This joker unbolted it from exhaust manifold and cut it just in front of the resonator. Was going to give car to my nephew for college and now im A$$ed out. Im in California. Looking for low cost options other than OE. Thank you
I am sorry that happened. It just happened to ME too, just literally a week ago. I am so pissed, as I had to replace that converter several years ago, and I COULD ONLY get a dealer converter, as none of the car parts places would help me get a catalytic converter. Back then they told me DEALER ONLY. It costed me $2,500. That same converter was STOLEN last week by some greedy thug, and now my only car wont run properly. I am also looking to find a more affordable cat converter to REPLACE the new one I just replaced a few years ago!!! argh. They cut my cat from the muffler and unbolted it from the engine exhaust mount. Bastards. I spent a YEAR making payments on that converter until it was paid off, as I didn't have $2,500 laying around to blow on a converter. Had to buy one as My original converter failed and I couldn't pass smog. Had to replace it so I could go to my job without getting fired. I am still looking for a replacement converter that I can afford. According to CA gov, aftermarket converters are allowed now. Before a few years back it was TOYOTA only. So I am looking for a aftermarket cat converter myself, and trying to also find the best deal as I don't have $2,500 to buy another one.
I just bought two Gen1s with stolen cats, one in Denver and one in Atlanta, and brought them to Texas. I don't know what the current CA regs are, but I fixed both of these for less than $500. Granted, they're not perfect, but they pass inspection here and work just fine. For both, I bought an aftermarket cat that bolts right up to the exhaust flange. Dang, I don't have any bandwidth or I'd go find the link. Seems like it's around $100. You will also need the oxygen sensor - again, easy to find online for maybe $25. Chakaman just needs that - take it to a muffler shop to weld a straight pipe to the resonator - $100. My other car was like Eric's - the entire assembly was unbolted at the manifold and back to the connection by the driver's side back wheel. I had to drive that home from Denver, so I bought a universal bullet muffler and exhaust clamp and attached it directly to the end of the cat. It was still loud. When I got home, a muffler shop used that bullet as the resonator and welded it to the cat and bent a new pipe to go over the the rear connection. He cut the flange off and welded it. Not great - now it's one solid piece from the manifold all the way to the tailpipe, lol. I'll have to cut it if I ever have to do repairs requiring any of it to come off - no way will I be able to unwind it from the rear axle. That shop charged me $150. You also have to hack the vacuum modulator that was on the original. There's other threads here describing it - I was able to find the Honda Goldwing part for about $10, takes 20 minutes to install it and the ox sensor, and anyone can do it. But, I expect CA won't let you do all that. However, I have two complete exhaust systems, if anyone wants to buy them, lol. I figure it's just a matter of time before they get stolen off those cars, so I'd rather just swap in an aftermarket now and quit worrying about it. Last I heard, OEM parts were out of stock.
Just in case any one need help from a theft like this see this link ... Best catalytic converter anti-theft device, Gen 2? | Page 2 | PriusChat
