Also much simpler to handle installing a shield on your timeline than having to replace a cat on someone else's timeline, plus potential lead times of getting it fixed.
New Prius Can Be Ordered With a Catalytic Converter Shield
- Thread starter Shel_B
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I believe I’ve read of people who have had their cat stolen multiple times?
Maybe getting replaced isn’t too bad now, but what with the Great Parts Shortages going on…
Also… these thieves are not the sort to use loving car to remove the cat, carefully torching the bolts out and not cutting anything. It’s more like, sawzall time, who cares what kind of damage occurs to the rest of the exaust.
I believe we’ve (this board that is) have discussed that, and figured, it didn’t matter. While it should be cheap enough for the manufacturer to do, there is the headache of making sure the right cat gets onto the right car while on the line. Also there’s this thing with rust obscuring numbers… or outright grinding off. And yet another database for the gov to (mis)manage.
I did see a report recently about a large sting operation getting a large number of persons responsible. Maybe the problem will slowly solve itself.
Of course, once we all drive only EV’s this problem goes away, right?
Shel_B
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Plus there is the hassle and inconvenience associated with getting the cat replaced. At one point not too long ago it was very difficult to get a replacement cat for a Kia Soul as, like the Prius, they were being stolen frequently. In California (and I believe NY and one other state) you can't buy an OTC replacement cat. Emissions laws require only original equipment cats to be used, thereby increasing demand, scarcity, cost, and inconvenience. The only place you could obtain a legal Prius cat was through Toyota (please correct me if things have changed).
By the time that would even be remotely possible (25-30 years, easy) the call will be that roads themselves cause climate change, and they will outlaw roads too.Of course, once we all drive only EV’s this problem goes away, right?
They're already blaming roads for traffic congestion.
They should ban battery powered sawsall’s….
No one Needs that kind of sawing power.
Our founding fathers used hand saws effectively, right?
No one Needs that kind of sawing power.
Our founding fathers used hand saws effectively, right?
Or at the very least, make them safer by limiting how many volts they have.
Nobody needs more than 6V.
That’s really the issue.
A good carbide blade, a good cordless Sawzall, and a lack of concern for collateral damage, makes for quick work.
The shield really just makes your car a “hard target”, meaning they likely move on rather than spend the extra time.
Maybe…
Shel_B
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El Cerrito seeing uptick in catalytic converter thefts
It’s the horrible sound no driver wants to hear after turning on the ignition — a screeching indication that their catalytic converter has been ripped off.
www.kron4.com
But, it is good way to make some extra money. That will be “dealership add on.”
Jackson_Slugger
$50 Site Donor 2022
Some states, like NY, will not allow anything but OEM new cats for replacement. The fines and penalties are pretty stiff as I understand...
I believe my old 1988 Civic LX was like this.
There seems to be a steady stream of late 90s and early 00s Ford trucks and vans getting their cats stolen around here. When they were available they were all $2,500-4,000 a piece. Unfortunately they are pretty much all discontinued, but it they were available our sales numbers would be through the roof.
I remember a buddies Celica taken in for emissions inspection in NY. Barely any exhaust came out because manifold had so many holes and was obviously loud. The shop passed it as it barely tail pipe sniffer registered anything despite check engine light on.
Thermal reactors
Here in the Twin Cities, cat theft since the start of the pandemic has skyrocketed. 80% Prius', the remainder being large trucks and vans with the occasional step-child thrown in.
The early Prius' are no big deal, it's the later models with the heat exchanger that are a pain. They can only be sourced from Toyota, and they're impossible to find. I'm down to one, but for months I had THREE sitting in my lot waiting for parts.
The worst one, though, was a newer 6.7 F-450. They stole both the cat and the particulate filter, while destroying multiple O2 sensors and pressure sensors. I believe that ended up being something like a $7k repair.
The early Prius' are no big deal, it's the later models with the heat exchanger that are a pain. They can only be sourced from Toyota, and they're impossible to find. I'm down to one, but for months I had THREE sitting in my lot waiting for parts.
The worst one, though, was a newer 6.7 F-450. They stole both the cat and the particulate filter, while destroying multiple O2 sensors and pressure sensors. I believe that ended up being something like a $7k repair.
The solution is to make it illegal to take a cut off cat to any scrap dealer without the paperwork. Only allow a cat to be sold if the seller has the title of the car, and has sign off from the local police department that allows the transaction to occur.
No easy market for the cut cats, no desire to source by the meth heads.
No easy market for the cut cats, no desire to source by the meth heads.
Jackson_Slugger
$50 Site Donor 2022
Not sure when that was, but they don't test tailpipe emissions in NY. They just plug it into a computer and send the read-out to Albany. If the light is on, more than likely it fails although cars of a certain age (late 1990's) are exempted....
