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Prius catalytic converters are getting stolen

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by mathewjg, Jan 10, 2019.

  1. mathewjg

    mathewjg Member

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    I just had my catalytic converter stolen when I popped into a shop. It was caught on CCTV video and literally took a maximum of 2 minutes, The recovery driver told me that this is happening very often now with Prius. My one is 2008, 2nd gen with 140k miles so let's hope the converter fails for the cretins that stole it. Their car registration was visible and has been passed to the police but I think they are probably more interesting in catching speeding or parking in the wing place. Location was Tesco, Edmonton. North East London. Not sure why Prius catalytic converters are of more interest than any other cars though

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  2. audiodave

    audiodave Active Member

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  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    is this canada or u/k?
     
  4. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    There is choice of platinum or palladium for automakers, presumably Prii OEM cats are top notch "loaded" with Platinum. In the USA if we don't live in a CARB state we can get a cheaper cat replacement.

    This is an area where other countries could have cheaper cats than we do in USA, but in USA Toyota makes all Prii CARB compliant, compared to say FORD/GM who tailor emissions equip to state of sale. But it sounds like this location must be pretty good.

    This is why Toyota has the special USA rules about the car is only qualified for CARB warranty if you bought in CARB state, because otherwise all Prii are created equal in the USA.
     
    #4 wjtracy, Jan 10, 2019
    Last edited: Jan 10, 2019
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  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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  6. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    not sure where you see england, can you copy and circle it for me?
     
  7. Mark57

    Mark57 2021 Tesla Model 3 LR AWD

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    This is not new in 4Runners and Tacomas because they're high enough to quickly get under them, cut the cat and be gone in 30 seconds. The Prius surprises me because they are so low.
     
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  8. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    if this is really u/k, it should be merged with @Data Daedalus thread
     
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  9. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Yeah I think "Tesco Edmonton" is some sort of district in North London, looking on Google Maps.

    upload_2019-1-11_7-12-0.png
     
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  10. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i thought a simple question to the o/p would work. apparently not
     
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  11. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    Edmonton sounds like Canada to me and there is London where they make RAV4 over by Sarnia, but I figured a Canadian would know, so you must be right Mendel.

    I can now go back and say "UK" in my prior post...I had corredted it to be generic country
     
  12. ILuvMyPriusToo

    ILuvMyPriusToo Senior Member

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  13. mathewjg

    mathewjg Member

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    Sorry for late reply. I am on holiday and not great WiFi or 4g. Yes it occurred in North east London, UK. It's becoming a major problem in this area.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  14. mathewjg

    mathewjg Member

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    After I posted this I discovered another thread with the same topic but with over 20 pages of feedback!

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  15. Devdas

    Devdas Member

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    Well they have done it in Tesco cheshunt too and I had mine stolen on the main road off the a10 police don’t have time for this
     
  16. offib

    offib Member

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    Well, it's happening in Dublin Ireland now. The crappy feckers.
     
  17. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    I am just starting to learn that palladium cost has skyrocked...I always knew platinum was expensive. I would think USA Prius converters (for California) are valubale due to platinum, which was historlically much more maybe 2-3x expensive than palladium. EU converters could be palladium? And so the recent EU trend could be due to the palladium supply/cost escalation issues? Just guessing.. There is a choice between palladium and platinum for cat converters, whereas palladium is less active but you need more. I think I heard palladium is costing more than platinum which is wild.

    I sold my Palladium stock a few years ago as price was in the gutter. Think I lost 90% on that palladium stock, thankfully it was a token mini-investment.
     
    #17 wjtracy, Mar 31, 2019
    Last edited: Mar 31, 2019
  18. offib

    offib Member

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    I would say that in the high profile / viral cases in London as well as mine is that they quickly steal away the second or later catalytic converter, which is quite small and to my knowledge is quite similar to the second catalyst in a 2002 - 2006-whatever Toyota Corolla hatchback.

    I was trying to find on priuschat what was the catalysts' transition metals, they could be Lanthanum and Nickel for all we know. 1.5l Atkinson engines don't pollute an awful lot like diesels or large displacement and high compression engines do.
     
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  19. seeh2o

    seeh2o Prius OG

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    Reading through this, I had the CC stolen from my 2004 Prius years ago. I was told that the older ones like mine had more precious metals in them. Fast forward a few years, i now have a 2013 and had read they were much less likely to be stolen. Is this not the case? Is my 2013 just as susceptible to CC theft?

    To prevent going off on a tangent here, I live in LA, CA.
     
  20. audiodave

    audiodave Active Member

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    Are they stolen for the metals or the fact theses years need replacement and you know the cost in California. I have a aftermarket on mine. Smog place doesn't look under the car fortunately.
    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
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