Catalytic Converter Theft

Hi Freeze Time, I think either the Cat Shield or MillerCat are better options than some of the "wire" or cage type protectors, since they cover up the most area.

I recall I've read reports about Gen 3s getting hit, as well as watched YT vids of mechanics repairing them. You might want to search news reports and decide for yourself.
They're starting to steal gen3 prius converters - have anti-theft installed


I have a Prime and I've never heard of a Prime cat getting stolen. But I live in Seattle which is a hot spot.... so I got mine installed.

 

So Freeze Time, I did a quick google search as I replying to you.... and I have a new data point. I just posted a thread.

https://priuschat.com/threads/catalytic-convertor-stolen-even-with-cat-shield.224168/

 

of course it can be stolen, this ensures that the cat protection companies can release a version 2 to make even more money from people with version 1 units. Have to find a way to keep themselves in businesses with returning customers.

 

tilt alarm?

2 stage shock sensor or look into microwave sensor.

 

Hey, has anyone tried razor wire????

 

Hahah, I wouldn't be that cynical. I think the darn thieves (methheads, based on the mugshots I've seen so far), esp. the organized ones, will find away around almost any security device at some point.

.... razor wire wrapped around the cat, or the thieves? .... not suggesting anything....

 

Getting this one for my Prime and maybe one for the Gen 3

Stainless Steel MILLERCAT 2016-2021 Prius Gen 4 Cat Shield™– MillerCAT Corp

 

what happens there in the usa if i don't use the catalyst? leave only a straight tube in place

 

This depends very strongly on location. In some places, such as California, it means flunking the next smog test, blocking registration renewal. In other places, no problem.

 

Hi there, I'm also in Seattle and own a Prius. I'm looking to get a cat shield install on my car. Do you have any recommendations ? Thank you

 

Bad gas mileage, bad engine performance and the bad smelling exhaust is poisonous and will kill the sick and the elderly if they get exposed to it too often.

 

Yes it is a problem!!! The engine is tuned to work with the specific back pressure that the catalytic converter provides and loss in engine performance and really bad MPG is the result of this kind of stupid that will actually kill the sick and the elderly:

"Some 385,000 people worldwide died prematurely in 2015 from air pollution caused by vehicle exhaust emissions, a study found on Feb. 27." StackPath

 

That was "no problem" as in "the local authorities don't give a rip".

Emissions testing ended in this state on 1/1/2020, very shortly before the pandemic. There is no remaining program here to catch the missing cats.

Then as the pandemic shutdown began a year ago, a lot of modders were home with nothing to do except mod their cars. The number of straight pipes (muffler deletes or similar) I can hear from my yard (at least 2 miles away for the loudest ones on certain roads), exploded to a nearly continuous roar. Nobody seems to have done or said squat about it.

 

in commiefornia here, a law was passed that if your vehicle has a modified exhaust pipe and puts out noise 96db or louder (yes a cop will put a db meter next to the pipe, you would be issued a ticket to show up in court, revert back to stock and will only be approved after a “state official” inspects & signs you off. My residence and work are in 2 different counties, many my friends coworkers have modified pipe trucks everywhere, no one has received a ticket yet for unlawful pipes.

So it’s definitely not a problem

 

sooooooo, 400,000 people died from air pollution and we didn't shut down the entire country's diesel powered supply chain... but 400,000 (if you believe the news) died from a virus and boom, the country economy is slam dunked in the toilet for a year and a half (so far).

makes total sense. yup

 

Love that law!!! We all share the same soundscape and noise pollution causes health issues too... I'm sure if you went 100 years in the future people would look back on this era as so insane for how loud it was. You can see glimpses of that future today in some cities in china where are fossil fuel vehicles have been banned. My friends who have been there says the cities are incredibly quiet and you can hear the birds singing more than anything else. Whatever laws we have to pass to get humanity to that way of living again has my support!

 

Just clicked ignore button on you so I never have to see anything you say ever again!

 

Like Art, I once believe Gen 3 cats were difficult to steal. Not any more.

The technique for theft is as simple and as easy as those of the Gen 2. I will not elaborate here.

Smart thieves will avoid cutting the preheater coolant lines. Stupid one will cut them.

Yes, you can drive the car even if the coolant lines are cut.

You just need two sections of 5/8" heater hose and four clamps to connect the coolant lines back and fill the coolant reservoir with water. It doesn't matter if you need Toyota coolant as you will replace the coolant in the near future anyway.

 

Wow, that was a giant twist of the claim.

That transport-related air pollution figure was worldwide. The U.S. portion was 22,000 total, of which only 9500 were from diesel.

Whereas the U.S. virus death toll was 528,000 in its first 12 months, 24X worse than the claimed air pollution figure, or more than 50X worse than the diesel figure.