Guard your cat!

this is shocking! why do they want your cat for? what are orecious metals?

 

The problem is rife in London:

Stolen catalytic converter in london uk | PriusChat

"precious"?

 

And all over the US. LA and SF are prime targets just because the market share is so high.

 

seems like a low margin effort

 

thank you, i am familiar with spell check

 

that's what happens when you live somewhere that thieves know they won't get shot. in Virginia, an open carry state, crime is relatively low because criminals do know many of us are armed, as we should be.
cats used to be good for about $50 each at the scrap yard. now they only give $20 or less. they have platinum in them in the core.

 

Time to resurrect this threading. The tweakers are out there and hitting all over US. Any updates on reliable catalytic guard. Or is it still the same Double 00 Remington.?

 

Has anyone installed one of these? https://tinyurl.com/mrx3kxsp

 

Check your link; at least for me it's showing a page of various items.

 

Here is the expanded link:

 

Mine is arriving tomorrow and I plan on installing it this weekend. Looks similar shape to your link, but I got it on eBay for a little less $75-80, but not sure if I get the screws and rivets as they weren't pictured. I will let you know how it goes.

 

Looks like labwork's ebay store has 4 different designs for the 04-09 Prius:

catalytic converter shield 2004 Toyota Prius Base 1.5L | eBay

 

I noticed that, mine has the cut-outs of the first one from the left, but has the outer profile on the 2nd from the left. I am not sure why some of them have the (2) corner protrusions and some have (1) like what I got. I didn't see any difference in coverage in the ones with mounted pix, so I got the one that I thought had the best cut-out slots so the smog place can read my serial number off of the Cat, and it would get good air flow, but I think they are all similar with round or slotted holes. I will report back if I can figure out why there are two different outer profiles/shapes.

 

Where are you that they want to read a serial number on the convertor? Even the California People's Republic never required that when I lived there. Come to think of it I've never seen a serial number on convertor.

 

It was mentioned here, I think they are supposed to. I am in CA, but I think it depends on the shop, and tech, and day, etc. I am sure you could find a shop that didn't care.

 

Ah, I think you may mean a CARB Executive Order label. An EO label is required if you install an emissions related non-OEM part showing that CARB has approved the part. This label is to be either on the part or as close to the part as possible (if the part is not easily visible). Usually the label is just put on the underside of the hood as that is the most convenient. So it isn't a serial number but rather an EO number. Of course if the cat is replaced at a dealer then it isn't non-OEM usually, but if done by say, a muffler shop or non-dealer repair shop, then they should put the EO label somewhere. The only way I've ever been able to actually a cat clearly was when my cars were up on lifts, which is something your normal smog test shop probably won't have.

BTW, I still had the California BAR Smog Check Manual PDF on my computer so I was able to read the visual inspection requirements where I saw the CARB EO mentioned. Glad I'm out of the CPR and no longer have to have my cars smogged.

 

I just wanted to report back that I just installed the cheaper ebay Cat Shield and it went on easy. I chose the one with the long slotted vent holes and the "missing corner" on the driver side, but it seems like they will all work the same regardless of shape.

How I did it:
attach the front 3 nuts first, not full tightened but snug so it can be shifted
then reach back and center the back on the frame rails
then tighten the front nuts a bit more
then put a wood 2x4 between the cat and the metal shield, the 2(1.5)" side
then I lifted the panel on the sides against the frame rails, it should bow down in the middle due to wood block
then I put in one end screw on each side
pulled out the wood block and checked for good clearance between Cat
then I put in the the rest of the screws/rivets as it came with both

Only took a quick drive so far, but no noticeable rattles or noise.

 

I have a question..
How thick is the shield? or atleast can you bend it like a cardboard paper?
Do you have the link or name of the shield?
Thanks....