1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

CA: CATALYTIC CONVERTER stolen

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by prius05_owner, Jul 1, 2019.

Page 1 of 2
  1. prius05_owner

    prius05_owner New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2018
    10
    6
    0
    Location:
    91306
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    If you are living in socal or norcal be careful with your gen 2 prius, I would take precautionary steps to prevent your catalytic converter from disappearing in the blink of an eye. I just got my cat stolen over the weekend in Winnetka so make sure you have a cage or tilt alarm .
    -Los Angeles
    -Winnetka
    -Van Nuys
    -Canoga Park
    -North Hills
     
    #1 prius05_owner, Jul 1, 2019
    ChrisFaehrtPrius and bisco like this.
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    110,164
    50,060
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    major bummer!

    unfortunately, egis is all too common. see london
     
    #2 bisco, Jul 1, 2019
  3. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2012
    11,330
    4,614
    0
    Location:
    Pacific Northwest, USA
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I've heard there's various armoring techniques people are using... Welding the catalytic in place is one way... But what's the best design for that? Clearly you want a thief with lots of practice of removing one from under a Prius in the dark of night to realize they picked the wrong car before they cut through the pipes rather than after.

    Or maybe booby trap it to explode with pepper spray and that ink you can't remove that they use on people who rob banks?

    Of course, I'm at 244K miles so whoever jacks my catalytic converter won't be too happy with it and despite the expense to replace, I'd feel way more optimistic about my next 250K miles than I do now. :)
     
    #3 PriusCamper, Jul 1, 2019
  4. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2013
    16,525
    8,428
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    This is nothing new, only bad part is the replacement will cost as much as what your car is worth.

    Maybe there's a gang of thieves doing this not to sell your cat, but to hope you put your car on craigslist for $1000 and they'll buy it cheap. They're after the car, not just the cat
     
    #4 JC91006, Jul 1, 2019
  5. prius05_owner

    prius05_owner New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2018
    10
    6
    0
    Location:
    91306
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    That's my initial impression since I received a note with a number offering to buy my car but beside from that I was planning to upgrade to gen 3 next year. I guess it's time to move on and take a loss.
     
    #5 prius05_owner, Jul 2, 2019
    will the engineer likes this.
  6. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2013
    16,525
    8,428
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    don't sell it to the thieves.....just don't do it. sell it on here
     
    #6 JC91006, Jul 2, 2019
    James1964 likes this.
  7. exstudent

    exstudent Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2009
    2,214
    902
    0
    Location:
    Torrance, CA
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    #7 exstudent, Jul 2, 2019
  8. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 19, 2006
    11,341
    3,596
    1
    Location:
    Northern VA (NoVA)
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Is the main purpose for stealiing converters fixing other Prii or selling for Platinum value? If selling for Platinum value, yours will do nicely.
     
    #8 wjtracy, Jul 3, 2019
  9. ice9

    ice9 Active Member

    Joined:
    May 3, 2019
    581
    343
    1
    Location:
    norfolk va
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Is just gen 2?
     
    #9 ice9, Jul 3, 2019
  10. prius05_owner

    prius05_owner New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2018
    10
    6
    0
    Location:
    91306
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I checked into "pick your part" and they won't sell used catalytic converter since it's a federal offense? I rather sell the car if someone from this board is interested but I found a place that will install catalytic converter claiming to pass smog this weekend.


    2005 Prius Gen 2
    clean title
    177,xxx miles
    Coolant changed for both inverter and radiator
    New tires from American Tires with receipt
    NGK plat plugs
    4-bottles of trans fluid that I was about to replace over the weekend before this unfortunate event
    -single din usb player
    -air filter / engine filter replaced every year
    -techron fuel system cleaner performed every oil change
    -marvel mystery oil used 10k
    -synthetic oil change changed every 5k
    -replaced bulbs for headlight two months ago
    -brake fluid replaced last year
    -hybrid battery pack replace
    -45~48 mpg
    -AC is running strong
    -extra gallon 50/50 black bottle from toyota and two oil filters


    con
    -driver side rear dent from previous owner
    -noise in the rear from old bushing that needs to be replaced
    -wheel alignment
    -dents and scratch from parking car in the street of Los Angeles
    -air vents cracked from installing radio :3

    I'll provide a VIN if someone is interested but as it stands without the catalytic converter asking price is $2k as is.
     
    #10 prius05_owner, Jul 3, 2019
  11. prius05_owner

    prius05_owner New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2018
    10
    6
    0
    Location:
    91306
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    the current value of selling the cat is around $200~300 in the black market from what the dealership is telling me when I was checking out 2019 Prius LE
     
    #11 prius05_owner, Jul 3, 2019
  12. prius05_owner

    prius05_owner New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2018
    10
    6
    0
    Location:
    91306
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    CatClamp Standard Kit works with prius gen 2 and gen 3 if you guys are planning to protect your catalytic converter which I'm planning on buying if I fix my car.
     
    #12 prius05_owner, Jul 3, 2019
  13. sweelsprius

    sweelsprius Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 1, 2019
    1
    0
    0
    Location:
    redwood city, ca
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    Two




    I just had mine stolen twice within the space of 12 days in the San Francisco/Stanford area.

    Wondering if I need the mechanic to install or whether I can do it myself...
     
    #13 sweelsprius, Jul 11, 2019
  14. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2012
    11,330
    4,614
    0
    Location:
    Pacific Northwest, USA
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    post some pics of the damage and we might be able to advise... Sometimes it's nuts and bolts, sometimes it's welding... Are you comfortable with both?
     
    #14 PriusCamper, Jul 12, 2019
  15. Prii_socal

    Prii_socal New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 19, 2019
    12
    2
    0
    Location:
    los angeles
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    should've checked your post earlier, now mine got stolen too and ca law make it so hard to find replacement
     
    #15 Prii_socal, Jul 19, 2019
  16. prius05_owner

    prius05_owner New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2018
    10
    6
    0
    Location:
    91306
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    update:
    I got the prius fixed going through a local muffler shop in SFV but the cost was pretty hefty.
    ~600 to get fixed with two new cats, piping, 02 sensor ,and labor cost along with smog inspection
     
    #16 prius05_owner, Jul 25, 2019
  17. SFO

    SFO Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2017
    5,302
    4,241
    0
    Location:
    Northern California
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Did you purchase and install?

    Any pictures?
    Sounds harsh. Would be interesting if you installed one of these kits on your Prius, and if it was successful in mitigating future theft or not.
     
    #17 SFO, Jul 25, 2019
    Raytheeagle likes this.
  18. Ed69

    Ed69 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 3, 2019
    39
    23
    1
    Location:
    CA
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Are Prius cats especially valuable? It seems a lower car like ours would in itself deter thieves than a lifted truck or something. But it seems Prius’s are particularly susceptible to their cats being stolen. What am I missing?
     
    #18 Ed69, Jul 25, 2019
  19. Skibob

    Skibob Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 14, 2018
    2,912
    1,497
    0
    Location:
    Northern California
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    What your missing is doing some research here. The Gen 2 Prius cat has a LOT of precious metals in it. Enough to get 350-400 dollars for one.
     
    #19 Skibob, Jul 29, 2019
  20. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 26, 2009
    17,557
    10,324
    90
    Location:
    Western Washington
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    More likely because it is a state offense in California.
     
    #20 fuzzy1, Jul 29, 2019
    Skibob likes this.
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)
Page 1 of 2