California. 2005 Prius in very good condition, replaced battery, car is worth keeping. Cat has been stolen, I am thinking of replacing it with a 49 state cat that cost $125 compared to $2000 OEM Cat from dealer along with $50 Denso ox sensor. Yes, I know that this is not legal in CA With the primary concern being that it would fail visual inspection, though emissions would likely pass. However, I am thinking of also installing one of the cat shields to deter future theft and make Smog inspection more difficult . What do smog shops do for the visual inspection of the CAt when they come across a Prius with a theft deterrent cat shield? I’m assuming they’re not going to take those off for the inspection, or do they? Yes I know that I am inquiring around getting around the law, but then there is the reality of Cost of repair , real Possibility of repeated theft While considering the value of the 15-year-old car. Thank you for any insight and suggestions.
That sounds like a good plan to me! I have never lived in California so I don’t know how thorough these inspections are, but I’d think you’d be fine. I replaced my old clogged cat with a magna flow one a year ago, still works great!
Like @Raytheeagle kindly mentioned above, best to scope out potential shops from afar to see if they visually inspect or not. The latest shop looked under the car on hands and knees, then looked between the engine and the firewall from the passenger side. Another shop only uses a telescoping mirror to inspect the cat (think vehicular bomb inspection or US mint entry), guess he was tired.
You don't have to pay for a cat shield because the cheap, replacement cat will have no value so nobody would bother stealing it. The thieves know exactly what they're looking at.
The California Air Resources Board does random inspections of smog test sites. I'd be surprised, if any shop would risk their hundreds of thousands of dollars investment in equipment, training and licenses just to appease a few Prius owners.
We are in N nevada where there's a raft of catalytic converter thefts this winter. Ithe non-toyota shop I use prefers OEM for "better results" they say. But told today there is a nationwide back order on these. Insurance Co threatens to only cover after market cats. We have 2007, 175, 000 miles. Mpg runs 44. Advice? And recommendations for after market brand puleasse! (What's magma type someone mentioned?) Thx!!!
