Stolen catalytic converter

Muffler shop price is maybe for OEM?

 

Yea, there's even $65 replacement cats now. In all our tests if you don't live in a state like California that requires OEM this $130 Cat w/ warranty is a direct fit replacement and offers the highest quality for the price: https://www.ebay.com/itm/193690871378 You don't need any welding with them either so if you have basic mechanical skills you can install in it about an hour. Also you'll need to buy an 02 sensor too.

 

Unfortunately, Colorado is a CARB state and you'll have to have the OEM to pass inspection.

Still, $4k for the OEM is a little on the price gouging side. Here's a little more reasonable price for an OEM. ($1,779.33 at the moment.)
https://parts.olathetoyota.com/oem-parts/toyota-catalytic-converter-front-1741021500?c=Zz1leGhhdXN0LXN5c3RlbSZzPWV4aGF1c3QtY29tcG9uZW50cyZsPTEmbj1Bc3NlbWJsaWVzIFBhZ2UmYT10b3lvdGEmbz1wcml1cyZ5PTIwMDUmdD1iYXNlJmU9MS01bC1sNC1lbGVjdHJpYy1nYXM%3D

I've replaced lots of them. Granted, it's easier on a hoist with an impact driver but still not super hard if you put the car on jack stands. Some PB Blaster or other penetrating oil on the bolts sometimes helps.

You'll also need to get an O2 sensor since the scumbags cut the wires. The connector is under the carpet next to the passenger side of the hump in the floor up front.

 

one include labor

 

Are you sure it's enforced based on visual inspection like in California? I've never once read on PriusChat of someone not passing inspection with aftermarket cat in Colorado, whereas I've seen that happen multiple times with people with aftermarket cats in California.

 

Make sure the loose wires from 02 sensor aren't loose and are taped up. You can fry your ECU if they touch ground.

 

New cat designs get close to the same result without as much precious metals. But back when Gen2 Prius were built precious metals were cheaper so they used lots to make Prius a super duper clean burning car with 2 grams each of Rhodium, Palladium, and Platinum. Prices for these metals peaked about a year ago and have come down significantly:

As of today here are the prices for:
2 grams of Rhodium = $1,114
2 grams of Palladium = $150
2 grams of Platinum = $64

 

My point was you need to tend to the loose wires from the theft. You indicated you were still driving it without the Cat and if you don't tend to those loose wires you could fry one of your car's computers.

And if you never seen them look under the car during an emissions inspection you have nothing to worry about. The $130 cat will produce the same data as the OEM cat, but it won't pass visual inspection and sounds like you don't have that requirement in Colorado, so nothing to worry about. You and your Prius can keep hanging out for years to come!

 

Online sellers won't sell them in the state of California and sometimes New Jersey because buyer's get upset and legal hassles can soon follow. But if that's not an issue in Colorado it's safe to assume you'll be ok due to lack of visual inspection requirement.

 

It's not as bad as you think... Most Prices for aftermarket equivalent are only $700ish... And direct fit replacement cats eliminates the welding so anyone you can find with basic mechanical skills can install it for you. But again, it'd be way less expense to put on the $130 one and see if it passes inspection next time that's due and if it doesn't sell it in a state next to yours or upgrade to the $700ish version. But I'm willing to bet it won't come to that.

 

If you go with the inexpensive aftermarket cat, we have found in our shop that you need to install a spacer in the hole where the sensor plugs in. Otherwise it'll throw a code after a few miles.

I don't know where we get ours, but they look like this:
o2 sensor spacer M18*1.5 CEL Check Engine Light Spacer Oxygen Sensor Extender With Catalytic Converter Generic