Stolen Catalytic converter

Here's the best explanation I've found online to help you understand the $'s involved for the people who hired the thieves. I've not fact checked this claim, but I'm sure I'll get trolled on here if it's wrong, so just posting it on here is kinda like fact checking. And if I don't respond to the troll it's because I have already hidden them because I'm here to help people, not argue with well established trolls:

"The platinum, palladium and rhodium are the three precious metals in the catalytic converters. The earlier converters had more precious metals where today most vehicles have multiple converters that have less metals in them. The second generation Prius has 6 grams of precious metals (about 2 grams each). Platinum is worth about $30 a gram, palladium is worth about $76 a gram and rhodium is about $370 a gram. So instead of destroying the earth like they have been, it's cheaper to remove it from catalytic converters that aren't used anymore (or stolen)."

 

Sounds pretty accurate to me. Nobody should troll you for stating the truth. Had mine stolen in London back in November 2018 while attending a funeral!

Of course the police didn’t investigate. Sometimes you wonder whether higher forces are actively preventing them from doing so!


iPad ? Pro

 

Bought my first Cat cover on Ebay for US$113 yesterday. Prices dropped down to $96US a few weeks back then the mad rush sold out most folks and inventory and prices went back up.

It remains to be seen if this cat cover gets installed on my car before a California trip, or if someones buys me out and has me install it on their car instead and I have to order another one: For Toyota Prius 2004-2009 Catalytic Converter Protection / Security Shield | eBay

I'm still concerned about overheating issues with this...

 

Sorry to hear your CC was stolen last night. The thieves who took it are likely to be rat like minions working for some faceless big boss who will be the one making real money from this crime.

When mine was stolen in November 2018 (London) I was equally shocked. It was unexpected. Up till that moment, a vehicle that was ignored, called “slow” and perceived as largely boring was never in the crime charts - then the CC Heists began.

They’re still happening all over the UK - seems our police force don’t care about crimes like that any more - but you dare mildly insult someone on Twitter, and they’ll have your guts for garters!

Strange 21st century we live in.
Shameful that so many otherwise perfectly serviceable Prius 2nd Gens that had a long life ahead of them, are now being sent to the scrappers as a result of these heists


iPad ? Pro

 

Be aware that the catalytic converter can become very hot.. there's a lot of plastic parts underneath the car and if the heat can't be extracted from that area things may get messy... I bought it as well but returned it when my insurance company warned me for this. They completely re-funded the entire system and the garage welded some re-bar strips to the pipe and between the 2 converters to prevent a cutter form being able to grab on to the pipe. Also welded some spots on the bolts as well, they can be loosened but only when it's on the lift to get access to (with a little help of a grinder...).

Hope this will prevent it from being stolen again... Heard some stories a week ago that serbian or romanian gangs just flipped over some cars to get access to the converter... Not sure how I will react when you see your car laying on its top...

Verstuurd vanaf mijn SM-A515F met Tapatalk

 

Yea... much safer to flip the car upside down rather than climbing under it... Lol...

As for heating issues I suspect we need to get in touch with some PriusChat folks in Las Vegas or Arizona to get a better sense of how bad it can get. Thinking that in hot weather that part of the interior is going to feel much hotter... But the peace of mind of parking my Prius in random sketchy places might be worth it.

 

Even less if you input San Fran zip, couple dealers $1600


Select a Dealer | Toyota

 

Got in my $125 cat off ebay today looks good. Will install it next week and put my OEM cat up for sale.

 

You got a link to the one you bought?

Also are you going to do the pipe welding yourself, or someone else?

 

Amazon $129 with clamps. No welding?

 

Considering how much thieves are getting for the OEM catalytic converters because of the value of the platinum and palladium they contain, I'd be surprised if a $125 catalytic converters has any of those valuable elements in it at all and is of any value in reducing the noxious emissions that led to catalytic converters being mandated.

 

You have any data on how good that cat is? For people with emissions inspection it has to be able to keep the check engine light off. As I look at the pictures I wonder if it would last more than a year or so before it fails due to rust.

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

It does not contain those metals in the OEM CC quantities, but it certainly does its job properly. These non-OEM cats have been engineered to do the job they’re supposed to do.
Mine came from a reputable EU manufacturer (Klarius).

My non-OEM replacement cat has passed two yearly emissions tests here in the UK so far, and if anything, my MPG has never been better.


iPad ? Pro

 

Mine was replaced by OEM, when insurance takes care of it I don't care what they replace it with. With labor the final bill was around €2400... Was glad it didn't cost me anything, even the rental WV UP was free of charge. Not even all risk insured, still got it replaced for "free". At the repair shop they were surprised, never seen it before. A few hours later, ten more rolled in quite loud... I was lucky they just ordered the parts, it was out of stock soon.

There are differences between OEM parts and $129 CC for sure, think it's a combination of thin cheap sheet metal and less pure metals inside. But if it passes MOT then your problem is solved as well, why bother? But will it last for more than a few years? Time will tell. My original was 13 years old and still looked like new (had a recent MOT and they told me all was looking perfect and original), pretty sure this one will survive the car.

Verstuurd vanaf mijn SM-A515F met Tapatalk

 

I can believe that there are non-OEM ones that pass all the tests, but not one that cost only US$125. How much did your non-OEM one cost?

 

Replace cat. Get shield.

Cat Security™ 2004 - 2009 Prius

 

They should make stickers for the windows that say hey jackass I have replaced my OEM cat with a cheap one Move along.

 

It has been really bad up here in Portland. I started this website http://www.stopcatalyticconvertertheft.org

If someone wants to put together the information for who to email in other states so something happens about this I am glad to add other states aside from oregon. About $30 million in prius cats stolen in PDX in 2020. Something has to stop. I have tried going to the EPA to shut down the decanners buying this stuff. Its a big complicated mess the more you dig into it.

So I made some stickers too....

 

Thanks for organizing this... Things are getting crazy! I just ran across this tonight on Ebay:

 

Wouldnt insurance cover that?