Colorado Catalytic Converter Theft - Advice?

you need to ask a local inspection shop if a non toyota cat will pass. if so, the job is a couple hundred bucks.
if not, you'll have to shop around for the best price you can find.

 

The CARB cat requirement is a nightmare...

I don’t see my smog check guy take a look under the car when I get a smog check.

Even if he did, I wonder if one could get away with installing a universal CARB certified cat, meaning it has an EO# stamped on it....

Walker sells a cat that has a CARB EO# for a 2009 Corolla. Technically the smog check person is supposed to verify that the number stamped is valid for the vehicle model it is installed on, but considering my guy doesn’t even look underneath the car:

What are the chances he’s gonna look under next smog check? Very low.

What are the chances he’s gonna verify the stamped CARB EO# matches for my car? Even lower since he doesn’t look underneath in the first place.

You’d be in trouble if caught, but the Toyota replacement is horribly expensive.

 

Buy an aftermarket catalytic converter and roll the dice on not having it visually inspected. Many aftermarket catalytic converters work as well or even better than the Toyota OEM ones.

 

I've used a few of these. They work great. I've purchased a few different models and these are the only ones that come with the correct bolts and are a nice snug fit on the pipe that remains on the resonator. Comes with a clamp, but he snug fit makes it very easy to weld if desired. Also has a decent gasket compared to most others.

Catalytic Converter For 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Toyota Prius 1.5L EPA OBD2 | eBay

 

It's a pretty easy repair for less than $200 if you or your friend has experience jacking a car up safely so you can work on it. $130 for cat and $20 for O2 sensor...

 

Where is Colorado was it stolen may I ask?

 

Colorado Springs.

 

Hi there,

I live in CO and I am waiting for a new cat as well. So did you get a new cat converter from dealership? How long you have been waiting since Feb?

Thanks!

 

This model has worked very well for me. I've installed several+ over the last year or so. Tens of thousands of miles and no problems so far.

Catalytic Converter For 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Toyota Prius 1.5L EPA OBD2 | eBay

 

I just replaced the cat in my daughter's Prius. The tail pipe on the new cat was a lot larger than the input pipe to the muffler so I had to do some work to get it right but it seems to be working fine. And since the one I took off is the OE cat it will sell for $950. Made $800 doing it.

This is the one I put in.

 

This one fits perfectly.

Here's a video of one used in an install.

 

Hey there,

Fellow Coloradan (Denver) who just had their cat stolen here...I'm trying to go the route you did, but struggling to figure out who would do this work. Any chance you can share with me who did the work?

 

In Colorado, emissions testing is required in only a few counties, generally around the Denver/Boulder area.

From the DMV web site: El Paso County requires ONLY diesel inspections and those are limited to certain parts of the county.

So the Wyoming option would appeal to me.

Are you willing to say where in the Springs area the theft took place?

 

Hi there, I think you are mistaking me with a different person from earlier in this thread. I live in the Denver area, which is where mine was stolen.

Unfortunately the person/s who stole it didn't do a great job and it looks like while they took the time to unbolt it at the one end, it took them three tries with the saw at the other ):
I'm now concerned their first attempt is so far back the replacement cat won't even cover the partial cut into the pipe they made , so I'll almost definitely need to take it somewhere to get welded.

Sorry for the bad photos, but you can see their first cut was basically on the original weld and looks like they did in fact cut through it a little. The second cut that they left hanging hopefully shouldn't be too hard to finish off at least.

 

Don’t worry about that the new cat replaces all that. The muffler shop just adds a connection pipe/ sleeve if you will over both ends if anything short and welds it all up.

My muffler guy charged me $80 to remove my stock cat and install the model Georgina referenced which by the way car ran better with that cat and after months never ever saw a check engine light so it works well on a g2.

I sold my stock cat on eBay for $1500 ebay took 10%. Sold it to a guy in Mass. My cat looked really good no rust on it Florida car.

 

Yes, I was responding to The Lizard King, sorry I didn't make that clear.

 

Can't find any muffler shops in the Denver/Aurora area who will touch it. If anyone knows of a shop or mechanic who can can at least put it on for me (welding would be great too, but one step at a time..) I would be extremely grateful.

Definitely willing to make a drive- looking into Wyoming options now, but would appreciate hearing from someone who has actually done it (would having CO plates stop them from doing it?), but also sounds like we may have snow storms incoming so might not be the easiest option right now.

Just cannot fathom putting $3,000+ into (via Toyota or authorized repair shop) a 2005 Prius at this point, absolute insanity.

 

That’s what Google, email and the phone are for. Invest a couple of hours and you may find one.