Why installing a catalytic converter anti-theft shield is worth it

someone just reported a stolen cat in ct. what happens in cali always reaches the east coast eventually...

 

Just installed my Miller CatShield.

 

How about moving to an area where you dont have to worry about thiefs taking your cats. Your insurance rates will go down living in an area with less crime too.

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

With no other human around you do not need to worry about a job either. How to love without a job could provide a new puzzle to solve though.

 

Good thing there has never been any humans on the moon or mars huh.

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

What rivet gun did you use, in particular how long? Car doesn't look to be extremely high, looks doable.

Tires about 2" (at most) clear?

 

Front is a little higher then, I think?

Hah, had that one in my "cart". Seemed better quality, and versatile, with 13" length. $48 CDN up here.

 

Has anyone in California passed smog inspection with the Miller shield in place? How would the shield be removed and reinstalled if need be, without destroying rivets and purchasing new ones?

 

Supposedly the Cat ID numbers can be read without removing the shield. The shield manufacturers have thought of this, or the product would not be viable. I have seen one install video where the guy determines some Cat ID is viewable through the shield, though it's not easy.

AFAIK the pop rivets can only be destroyed, fresh ones used.

 

Huh..so these are installed with rivets?

Edit : I get it now..the 'rivet nuts' are installed with the rivet gun so you have a point to screw the bolts into.

Watched the video...Ugh..yeah..on a Gen3 the fact the coolant line into the exhaust apparatus exists isn't good. Maybe I should install one of these on our Gen3. My daughter has had it up in Minneapolis lately...and has to park on the street.

So..Miller CatShield...order here..right? Cat Shield — MILLERCAT - CARB Converters

 

Correct....but thieves are motivated by profit, generally speaking.

If you have a G2 (and...soon a G3) Prius, and you live in the DPRC, then you NEED to take proactive measures against cat theft.
Period.
Full stop.

Market price for a stolen cat in zip codes beginning in '90' is about $250.
You can zap one off of a car in about 15 minutes.
THAT's a living wage......even in SOCAL.

A few dollars worth of bar stock strategically applied, or a few hundred dollars in some pre-manned aluminum shield (as long as it does not prevent a SMOG check**) can prevent a $2,000 repair bill.

So....
As long as the measures are not prohibitively expensive, do not prevent the oppressive government from verifying that you have an OEM cat installed(**), OR cause some other problem....then you're fine.

DO...YOU.
(Everybody else is already taken)

Live where you want to live.
Install a cat shield or some other mitigation....and sleep a little better at night, especially if you're one of those poor souls that have to park your car on the street.
It does not need to get ANY more complicated or political than that.
Catalytic converter theft, like many other things in life, can be analyzed statistically, or politically.

YMMV.





(**) I'm curious. Why not install an aftermarket cat for $200 and some gee-wizz aluminum cat-shield for $200 and save $1600??

 

Yeah..but isn't that overkill? When I hear about when these guys steal cats, it is usually a quick 'jack and grab'. If they see the shield, it seems to me that they wouldn't want to take the time to deal with it ( i.e. - it would take too long )?