Catalytic converter stolen, any decent aftermarket options?

Depends on what state in the US you live in... Some states like California make it far more expensive to replace them than other states. LEt us know the state and we can give you a range of options.

 

Here's the one we've tested and recommend: https://www.ebay.com/itm/193690871378 for states like Texas that don't have strict requirements.

And as for preventing theft, if you live in the bad part of a major city it's almost impossible to prevent, but if you don't a simple cat shield for $70 will discourage most thieves. You can also install a tilt alarm that would help. Or get crazy and do what this guy did: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRppvDWJ/

 

The one cited on eBay is for a Gen 2 Prius. The OP's profile states that his car is a 2011 Gen 3 Prius. It will not work.

The Gen 3 Prius has an exhaust pre-heater filled with coolant. Has the car lost coolant. That would mean the pre-heater was cut. It would be fortunate if the pre-heater is intact. That would make a much simpler repair.

 

Watch these videos....

I'd buy this one;

https://www.ebay.com/itm/165626416552?fits=Year%3A2010%7CModel%3APrius&hash=item26901a8da8:g:l5kAAOSwyahfjIqi&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAAsKezHxEfwijjQpQNNfuL1XF%2Bl%2BSd4zxXSwLO1s%2Fh%2FIM4aM1AoNwdc92fVtcYpH3cKBqjPI2x7QQcNuxmDrL3qTFZh%2BY7mvr7qCnoG7PTtz4Imr9WWJte19eQVMDLV%2BKvNlS0bjsbll1JVVuPkwnBk688TZZ3aal205FOyk9vbKCxLWyKyhnZpLcAAUEqd4uZSFzsIFH5c2AxT0Tj4N86TPYAubh9L81s5KNxU9sLE511%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR9zx2oy_YQ

It is a direct fit. They are made at the same factory that makes most all aftermarket cats sold i auto parts stores with hundreds of dollars in mark up.

A direct fit Magnaflow cat will cost you around $1,000 plus.

 

Hi. Which catalytic converter can you recommend to buy and install in Austin Texas for Prius 2nd gen? Mine was stolen

 

If you wanted to go cheap and wanted one to just pass the smog test to sell the car, I'd buy one off of eBay made and shipped from Canada. The Canadian make a great many of the OEM converters sold and installed in vehicles in the US, Mexico and all over the world.

For longevity, my personal choice would be this one;

Walker Exhaust Ultra EPA 16337 Direct Fit Catalytic Converter

 

This is the one we've recommended in the past... I've installed lots of these. It's a direct fit, no welding required. Comes with 5 year / 50K mile warranty and price keeps dropping. I guess aftermarket cat makers over-invested in inventory for the cat theft epidemic? https://www.ebay.com/itm/193690871378

 

Try a picknpull, and honestly, you can get away with putting another cars cat in yours. They all work the same to an extent.

 

I've ordered this one

 

You will not find any Gen 2 catalytic converters at any salvage yard. They are worth at least a thousand dollars to any person living in a CARB required replacement state. A new one for the cost about 3K.

You are fortunate that you can use a non-CARB EPA approved replacement.

 

Thats true, i normally see the priuses at a salvage yard already had their cats cut off. But new ones they bring in if youre lucky has all their parts. And ive been lucky. But i live in a non california state, a red state if you will, so i could straight pipe my car in theory if i wanted to. Last time i actually had a physical inspection done was 6 years ago. I dont even go anymore because i can just renew the sticker online. Its just a tax at this point.

 

With the amount of cat thefts going on in recent years there's no way a wrecking yard is going to put a vehicle on their lot with the cat still on it. That's not going to happen... And besides, you'd need some welding skills to make a different car's cat fit.

Meanwhile a direct fit aftermarket cat is now in the $80 range...

 

You're going to find that buying and fabricating a straight pipe will much more bother and will end up costing not much less than a cheap cat that bolts right in.

 

Not to mention loud and annoying. Unfortunently, they dont really take time to unbolt it properly and just cut it with a bandsaw or cutting wheel.
So ill have to weld it on anyways.

Straight pipe is mainly to clamp it on temporarily until i have the time and material to work on the car.

 

The $88 direct fit cat I linked to at the start of this thread installs without welding and can arrive in a few days. The method they used to cut the cat out does not interfere with ease of installation of aftermarket cat. Once you get the car up in the air you're looking at an hour of work if you got basic skills. Why in the world would you want to turn such an easy job into such a huge multi-stage nasty smelling air polluting hassle?