Another Catalytic Converter Post

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by Yin H., Apr 10, 2020.

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  1. Yin H.

    Yin H. Junior Member

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    Hi there:

    My catalytic converter was ripped off recently. It's a 2007 Prius with about 140,000 miles. I don't have comprehensive, so the insurance option is out the window. I am in CA. I'm estimating the car is worth around $4,500, as in, I don't think anyone would purchase the car from me for more than $4,500, assuming the catalytic converter had not been stolen.

    I'm surveying the options available and list them below. Can anyone tell me if I've missed anything?

    Also, if anyone has a referral to any shops in the Bay Area, please let me know.

    OEM + anti theft device

    - Pay the full freight for the repair and anti-theft device. This would cost around $3,500.

    - I see some people selling OEM parts for $900, and if so, this would bring the cost to around $1,800, which is more forgiving.

    Non-OEM + use the car outside CA

    - I have family outside of CA. I would cheaply install a non-CA compliant converter and gift or sell it to family out of state.

    Non-OEM + use the car inside CA

    Not legal.
     
    #1 Yin H., Apr 10, 2020
  2. SFO

    SFO Senior Member

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    Welcome to PriusChat!!

    $3500 sounds a bit extreme, unless the OEM pricing has gone up quite a bit. Thought an OEM assembly was closer to $1500

    Best bet could be :
    Though it sounds like a tank, try to start it every week to prevent other nasties from happening.
     
    #2 SFO, Apr 10, 2020
  3. Yin H.

    Yin H. Junior Member

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    IMG_3541.jpg IMG_3948.jpg You are right, I saw the replacement CATs for about $1650 at local dealers. If I buy the replacement CAT, is the replacement really just a matter of unscrewing some bolts and then bolting it on? Here two photos of the theft job. They unbolted near the engine and then cut out the cat. The O2 sensor was snipped too. Obviously I would install anti-theft after.
     
    #3 Yin H., Apr 10, 2020
  4. ydpplqbd

    ydpplqbd Active Member

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    Sorry to hear of your plight.
     
    #4 ydpplqbd, Apr 10, 2020
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  5. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    Also sorry to hear of this happening.
    Makes me mad that this is so much becoming a more and more common theft.

    Being robbed, is a personal violation as well as a physical theft. There can be a psychological aspect to it.
    I guess my advice is before making any decision, step back for a while, and make sure you're doing what you want to do, not just immediately, but going forward for the future.

    I say this because I've been robbed twice in my life. Once was an expensive digital camera, and once was a back-pack, filled with a lot of things.
    In both cases I dealt with the violation, by going out and purchasing (as much as I could) the exact assets that were taken from me.
    In retrospect, it wasn't financially or just tangibly the wisest thing to do. It was purely a psychological reaction of wanting to "make myself whole".
    I might just take a day or two....before making any decision about what you want to do.
    Do as you are doing....investigating options, and then maybe what you want to do, will become clearer.
     
    #5 The Electric Me, Apr 10, 2020
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  6. qmanqman

    qmanqman Active Member

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    Catalytic converter for these rigs is $200-300 on rockauto.com
     
    #6 qmanqman, Apr 10, 2020
  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    cali compliant?
     
    #7 bisco, Apr 10, 2020
  8. Yin H.

    Yin H. Junior Member

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    Has anyone installed the OEM cat themselves? Thanks,
     
    #8 Yin H., Apr 13, 2020
  9. timwalsh300

    timwalsh300 Member

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    I'm just here to say that my catalytic converter was also stolen on Saturday night. The past few hours of reading about this crime, including a dozen threads on this forum over the past year, have been eye-opening for me. This sounds extremely frustrating for California residents. Fortunately, my mechanic here in Hawaii was able to put in a new one, plus O2 sensors that were damaged, for only $1,000. He said that mine was the second Prius victim in the past three weeks that he's seen at his small shop. I've always had a $1,000 deductible on my comprehensive coverage, but I plan to change it to $0 now that this is a local trend.

