catalytic converter stolen

[rpanic]

Someone stole my catalytic converter from my Tacoma last night. Cost $550 to weld a new one back on. Looks like its becoming a real problem especially with ones that are just bolted on like mine, four bolts is all that is holding it on. Thief gets 15 to 150 depending on where he takes it for the platinum inside. Every place I called for a quote said they have about 2 or 3 cars a week coming in for the same thing and even some car that had them cut off.

 

[MixMasterTang]

Yeah that really sucks. At my office there were two cars that someone stole the catalytic convertors off of in the middle of the day last November. Really sucks there are jackasses out there that are willing to profit from someone elses misfourtune.

 

[Chunkee]

where do you guys live?

jC

 

[Twista]

well do like me and my mustang. F CATS. My car has 0 cats and its fine.

http://www.coolblueperformance...s/exhaust/machpipe.jpg

 

[rpanic]

I live in California where we have stricter smog requirements and the cat is 300 more than the other 49 states.

 

[PandaBear]

This really sucks, especially SUVs and trucks have bigger engine and need bigger cat to replace, and high ground clearance makes it easy to steal.

I think all cat should have serial number on it and any trade of cat should have serial number and the ID of the seller recorded, and make the possession of these stolen cat a target of lawsuit of all expenses.

 

[angry hampster]

Originally posted by: Twista
well do like me and my mustang. F CATS. My car has 0 cats and its fine.

http://www.coolblueperformance...s/exhaust/machpipe.jpg

Same with me on my Jeep. I don't ever want to live in a place with emissions requirements :laugh:

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: PandaBear
This really sucks, especially SUVs and trucks have bigger engine and need bigger cat to replace, and high ground clearance makes it easy to steal.

I think all cat should have serial number on it and any trade of cat should have serial number and the ID of the seller recorded, and make the possession of these stolen cat a target of lawsuit of all expenses.

You really think that the places taking catalytic converters for platinum don't already know they are stolen?

You really think that the places currently accepting stolen catalytic converters will abide by new laws?

You really think that it's the best use of my tax dollars to go to any expense to track down stolen catalytic converters which are, statistically, an infinitesimally small percent of total crime?

Every car already has a serial number on it and every trade of a car has the serial number and the buyer's (and seller's) ID recorded. Has that stopped people from stealing entire cars? Why would those same things make people stop stealing parts of a car then?

Your plan would be expensive to implement, expensive to administrate, and overall ineffective at reducing crime.

ZV

 

[steppinthrax]

One of my co-workers got their cat stolen from their car.

I was thinking of a little invention to solve the problem. Take a couple of galvanized pipes and cap them at both ends. Drill a hole in the top and run steel cord to a empty steel box. Essentially you strap this to the sides or underneath next to the cat and run another steel cord around the cat. Essentially your making a fake bomb. Then you put some note on the side somwhere that says "Warning this catalytic converter contains a safety mechanism that prevents tampering, Please disable device befor working".

I think most people would just be like fuck it.

 

[BassBomb]

Never heard of that happening around where I am.

Its illegal to go without cat here too.

 

[f1r3s1d3]

Thank god my car sits low, I couldn't fit under it if you paid me.

 

[OS]

just another reason to use a testpipe

 

[Arkaign]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: PandaBear
This really sucks, especially SUVs and trucks have bigger engine and need bigger cat to replace, and high ground clearance makes it easy to steal.

I think all cat should have serial number on it and any trade of cat should have serial number and the ID of the seller recorded, and make the possession of these stolen cat a target of lawsuit of all expenses.

You really think that the places taking catalytic converters for platinum don't already know they are stolen?

You really think that the places currently accepting stolen catalytic converters will abide by new laws?

You really think that it's the best use of my tax dollars to go to any expense to track down stolen catalytic converters which are, statistically, an infinitesimally small percent of total crime?

Every car already has a serial number on it and every trade of a car has the serial number and the buyer's (and seller's) ID recorded. Has that stopped people from stealing entire cars? Why would those same things make people stop stealing parts of a car then?

Your plan would be expensive to implement, expensive to administrate, and overall ineffective at reducing crime.

ZV

The painful truth, from a consistent voice of reason. Agree 100%, though it sucks for the OP that stuff like this happens.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Three or four people at my work had them stolen in one day.

Edit:
What worries me most is that my truck has THREE cats and four O2 sensors attached to the Y pipe. If someone stole that, it's about $1600 worth of parts that went missing that needs to be replaced.

 

[mooseracing]

Originally posted by: Twista
well do like me and my mustang. F CATS. My car has 0 cats and its fine.

http://www.coolblueperformance...s/exhaust/machpipe.jpg

What year is the muskrat?

For alot of people that have before and after o2 sensors you have to have the computer flashed or some other type of device to fool the computer into thinking the cats are still there and that it gets the right reading. other wise you get a cel.

 

[LTC8K6]

That's another reason to keep the full insurance coverage.

 

[alfa147x]

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
Three or four people at my work had them stolen in one day.

Edit:
What worries me most is that my truck has THREE cats and four O2 sensors attached to the Y pipe. If someone stole that, it's about $1600 worth of parts that went missing that needs to be replaced.

wait what truck?

 

[Twista]

Originally posted by: mooseracing

Originally posted by: Twista
well do like me and my mustang. F CATS. My car has 0 cats and its fine.

http://www.coolblueperformance...s/exhaust/machpipe.jpg

What year is the muskrat?

For alot of people that have before and after o2 sensors you have to have the computer flashed or some other type of device to fool the computer into thinking the cats are still there and that it gets the right reading. other wise you get a cel.

WEll, my check engine light is on, but it can easly be turned off with some MIL elimiators which trick the computer into thinking the cats are there. Or yes you can get the computer tuned to turn of the rear 02 sensors which will turn off the cEL for no cats.

oh,. the mustang is a slow GT. Picture here- http://img.photobucket.com/alb...ta/NewPicsOkDA/gra.gif

And in illinois we have the emission test also, but when its t hat time i get under my car and remove the off road midpipe and slap on my aftermarket Catted pipe by removing acouple bolts pictured here- http://img.photobucket.com/alb...w1sta/pit/PICT0041.gif

Messy garage at the time =]

 

[alpineranger]

Apparently toyota trucks/suvs are a favorite target since they're easy to get under, the cats are easily accessible, and they're only bolted on. My parents have both a tacoma and a 4runner and I repeatedly warn them about this. Toyota says they are aware of the problem and are looking into it, which most likely means toyota owners are on their own. Unfortunately I haven't been able to think of any practical countermeasures. The cats are just too accessible, and one minute with a reciprocating saw will do the trick. You just have to keep a very vigilant eye out on your vehicle. Watch out for the gas thieves too, they've taken to drilling holes in the tank to get the gas out.

 

[mooseracing]

Originally posted by: alfa147x

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
Three or four people at my work had them stolen in one day.

Edit:
What worries me most is that my truck has THREE cats and four O2 sensors attached to the Y pipe. If someone stole that, it's about $1600 worth of parts that went missing that needs to be replaced.

wait what truck?

most vehicles are setup that way that have dual exhaust and are MAF.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Originally posted by: alfa147x

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
Three or four people at my work had them stolen in one day.

Edit:
What worries me most is that my truck has THREE cats and four O2 sensors attached to the Y pipe. If someone stole that, it's about $1600 worth of parts that went missing that needs to be replaced.

wait what truck?

'02 Dakota, 4.7 for California. A pre-cat on each manifold with an O2 sensor before and after each and another after the Y.