CA: CATALYTIC CONVERTER stolen

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by prius05_owner, Jul 1, 2019.

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  1. prius05_owner

    prius05_owner New Member

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    If you are living in socal or norcal be careful with your gen 2 prius, I would take precautionary steps to prevent your catalytic converter from disappearing in the blink of an eye. I just got my cat stolen over the weekend in Winnetka so make sure you have a cage or tilt alarm .
    -Los Angeles
    -Winnetka
    -Van Nuys
    -Canoga Park
    -North Hills
     
    #1 prius05_owner, Jul 1, 2019
    ChrisFaehrtPrius and bisco like this.
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    major bummer!

    unfortunately, egis is all too common. see london
     
    #2 bisco, Jul 1, 2019
  3. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    I've heard there's various armoring techniques people are using... Welding the catalytic in place is one way... But what's the best design for that? Clearly you want a thief with lots of practice of removing one from under a Prius in the dark of night to realize they picked the wrong car before they cut through the pipes rather than after.

    Or maybe booby trap it to explode with pepper spray and that ink you can't remove that they use on people who rob banks?

    Of course, I'm at 244K miles so whoever jacks my catalytic converter won't be too happy with it and despite the expense to replace, I'd feel way more optimistic about my next 250K miles than I do now. :)
     
    #3 PriusCamper, Jul 1, 2019
  4. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    This is nothing new, only bad part is the replacement will cost as much as what your car is worth.

    Maybe there's a gang of thieves doing this not to sell your cat, but to hope you put your car on craigslist for $1000 and they'll buy it cheap. They're after the car, not just the cat
     
    #4 JC91006, Jul 1, 2019
  5. prius05_owner

    prius05_owner New Member

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    That's my initial impression since I received a note with a number offering to buy my car but beside from that I was planning to upgrade to gen 3 next year. I guess it's time to move on and take a loss.
     
    #5 prius05_owner, Jul 2, 2019
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  6. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    don't sell it to the thieves.....just don't do it. sell it on here
     
    #6 JC91006, Jul 2, 2019
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  7. exstudent

    exstudent Senior Member

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    #7 exstudent, Jul 2, 2019
  8. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    Is the main purpose for stealiing converters fixing other Prii or selling for Platinum value? If selling for Platinum value, yours will do nicely.
     
    #8 wjtracy, Jul 3, 2019
  9. ice9

    ice9 Active Member

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    Is just gen 2?
     
    #9 ice9, Jul 3, 2019
  10. prius05_owner

    prius05_owner New Member

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    I checked into "pick your part" and they won't sell used catalytic converter since it's a federal offense? I rather sell the car if someone from this board is interested but I found a place that will install catalytic converter claiming to pass smog this weekend.


    2005 Prius Gen 2
    clean title
    177,xxx miles
    Coolant changed for both inverter and radiator
    New tires from American Tires with receipt
    NGK plat plugs
    4-bottles of trans fluid that I was about to replace over the weekend before this unfortunate event
    -single din usb player
    -air filter / engine filter replaced every year
    -techron fuel system cleaner performed every oil change
    -marvel mystery oil used 10k
    -synthetic oil change changed every 5k
    -replaced bulbs for headlight two months ago
    -brake fluid replaced last year
    -hybrid battery pack replace
    -45~48 mpg
    -AC is running strong
    -extra gallon 50/50 black bottle from toyota and two oil filters


    con
    -driver side rear dent from previous owner
    -noise in the rear from old bushing that needs to be replaced
    -wheel alignment
    -dents and scratch from parking car in the street of Los Angeles
    -air vents cracked from installing radio :3

    I'll provide a VIN if someone is interested but as it stands without the catalytic converter asking price is $2k as is.
     
    #10 prius05_owner, Jul 3, 2019
  11. prius05_owner

    prius05_owner New Member

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    the current value of selling the cat is around $200~300 in the black market from what the dealership is telling me when I was checking out 2019 Prius LE
     
    #11 prius05_owner, Jul 3, 2019
  12. prius05_owner

    prius05_owner New Member

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    CatClamp Standard Kit works with prius gen 2 and gen 3 if you guys are planning to protect your catalytic converter which I'm planning on buying if I fix my car.
     
    #12 prius05_owner, Jul 3, 2019
  13. sweelsprius

    sweelsprius Junior Member

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    I just had mine stolen twice within the space of 12 days in the San Francisco/Stanford area.

    Wondering if I need the mechanic to install or whether I can do it myself...
     
    #13 sweelsprius, Jul 11, 2019
  14. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    post some pics of the damage and we might be able to advise... Sometimes it's nuts and bolts, sometimes it's welding... Are you comfortable with both?
     
    #14 PriusCamper, Jul 12, 2019
  15. Prii_socal

    Prii_socal New Member

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    should've checked your post earlier, now mine got stolen too and ca law make it so hard to find replacement
     
    #15 Prii_socal, Jul 19, 2019
  16. prius05_owner

    prius05_owner New Member

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    update:
    I got the prius fixed going through a local muffler shop in SFV but the cost was pretty hefty.
    ~600 to get fixed with two new cats, piping, 02 sensor ,and labor cost along with smog inspection
     
    #16 prius05_owner, Jul 25, 2019
  17. SFO

    SFO Senior Member

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    Did you purchase and install?

    Any pictures?
    Sounds harsh. Would be interesting if you installed one of these kits on your Prius, and if it was successful in mitigating future theft or not.
     
    #17 SFO, Jul 25, 2019
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  18. Ed69

    Ed69 Junior Member

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    Are Prius cats especially valuable? It seems a lower car like ours would in itself deter thieves than a lifted truck or something. But it seems Prius’s are particularly susceptible to their cats being stolen. What am I missing?
     
    #18 Ed69, Jul 25, 2019
  19. Skibob

    Skibob Senior Member

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    What your missing is doing some research here. The Gen 2 Prius cat has a LOT of precious metals in it. Enough to get 350-400 dollars for one.
     
    #19 Skibob, Jul 29, 2019
  20. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    More likely because it is a state offense in California.
     
    #20 fuzzy1, Jul 29, 2019
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