ATTENTION 1st, 2nd and 3rd GEN. Owners

[canuck215]

It has become the new theft craze in northern California and may be coming to your town soon. These little punks that are out there have decided that our catalytic converters are worth something, who decided that I do not know. I have a 1994 3.0 and I have seen everything from a late 80's T4R have it cut off and heard of as late as a 99 getting cut off. Dont freak out when or if this happens to you, your local toyota dealership will work with you and get factory parts put back on. Yes this is a inconvenience but in the long run you will come out with a brand new factory cat-back system and only cost you $100 or so depending on you deductable. This is very popular in california right now because you cannot find factory toyota cats for cali spec cars as of now, toyota is shipping them over here as quick as they can.

P.S. If anyone as any great ways to protect from this occuring again lets hear your ideas.

 

[ovrrdrive]

You know, this is quickly turning in to the internet chain letter of the year 2006...

I just don't see it as being this big of a problem that it needs to be posted weekly on every forum I visit.

I can show you neighborhoods around me where they'll steal the paint off your truck if that's all they can get. Welcome to the year 2006.

 

[toto]

In a related story, disk space on car-related Internet forums has been rapidly decreasing due to speculation about catalytic converter theft. Should someone actually experience this phenomenon, there will be no place left to post their story!

While I applaud canuck215's good intentions, this does seem to be getting a little excessive.

If it isn't nailed down, theives could possibly take it. This thing about the cat's isn't new; it's been happening probably few-and-far-between for years - it's just that it got renewed visibility from some investigative reporter somewhere and has turned into a crisis. You know those local TV stations - anything to fill 3 minutes for their "I-Team" or "Target 5" or whatever. Typing this message probably shortened my life by 5 minutes somehow - they'll tell me tonight at 6:00.

 

[RonMAIDEN]

Mine's parked in a garage or at my work which it won't happen there either.

 

[canuck215]

First off this is by no means a chain letter. I have been frequenting this site for the past 6 months and I have never seen this subject brought to someones attention. Just the fact that I felt it was necessary to post something to let people know about this and now I am being treated like I know nothing is idiculous. If it is so excessive will somebody please show me where on this site this topic has been brought up before. Somuch for good intentions these day well atleast on this site you try to help your fellow T4r owners and you get shot down. First the my cat is gone now obviously good people are leaving as well.

 

[JP4RNR]

all of the discussion about catalytic converters is exhausting pun intended

 

[Uneek]

Here's the thing, in the last thread posted last week with the link to a news clip on CBS. I saw that actual news cast and they said the police hasn't received any reports. Maybe reporters don't want to go and report on something newsworthy, I don't know. For years, there's a guy in my neighborhood who's been recycling loads of catalytic converters. A full truck load every few months. Haven't seen the truck around the last year or so. Maybe it's time to check eBay, Craig's List or you local metal recycler.

If you lose your cat, put a straight pipe on until smog check time. They'll come around stealing the brand new one again. Just another sad trend for owning a popular vehicle, i.e. TSX, CL, TL, Maxima, RX330/350 are some of the vehicles that had their entire HID headlights ripped out. I'm sure Aztek owners got nothing to worry about with something that hideous.

The bottom line is, there's nothing we can do other than camp out in our trucks armed. If it's out of your sight, something can happen. Either some low life is going to steal something off of it or another jack@$$ will damage it comestically parking.

 

[ovrrdrive]

If it is so excessive will somebody please show me where on this site this topic has been brought up before.

First off, I appologize if I made it sound like I was attacking you because I wasn't. It's not your fault I spend way too much time on the Internet than I need to and regularly peruse about 15 different automotive related forums.

I am not joking when I say I've seen about 20 different threads on this in the last month.

I know you had good intentions and like I said, I wasn't attacking I was just stating how I feel about this topic.

Oh, and here:

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=23087&highlight=catalytic

 

[Northof49]

What's a catalytic converter?

 

[Uneek]

What's a catalytic converter?

It's for emissions control. More info here.

 

[NO1ZX6R]

catalytic converter theft

well this problem seems to have made its way to the East Coast. they got me yesterday morning. I was in a business meeting at a local hotel and when we broke for lunch I went to drive away and my truck sounded like a monster truck! I turned it off in disbelief and looked underneath and the cat was gone. Clean cuts on the pipe, on either side of where it had been. My comprehensive insurance will cover so I'm only out $150. Luckily $150 is not that hard for me to swallow but I was inconvenienced and luckily I have a good insurance co. The total bill was $1000 and change. Wow, I had no idea this type of thing even existed.

 

[NO1ZX6R]

well I guess I'm a little late to the party. not everyone browses multiple vehicle forums all of the time and it's nice to find the info you're looking for when you come to find it. like in this case where I just couldn't believe that someone would steal something off of my exhaust!

the guy at Midas did mention something about a shield to install over the cat to avoid this from happening again. anyone know anything about this shield?

 

[p nut]

the guy at Midas did mention something about a shield to install over the cat to avoid this from happening again. anyone know anything about this shield?

How would a little shield help? They're cutting the exhaust to get to the cat, so the shield wouldn't help at all. Plus, they'd just cut that, too.

Last December, I was going to buy a 97 Land Cruiser, but right as I got to the dealership, the salesmen were huddled around the Cruiser and it sounded like a funny car. Turns out someone tried to cut through the exhaust, but gave up half way throught the job.

 

[NO1ZX6R]

How would a little shield help? They're cutting the exhaust to get to the cat, so the shield wouldn't help at all. Plus, they'd just cut that, too.

I don't know, maybe it would make them move onto another vehicle that didn't require extra work? That's why I was throwing it out there, to see if anyone else knew anything more about it.

 

[Northof49]

You're going to pay money for a part to protect your damn cat. converter?

I have tin foil helmets for sale so the aliens or the taliban can't read your brain waves....20 bucks a pop, includes shipping. Kids sizes available. Send cheque or money to giveyourheadashake@areyourkiddingme?.com

 

[keylay31]

this thread has gotten violent. Everyone chill. I hadn't heard about cat converter theft either and mentioning a cover for it isnt the end of the world. Stop putting each other down, thats not the point of these forums. If you dont like what you're reading, you dont have to reply.

 

[Northof49]

It's just the internet....my smartass comments need not be taken seriously

 

[4RUNNER4MARLEY]

This happened to my friend Kathe' that lives in Southern Cal (Long Beach) she came out to drive her 4runner and heard some loud sounds and looked under to see NO CAT.
Her neighbor whos a mechanic recommended that she TIG/MIG the bolts on to the Cat they will spend more time and will fail in getting it and if she takes it to a shop they will know what to do.

It cost her some $$ to get a new one!!
That was about 6 months ago.:wtf:

 

[1pcguru]

Catalytic Converter Theft

You guys that do not think its much of a problem obviously have not had your cat stolen. Mine was stolen just last night in Gulfport MS. in a gated repair shop. I called two Toyota dealers and both said that a new TOYOTA cat will cost over $730. Yeah I can buy some after market one for way less but it's the point. And to make it worse, the thieves that are getting busted are only getting charged with misdemeanors.........WTF that is clearly a grand larceny charge. I just want these sorry scrap yards that are paying for the cats to fork up the money to replace them because they are obviously buying stolen property.

 

[airbag]

correct me if i am wrong but isn't there platinum or some other kind of valuable metal in cats? if i remember correctly theres a place near my friends fleet shop that harvests it out of them.

as for people sniping your cat its rare but possible. where i used to live they'd steal your shoe laces if they had the chance.