Stolen Catalytic Converter
- Thread starter Patton
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garrett1478
New member
It will "run", but terribly, and will be deafening. I guess it's up to you how long you can bear it. Happened to me too, dumb thieves.
JayRolla
New member
"The catalyst itself, most often a mix of precious metals. Platinum is the most active catalyst and is widely used, but is not suitable for all applications because of unwanted additional reactions and high cost. Palladium and rhodium are two other precious metals used." Quote from wiki
Patton
New member
Less than 1min in my case, it is on video. Two people, one stays in the car and the other gets out w/ TWO cordless sawzalls. One in each hand. 15sec to cut through the pipes and less time to slice through the rubber hangar. The car that pulled up to do it was stopped for less than 70 seconds. Since my office is on the south side of Columbus Ohio, where people get shot in the face (like two months ago) it is not a high priority. I even intentionally parked on the end spot, with my converter facing the busy street so that nobody could put a car between my converter and the street and it still happened in plainview on a bright sunny Friday afternoon. This is not the first converter stolen off a 4runner, or other cars, at my office with 600 cars in the parking lot.
On one of those shows crime shows on TV the other day, I saw a 15-year old kid from Ohio that was arrested for robbing and shooting a 27-year old guy to death. Guess what he ended up getting from him? $10 in cash. The 15-year old will spend the rest of his life in jail.
I thought because of your Profile this happened in Chicago.
Sorry to hear about that. Does any good news come out of Ohio? :redface:
I think he's in Ohio.
Patton
New member
Yes, this happened in Ohio and I used to live in Chicago (when I registers to this forum). When I did live in Chicago with my 4Runner a few years ago, I had my spare tire stolen. I imagine that it all depends on what tools the criminal has available and what the current platinum prices are.
diggity_1031
New member
Thanks to "cat" thieves I was able to buy a 97 Tacoma 4x4 5 speed with 160k from the original owner when her cat was stolen. She only wanted $1500 and I bought the cat from the shop I worked at for 180. Loved the truck but then I sold it 2 years later for 6500 and now i'm in my 3rd gen limited.
Patton
New member
Estimated Damage $1,765.00
USAA Insurance sent me to one of their body shops to get an estimate and it came back at $1,765. The shop that did the estimate doesn't do exhaust work and had no stake in it. My question is, how much does a complete exhaust system cost? My reason for asking is in order to get this running properly with a straight pipe, I have to cut off the pipe (including both sensors) that was damaged during the theft, in order to get enough length and a clean cut. I am much more comfortable doing that if I am being paid the cost of a full system and am not running the bill up on myself for when I do eventually have to get it fixed. This is also assuming that it runs properly and only has a check engine light on and the sensors are changing fuel management or something.
Can a complete exhaust system (manifold to muffler) with either new or reused sensors be installed for $1765?
Thanks everyone.
USAA Insurance sent me to one of their body shops to get an estimate and it came back at $1,765. The shop that did the estimate doesn't do exhaust work and had no stake in it. My question is, how much does a complete exhaust system cost? My reason for asking is in order to get this running properly with a straight pipe, I have to cut off the pipe (including both sensors) that was damaged during the theft, in order to get enough length and a clean cut. I am much more comfortable doing that if I am being paid the cost of a full system and am not running the bill up on myself for when I do eventually have to get it fixed. This is also assuming that it runs properly and only has a check engine light on and the sensors are changing fuel management or something.
Can a complete exhaust system (manifold to muffler) with either new or reused sensors be installed for $1765?
Thanks everyone.
Hacker
New member
Just had my cat stolen last night, and I have USAA as well.
How are they in terms of handling the claim? Was it any problem at all for them to pay for the full OEM replacement cat at that price?
Blitzkrieg
New member
I don't know about Ohio (or Illinois) but here in Colorado a vehicle will not pass emissions without the cat, period.
$1700+ sounds high to me. I bet a good muffler shop could put on a totally new (quality) exhaust with new cat for well under that.
$1700+ sounds high to me. I bet a good muffler shop could put on a totally new (quality) exhaust with new cat for well under that.
Patton
New member
I am very sorry to hear that, mine was only taken Friday afternoon and my estimate was given on Saturday after USAA was closed so they have not said anything yet. So far they have been great and I was impressed with the shop that they sent me to. The body shop was under the impression that it did require an OEM cat and that is undoubtedly why the exorbitant cost. I have had USAA for 23 years and my father has had it for much longer and every experience with them has been fantastic.
I would be extremely interested to know what you decide to do. If I thought this was a random act, I would certainly put it back to original spec. Since it is only going to happen again and again, I am very reluctant to go that route.
Patton
New member
Chicago, where I used to live, had emissions checks and this wouldn't have flown. Ohio, fortunately, has no emission checks. I think the only time it becomes an issue is that certain shops won't/can't work on them if it has a straight pipe. Exhaust shops, most definitely.
Blitzkrieg
New member
I remembered hearing about these types of devices when this problem happened here in Colorado a few years back:
The Catlock® | Catalytic Converter Lock
There was span of a couple months where these losers were hitting dealerships and parking lots and targeting mainly SUV's because of the ground clearance.
If I remember correctly they passed a new scrap law here in Colorado where certain scrap items (cat convertors, copper) had to be inventoried and I.D. the seller by D.L. # on purchase (and keep track of that info) sort of like a pawn shop does.
The Catlock® | Catalytic Converter Lock
There was span of a couple months where these losers were hitting dealerships and parking lots and targeting mainly SUV's because of the ground clearance.
If I remember correctly they passed a new scrap law here in Colorado where certain scrap items (cat convertors, copper) had to be inventoried and I.D. the seller by D.L. # on purchase (and keep track of that info) sort of like a pawn shop does.
The Deec
New member
About two months ago I replaced my entire exhaust from the down pipe back for about $500 getting everything from rock auto. They include all the flange gaskets which is a bonus. All I had to do is provide about $10 in ss hardware. Zero codes and sounds very decent. Two eastern catalytic cats, a bosal muffler and tail pipe. Pretty easy to do yourself took me about three hours due to rusted downpipe flange bolts.
Asaspades93
New member
I had mine stolen in NY a few years back. Replacing cost a bit under 800 if I remember correctly.
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