Catalytic converter theft a risk?

I bought the cat shield made by Cap City Muffler in Sac just in case for our Prime:



I'm just down the road from Davis in Fairfield and figured when I'm out and about, no need to take chances.

Good luck and keep us posted.

 

Yeah, Prius seems to be a high value target when it comes to the cat. There's even a petition online somewhere to recall the Prius because of its high rate of cat theft.

 

The shield is a great idea. The Gen 2 is the easiest to steal. The Gen 3 and Gen 4, not so easy.

There is a preheat-er that is full of smelly, sticky and sometimes very hot coolant that will come down on the would be thief while he or she is under the car. Anyone having attempted the act would likely go back to stealing Gen 2 cats, as long as they remain widely available.

 

Do a search - this has been discussed at length. PRIUS Gen 4 (besides having 2 C/Cs) is much harder to steal - the one closest to the engine, almost impossible without dissembling stuff. I don't recall any reports of a Gen 4 being stolen.

No matter what you own - there is someone out there who will be out to get it.

 

Here's a view of the Gen 4 catalytic converter area.

 

I imagine the other one wouldn't be visible without some disassembly, from the diagrams I've seen.

 

I'm also trying to determine whether my Gen 4 2016 Prius is vulnerable to CC theft. My neighbor's Prius had their CC stolen twice in one month.

 

What Model PRIUS did your neighbour have? Was it a Gen 4? There was another thread about this yesterday. I'd commented that, in 5 years reading every Gen 4 post, I don't recall a Gen 4 being reported with a stolen Cat.

 

My neighbor had a 2007 Prius.

 

Very different vehicle - almost nothing the same. The biggest thing -the platform is brand new with nothing carried over.

 

It's probably easier to steal the HV battery out of the back of the Gen 4 than the CAT from underneath.

 

Yep - but they'd have to break INTO the car - but some don't seem to think that as a challenge.

I was listening to Auto-Express PODCAST last week, and Vicki was saying that in UK there has been a resurgence in demand for the old fashioned Steering Wheel Locks - aftermarket. Not that a Steering Wheel lock would deter someone from targeting a Hybrid Battery.

I'm yet to hear of a battery being stolen from a Gen 4. I'd be more inclined to think that they'd want the bigger batteries from a full EV or PHEV.

 

I guessing thats mainly down to the fear of keyless entry relay theft. I know thats why I have one fitted to my RAV4 - the Prius is a company car so not my worry

 

Most of the HV battery thefts reported were actually from Gen 3s, by breaking the back window and going through the hatch and removed in minutes by cutting the cables and unbolting them, I guess the same could be done on the Gen 4.
EV batteries are a bit more involved but some can be removed in an hour or so.

 

I remember reading about "DREAMS" of Hot-Swapping batteries - like drive in with your dead battery and drive out 35 seconds later with a fully charged battery.

Never happened (in cars - drills and other power tools maybe) - and maybe just as well.

PS - what is your AVATAR?

 

But EV batteries weigh 500-1000lb (depending upon the vehicle) not something that even two people could carry. The hybrid battery weighs 60-110lb - two people can easily carry one and the LiIon ones in the Gen 4 could be handled by an individual.

Also, I don't know what the demand is for stolen catalytic converters or batteries - there will be very little need for replacements for the Gen4 converters as the cars are so new.

Both the batteries and the converters do have recycling value but there's nothing different in that respect about the catalytic converter from any other vehicle.

kevin

 

MG ZS EV, still have the Gen 4 as well, can't part with it it's so good.