their Walker emissions control representative for the training and support they need.”
Among the free educational materials available from Tenneco and Walker are brochures, pamphlets, posters, counter mats, and a technical video covering the new regulation as well as quick processes for identifying a vehicle’s emissions certification. The free video, “New York CARB-Compliant Aftermarket Converter Regulation: Finding the Correct Replacement Converter,” is available online through the “TennecoInc” channel at www.YouTube.com as well as the www.walkerexhaust.com website. The Walker website also includes other diagnostic and repair information designed specifically for businesses affected by the new regulation.
As a result of the new law, when a vehicle is brought into a New York shop for an emissions repair, the service provider needs to determine the vehicle’s model year and, if applicable, whether it is California or 50-State emissions-certified. The Walker training materials explain how to quickly find this information by locating the emissions control information label. Then, for vehicles requiring a CARB-compliant replacement converter, the materials detail the process for using the vehicle’s engine family number (EFN) to identify the correct Walker CalCat replacement converter. Tenneco and Walker also remind shop professionals that the root cause of any catalytic converter failure should be corrected before installing a new converter.
In addition to developing educational materials for aftermarket professionals affected by the law, Tenneco and Walker have dramatically expanded the Walker CalCat® line of CARB-compliant converters to help ensure that shops can quickly and easily access the right components for each repair. “Our engineers and U.S.-based manufacturing facility have been working around the clock to make sure we’re ready to support every New York shop with the Walker CalCat coverage they need,” Myers said.
For more information concerning free training materials available through the Walker brand, please contact your Walker provider or Tenneco sales representative, visit www.walkerexhaust.com, and stop by Tenneco’s AAPEX booth (No. 1626) in Las Vegas.
Subscribe to Motor Age and receive articles like this every month…absolutely free. Click here
