Was something stolen on my friends' Corolla?

[Stojakapimp]

My friend just noticed the other day that in the grill on the front of her car is a wire that's just sort of dangling there. She's never noticed it before, and it definitely does not look like it belongs there. I wish I had a picture to show you all, but it's sort of this loose cord, and on the end of it is this whitish looking thing that has little holes around the outside, almost like a filter. I looked at it briefly, so I don't even remember if it looks like something else goes on top of that.

Any ideas on what it is, and if perhaps something was taken from it? The car was parked on a hill that has a history of car thefts (usually radios, but just yesterday someone had their catalytic converter stolen), so my friends just sort of freaked out. Her car is still running fine, but it's a little unnerving.

Thanks

 

[LordMorpheus]

HTF do you steal a catalytic converter? On my car you'd need a couple hours and a set of tools to get it out.

As for the wiring in the grill - does her horn work? Do all her lights work? has an airbag gone off in the car? There isn't much up in the bumper besides lights, horn speakers, and airbag sensors. I'm assuming the cor was electrical in nature. If it isn't, it might have something to do with the radiator ...

Oh, and wrong forum.

 

[montypythizzle]

LOL the catalytic converter fell off bud, no one would take on... most people would just leave it off...

 

[mobobuff]

Open the hood and see where the wire goes? My first thought was a temperature probe, but I dunno. Not a big car guy.

 

[OdiN]

Not just extra wiring for future fog lights perhaps? Hard to say without seeing what it is. Follow it back to the source.

 

[imported_LoKe]

Bumper sensor? Didn't we have this post before?

 

[soydios]

Is it a pull wire to open the hood? My friend's old Mercedes E320 wagon had one, it pokes through the grille.

Otherwise, if nothing else appears to be amiss under the hood, you should be fine.

 

[OrganizedChaos]

Originally posted by: LordMorpheus
HTF do you steal a catalytic converter? On my car you'd need a couple hours and a set of tools to get it out.

As for the wiring in the grill - does her horn work? Do all her lights work? has an airbag gone off in the car? There isn't much up in the bumper besides lights, horn speakers, and airbag sensors. I'm assuming the cor was electrical in nature. If it isn't, it might have something to do with the radiator ...

Oh, and wrong forum.

cats are easy. less than two min with a cordless sawzall with a demo blade and gravity does the rest. scrap dealers don't care where they come from.

 

[DrPizza]

This thread being sent to the garage by Anandtech Moderator DrPizza.


Oh, and it wouldn't take that long to remove a catalytic converter - do you think the thiefs really care about doing it carefully without a little bit of the exhaust pipes still attached? I don't think they'd carefully disconnect things so much as just use a cordless sawzall to cut it free.

Oh, and "most people would just leave it off"?? In an increasing number of states your car will not pass inspection without it.

 

[Nyati13]

Originally posted by: montypythizzle
LOL the catalytic converter fell off bud, no one would take on... most people would just leave it off...

Cats have platinum in them, good money for some crackhead. Scrap yards won't ask any questions about where it comes from, because they can make serious money off of it.

 

[NutBucket]

Originally posted by: LordMorpheus
HTF do you steal a catalytic converter? On my car you'd need a couple hours and a set of tools to get it out.

As for the wiring in the grill - does her horn work? Do all her lights work? has an airbag gone off in the car? There isn't much up in the bumper besides lights, horn speakers, and airbag sensors. I'm assuming the cor was electrical in nature. If it isn't, it might have something to do with the radiator ...

Oh, and wrong forum.

There was a rash of them being stolen at my alma mater last year sometime. No joke.

 

[Stojakapimp]

Catalytic converters are frequently stolen, especially from SUV's and trucks (as was the case the other day), as found in Wikipedia. Apparently the guy just took a handsaw or electric saw and cut the thing right off.

Anyways, I'll ask my friend if she's encountered any problems yet and perhaps I'll try to go take a closer look. I haven't even looked under the hood yet, so that'll probably explain something. And if I remember, I'll try to bring my camera tomorrow and take some pics of it.

Thanks