2007 Catalytic converter issue

I bought a 2007 SR5 extracab 4cylinder 5 speed truck new in May of 2005 here in California. My front cat went bad at 131,00 miles in 2010. I found there is some restriction on my truck in that the only "approved" cat replacement was a factory one at $1500+. I refused to pay that amount, Toyota would not warranty it, so I bought an aftermarket one and have used it for over 4 years and passed one smog test. Now I just failed the visual on my latest smog test because the part number on my cat is not correct, and my truck is now listed as "tampered" in the smog system. Is there any other option to make my truck pass smog without paying an extortion fee to Toyota for a new cat when an aftermarket one that will do just as good a job as the factory one is 1/4 the price? This issue here is a dam number on a part. This is unbelievable! I am thinking of selling my truck out of state.

 

If those cats are illegal in Ca. how can they sell them? Also the cat passes inspection but because of a number they failed it? Something does not sound right. You need to check with your state inspection dept. and make sure there is such a crazy law.