My catalytic converter stolen...

[bajatoy]

Hello all

I'm new here, I drive a california 99 4runner and yes****ay went to Tj and my catalytic converter was stolen... I just took my car to put a pipe, but the engine check turn on and it feels kind slow with no power...I'm saving to buy a new one, my question is, it will affect my truck?...can I drive like this a couple of days..?

Do the catalytic converter have a sensor conected to the engine?...

Thanks for your help.

 

[TheDurk]

Hello all

I'm new here, I drive a california 99 4runner and yes****ay went to Tj and my catalytic converter was stolen... I just took my car to put a pipe, but the engine check turn on and it feels kind slow with no power...I'm saving to buy a new one, my question is, it will affect my truck?...can I drive like this a couple of days..?

Do the catalytic converter have a sensor conected to the engine?...

Thanks for your help.

Bienvenido! There are two exhaust sensors--one before the two cats (Cali's have two--did they get both?) and one after. The first one (known as the front Air/fuel sensor) is essential to the proper operation of the motor and a lot of codes will be set if it is removed or disconnected. The second one, the rear O2 sensor, is after the two cats and only serves to set codes relating to itself and the efficiency of the converters. If one or both cats are missing, it will certainly set a P0420: Low Cat Efficiency. If the sensor is missing or disconnected, it will set a few more. The rear sensor should not affect the operation of the motor.

If all is intact as far as the first sensor, the motor should be operating normally, although the light and P0420 code will be triggered. A few of our members have removed or hollowed out their converters. The other question is whether you have any official emissions inspections in Mexico.

There is a simulator available to suppress the P0420, but it requires the sensors to be in place. So you should first verify that both exhaust sensors are still present and connected. Second, get a scan to see what codes are in fact causing the light. Google URD o2 simulator or search this forum to learn more about that.

 

[MTDewX8]

this is the second thread on this topic. WTF is all I got to say about.

I understand there worth some $, but dam. that is just so wrong.

sure would like to catch them in the act. that would be fun.

what gets me is your never there to see Karma do its deed from people that do this type of thing.

 

[BTO]

Do the catalytic converter have a sensor conected to the engine?..

It's part of the entire engine management system. If one thing is not working (or in your case, missing) it likely will set the check engine light and go into "open loop mode". This is why your 4r seems sluggish. It's in open loop or limp home mode.

Too bad this happened but seriously, you go to TJ of all places you are f'in lucky you still have wheels or a vehicle at all.

 

[SQ.MD]

yupp...same thing happened to me last year. I went biking at George Bush park in Houston and parked my car near a pretty busy highway (6). When I was biking away with the girlfriend, I noticed 2 nigerian guys parked near my 4runner in a ford focus. I'm no racist, but I was a little suspicious because they were not only parking awefully close to my 4runner in a completely empty lot but also because they are coming to a biking park without bikes. Oh and I know they were nigerian because they had their flag dangling from their rear view mirror. Anyway, long story short, I come back 3 hours later and my 4runner sounds like a frekin Harley Davidson. I get on the ground and see this:

<a href="http://s77.photobucket.com/albums/j67/saadqasim/?action=view&current=stolen.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j67/saadqasim/stolen.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

I was so pissed but yeah, got it taken care of that day from a muffler shop.

 

[bajatoy]

Thanks

Thanks guys for your quick answers, to tell you the truth I did not sleep the night after they stole my cat. having nightmares about the same..

But I belive also in Karma and they will pay for it.., and to answer some questions, yes they cut the pipe the same way like they did on SQ.MD truck and they did not took my sensors, so I can use them again when I install the new one.

I was talking today to a friend who runs in the baja and he told me to make a skid plate to protect the cat. from this people, so I'm working on a nice design.

Thanks

 

[NoXi0uS]

I was a patient diagnosed with stolencatalytosis last year too. Scared the **** out of me when I started the car. Hopefully karma will get the best of them sooner than later.

 

[Presta24]

same thing happened to my buddy like 2wks ago, some body parked next to his taco across the street from his house, were there mo more than five min. Must have used a batt powered sawz-all. They steel em for the Nickel in them, around here you can get about $100.00 a pop for em a the scrap yard. When he called z long arm they said they had 8 reports of them at a apt complex the day before.

 

[SkidPalace]

I'm not one for big brother to use more control over the population, but the Feds or the states better step up and start requiring scrap yards to register these dirt bags who sell scrap metal. These junkies/thieves are causing enormous harm so that they can make a quick buck or two. Whether it's ripping copper from buildings, manhole covers from the streets or Cats from vehicles. Seriously, what individuals come into possession of multiple catalytic converters if they are not stealing them?

 

[Presta24]

there is a scrap yard not far from me, they take ur ID and DL # no matter what ur scraping, whether its cans or copper

 

[kman55]

The same thing happened to me about six monthes ago. I said screw it and i wont let it happen again. I put in a test pipe and bought the urd o2 simulator and havent had a light on since. I also have no cat to be stolen. We dont have emmisions here though.

 

[3rd gen king]

yupp...same thing happened to me last year. I went biking at George Bush park in Houston and parked my car near a pretty busy highway (6). When I was biking away with the girlfriend, I noticed 2 nigerian guys parked near my 4runner in a ford focus. I'm no racist, but I was a little suspicious because they were not only parking awefully close to my 4runner in a completely empty lot but also because they are coming to a biking park without bikes. Oh and I know they were nigerian because they had their flag dangling from their rear view mirror. Anyway, long story short, I come back 3 hours later and my 4runner sounds like a frekin Harley Davidson. I get on the ground and see this:


s.q. mine was stole last night/early morning near 290 and the belt way...

i saw we buy cheap suits and hunt these bas****s? what did you replace it with?? oem?

 

[jacktahoe]

I had mine stolen too.

It cost 350 to replace.

Not that bad,,,,