My CAT got stolen last week...stupid jerks...

One EXPECTS car designers to consider the environment that their subsystems operate in.

Exhaust systems get hot.
Mieces love plant based wire insulation.
There are a lot of reasons why exhaust wires might meet up (or short to ground) that go well beyond cat theft, and since O2 sensors and closed loop fuel management systems aren't exactly emerging technology some of these common(?) problems can and SHOULD be mitigated against....and I think that they ARE.
Mosfets are not new either, nor are circuits that can detect, prevent, and recover.....quickly....from an over-current event.....cause, hey......wires wiggle too.

No offense but that's balloon juice.
ECUs are ALREADY expensive.
Just getting one "diagnosed" is expensive.
.....and......electronic parts are dirt cheap.

I'm only an ET who hasn't seen a bench in over 20 years, but I could probably cobble together a protection circuit with 25 cents worth of parts just buying them from eBay and waiting 6 weeks for delivery from the CHICOMMS...but I don't have to.
Integrated parts already exist for this.
Toyota can buy these same parts by the container.
And this is PRESUMING that there are not mosfets being made with onboard protection.

You know what I think?
I think that a lot of GOOD ECUs are being replaced by BAD mechanics who, at best, are "Easter-Egging" a problem.....or they're engaging in activity that's no better than kids with pipe cutters.

JMHO....

 

I can't say that most of your opinions aren't valid, but the point is that Toyota engineers did not design overcurrent protection into their control modules, and in 30 years of general repair I haven't seen really any automotive electronic design that does incorporate that.

There certainly are enough instances where a short has "let the smoke out" of whatever control module is present on many different systems, yet if the manfacturers won't protect against that beyond an old school fuse on the power feed, there's gotta be a reason. My top bet is always going to be money.

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

^fair nuff

 

This is the exact area where the idiots stole the aftermarket cat from my son's Prius. Three dipsticks from Charlotte, NC

Three charged in attempted catalytic converter theft in Columbia community, police say

 

How did you get the Canadian Cat OP?

My cat just got stolen, only discovered it today when we started my car 2.21.2021. I'd like to get the cat and sell my car out of state if that is the case.

 

That story links to yet another relevant story:

SC police officer made at least $20,000 illegally selling metal, SLED says

"Between July and October while Milligan was a Barnwell police officer, he advertised on Facebook that he was buying catalytic converters in South Carolina, an agent said. ...

Milligan used his patrol car to go pick up the illegally obtained converters, according to SLED."

At least he is now a former officer.

 

It’s working? That’s good to hear. There a guy on Facebook coming tomorrow to fix it. So I’ll see. If the car drives and passes smog heck I’ll keep it!

 

Really. For what ever reason this smog place never looks. They just scan. Its a mom and pop shop in a nice area too so go figure.

 

I just got mine replaced from a guy I found on facebook market place for $420 but its back on the road and works "normal". Wonder if the cell will be trigger and if so if I clear it, will it come back right away or a few days. My cat was actually throwing the catalytic converter code but it did so randomly and it would disappear and come back on time to time.

 

The requirement is to use a CARB-approved part. The question you need to ask is, why has no aftermarket supplier of a Prius equivalent catalytic converter had their parts approved for CARB states?

Usually, you follow the money to find the answer. No need for conspiracy theories.

 

You think my anti theft method will work. I just did this right now. I’m gonna BURN THIS CAR TO THE GROUND IN FRUSTRATION if this replacement cat, which is not even oem, gets stolen.

 

I was replying specifically to this:

 

I know lesson learned. I just didn’t feel comprehensive was worth it when a car was purchased for $3000. Given the cost of the car do you think insurance will even cover the car and replace the car? I would think they would just total the car.