    My Prius is a 2008 with 120,000 miles, and I plan to just keep it running no matter what. Paying $3,000 to fix a car valued at $4,000 is still cheaper than buying another car, and I wouldn't want another car.
     
    #9 timwalsh300, Apr 13, 2020
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  10. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    Illegal in California.
     
    #10 fuzzy1, Apr 13, 2020
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  11. Yin H.

    Yin H. Junior Member

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    I saw one video on cat installation and so I will try installing on my own. I was concerned that the thieves cut too far beyond the 2nd cat. But I guess when I buy an OEM cat, the whole cat and assembly comes with it. If I was buying a non-CA compliant cat, I think it would have been a greater issue.

    Thanks to everyone who responded.
     
    #11 Yin H., Apr 14, 2020
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  12. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    all the best!(y)
     
    #12 bisco, Apr 14, 2020
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  13. SFO

    SFO Senior Member

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    Which anti-theft device will you be using?
     
    #13 SFO, Apr 15, 2020
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  14. Yin H.

    Yin H. Junior Member

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    Hey SFO:

    I was planning on using one of the three devices mentioned here Review of 3 cat anti theft devices | PriusChat.

    And perhaps an anti-tilt alarm.

    All of the repair shops I called also mentioned welding some sort of anti-theft bars, but I'm not exactly sure how effective this is in comparison.

    I would love any recommendations though.
     
    #14 Yin H., Apr 16, 2020
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  15. SFO

    SFO Senior Member

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    Would be interesting to see what these "anti theft bars" look like, not sure I've seen such before.

    An anti-tilt alarm can be effective, but once they know you have one they may come back and cut the horn wires after it stops making noise.

    The least expensive anti-theft device could be a piece of expanded metal : Preventing Catalytic Converter theft | PriusChat

    The parts list : Preventing Catalytic Converter theft | Page 2 | PriusChat

    Looks like a 38"x48" piece could cover it, but many places will have you buy a larger (whole) piece as mentioned in the parts list.

    Found a couple of sources locally, one being Maxx Metals, Inc. | Committed to providing a variety of metal products to meet your needs. - super friendly bunch at Maxx, and they have a leftovers section in the back of the warehouse which could offer a discounted option over having to purchase a full 4x10 sheet. They can also cut the piece of metal to your dimensions on site. Let me know if you end up with a leftover section from a full sheet, as I would be interested in installing one myself.

    Another is Alan Steel & Supply in RWC, on E Bayshore next to toyota101.
     
    #15 SFO, Apr 16, 2020
    Last edited: Apr 16, 2020
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  16. richard203

    richard203 Member

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    i have a question i was wondering how they going to cut the horn wires? dont they need to jack up the car to cut it and isnt there undercover panel to take off for them to see it?
     
    #16 richard203, Apr 16, 2020
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  17. SFO

    SFO Senior Member

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    Honestly never tried it, but when inquiring about a tilt sensor for a prius at an alarm installer on mission st. in daly city, the counter person mentioned that some customers no longer have a functioning horn after having a catalyst stolen, adding that the thieves cut the horn wires.
     
    #17 SFO, Apr 17, 2020
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  18. Yin H.

    Yin H. Junior Member

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    SFO: Thanks for that idea. I wonder how much of a deterrent the cat shield is, in addition to the expanded metal. I'm thinking it would add 3-4 minutes to the theft if the thief is using a sawzall. Still, better than nothing.

    Richard203: I think the thieves are jacking up the car anyway to cut out the cat.
     
    #18 Yin H., Apr 17, 2020
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  19. richard203

    richard203 Member

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    isnt if the thieve jack the car up the alarm wll be activated and hope ur car is parked outside so u would check it out if not thats a different story. lol
     
    #19 richard203, Apr 18, 2020
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  20. douglasjre

    douglasjre Senior Member

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    All these stories of stolen cats come from residents in the PCNW. Wonder why that is ...
     
    #20 douglasjre, May 10, 2020
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