Needed: OEM cat c theft deterrent solution; already had 1 stolen

@peripatetic pri If you are going to have someone put it in, then it would take hour or less. It took me an hour and thats me fiddling around and figuring out the directions. The shields for Gen 4 is really simple 8 bolts and 2 plastic clips involved. Its a in and out job and really any mechanic can handle it. Its the Gen 3 where you will have to drill holes to install the riv nut for the bolts.

Miller Cat Protector | PriusChat

 

@peripatetic pri what year is your Prius?

 

I called 3 Toyota dealers so far and they all told me a min of 2 hours labor billed and $240-300 to install the Miller Cat Shield. Seems like 2 hours is the minimum labor they'll bill for some reason?

Looks like I'll be finding a local mechanic as I don't have the tools to do it myself unfortunately.

 

Maybe they figure it’ll take 2 hours, at least? How long would it take you, say if you had all the tools and equipment?

 

Just looking around online people say it's around 30 minutes in a shop. I think it's just a few bolts.

 

If you have a car on a lift its 30mins otherwise on jacks is hour. I guess the 2 hours is for paperwork, bathroom break, driving the car to and from parking spot, etc

 

Sad, but likely true.

 

But you sidestepped my question. Sure they have lifts, tools, expertise, all stuff that takes time, effort and money to acquire.

Again: how long would it take you?

 

Why would a thief care if you painted your cat?

 

Yes, only if he or she was caught with it in his possession or tried to sell it to a legitimate wrecking yard. If he has only one painted a certain color in his possession and it was reported to the police as painted by only one owner who had it stolen, it could be traced back to the owner. The owner can then press charges for grand larceny, since the OEM cat costs in the neighborhood of $2k dollars.

The cat could be matched to the owner's car since the cut pattern of the cat and the exhaust pipe will perfectly matched.

Soon, in South Carolina, the charges could result in a prison sentence of up to three (3) years.

SC lawmakers hope new legislation will stop catalytic converter thefts | WSPA 7News

 

IMPORTANT NOTE TO GEN 3 OWNERS THAT ARE CONSIDERING THE MILLER CAT . The install for the Gen 3 requires installation of rivetnut and 25/64" drill bit, so unless you have tool for it you should have a shop put in the for you. It should only run one hour of labor, seems about $75 in the area maybe less. I think the regular repair garages will charge cheaper than muffler shops.

 

A 3/8 inch drill bit works very well with 6mm rivet nuts, as the end of the rivet nut that expands will flare out to tighten securely onto the top edge of the hole in the sheet metal. That extra expansion and flaring out against the burred outer section of the hole actually provides a more secure fastening than a close fit of the 25/64 inch drill bit.

The actual Youtube installation video on the MillerCat web site shows the installer using a Unibit type step drill bit that has a 3/8 inch step as the tool used.

 

The 3/8 step bit was my tool of choice

 

My stainless steel Miller Cat Shield arrived last week and I was going to install it myself but, after jacking up and securing the car, found clearance was still kinda' challenging (I'm a fat old man... what can I say). Soooo rather than try other methods to get it higher (alternately jacking and stacking 6 x 6 ties underneath) I opted to see what a local repair shop with a lift would charge. Damage $50 to install... SOLD! Why go through the hassle and risk being squashed at that price?

 

Yeah I guess my belly had nough clearance so I was able to install on 21 Prime but $50 is good price to have someone else do it like I did on my Gen 3

 

My dealership days there are no shields for the Prime.

 

You installed a Miller Cat Shield on 2021 Prime???