So, my CAT's gone. If I replace it with a new cheapo CAT from Amazon, will they come back a week later and hit me again? Are the non-oem CAT's desirable to these parasites? I'll need a new CAT and O2 sensor, what's the current best options?
Since you live in Oregon the cheap Amazon cat will work in your state. Dumb criminal will try to steal your cat again because they are dumb. I would try to buy or build a CAT shield just so you're Prius isn't an easy target next time. They have tons of threads on what kind of protection is good for your situation. I did a diy cat shield for my Prius and it's been working for 4 years now. Good luck! SM-A526U ?
Sadly, on the street in Portland. I'm staying at a friends house and there's no room on the driveway.
They will not steal an aftermarket CAT if you make it obvious that it's not original. I would spray some green/orange bright color spray paint on the new one. Good indicator it's not original and they'll leave it alone
Anything bright, spray paint, it doesn't matter. It alerts the thieves to take a second look (some thieves are stupid) and don't waste their time on something not original
GR for the win. Use the header paint she specified I did and a year later the paint is still on it. Use regular paint and won’t last long. Cats get extremely hot.
The cat I got off Amazon last year had a figment issue that worked out really well for this application. The end of the Amazon cat pipe is bigger than the stock pipe so my welder used a metal bushing in that junction resulting in that pipe area Being Twice as thick as just the thin stock pipe. It will take a lot more time and work with a sawzall to cut through it and a plumbers copper pipe cutter will not work. It’s also painted orange like GRs pic. It’s the $125 cat on Amazon. Been on my car for over a year still running good no codes.
