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My CAT got stolen last week...stupid jerks...

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by 2GenPrius, Feb 15, 2021.

  1. 2GenPrius

    2GenPrius Member

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    Aftermarket Canadian cat will be here by next week. I heard there was some leakage based on diameter of the pipe, so if need be, I'll have it welded instead of secured with the clamp and bolts. @TMR-JWAP , how long did the aftermarket cat last before they pilfered it? Did the MPG and performance improve at all?
     
  2. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

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    One EXPECTS car designers to consider the environment that their subsystems operate in.

    Exhaust systems get hot.
    Mieces love plant based wire insulation.
    There are a lot of reasons why exhaust wires might meet up (or short to ground) that go well beyond cat theft, and since O2 sensors and closed loop fuel management systems aren't exactly emerging technology some of these common(?) problems can and SHOULD be mitigated against....and I think that they ARE.
    Mosfets are not new either, nor are circuits that can detect, prevent, and recover.....quickly....from an over-current event.....cause, hey......wires wiggle too. ;)
    No offense but that's balloon juice.
    ECUs are ALREADY expensive.
    Just getting one "diagnosed" is expensive.
    .....and......electronic parts are dirt cheap.

    I'm only an ET who hasn't seen a bench in over 20 years, but I could probably cobble together a protection circuit with 25 cents worth of parts just buying them from eBay and waiting 6 weeks for delivery from the CHICOMMS...but I don't have to.
    Integrated parts already exist for this.
    Toyota can buy these same parts by the container.
    And this is PRESUMING that there are not mosfets being made with onboard protection.

    You know what I think?
    I think that a lot of GOOD ECUs are being replaced by BAD mechanics who, at best, are "Easter-Egging" a problem.....or they're engaging in activity that's no better than kids with pipe cutters.

    JMHO.... ;)
     
  3. mr_guy_mann

    mr_guy_mann Senior Member

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    I can't say that most of your opinions aren't valid, but the point is that Toyota engineers did not design overcurrent protection into their control modules, and in 30 years of general repair I haven't seen really any automotive electronic design that does incorporate that.

    There certainly are enough instances where a short has "let the smoke out" of whatever control module is present on many different systems, yet if the manfacturers won't protect against that beyond an old school fuse on the power feed, there's gotta be a reason. My top bet is always going to be money.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
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  4. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

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    ^fair nuff
     
  5. TMR-JWAP

    TMR-JWAP Senior Member

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  6. golfmk681

    golfmk681 Active Member

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    How did you get the Canadian Cat OP?

    My cat just got stolen, only discovered it today when we started my car 2.21.2021. I'd like to get the cat and sell my car out of state if that is the case.
     
  7. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    That story links to yet another relevant story:

    SC police officer made at least $20,000 illegally selling metal, SLED says

    "Between July and October while Milligan was a Barnwell police officer, he advertised on Facebook that he was buying catalytic converters in South Carolina, an agent said. ...

    Milligan used his patrol car to go pick up the illegally obtained converters, according to SLED."

    At least he is now a former officer.
     
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  8. 2GenPrius

    2GenPrius Member

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    I ordered it and they shipped it to me. Most of the ones on Ebay will NOT ship to CA. I lucked out and found one that did after I explained I wasn't keeping the car in state. I spoke to a friend, he's going to do the same thing yet sell the car as-is. From what I can tell, it's working.
     
  9. golfmk681

    golfmk681 Active Member

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    It’s working? That’s good to hear. There a guy on Facebook coming tomorrow to fix it. So I’ll see. If the car drives and passes smog heck I’ll keep it!
     
  10. 2GenPrius

    2GenPrius Member

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    Yeah, so far so good. I did buy an OEM O2 sensor though at $100. It was worth it in my opinion.

    I'll keep it for a tad bit and then drive it out of state. I hardly drive anyways with COVID.

    As far as passing smog, if it goes through the visual inspection, it should fail. The last time I went to get a smog check, the guy was amazed that it had the original cat (figured it was stolen by now), so he actually crawled underneath to take a look-see.
     
  11. golfmk681

    golfmk681 Active Member

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    Really. For what ever reason this smog place never looks. They just scan. Its a mom and pop shop in a nice area too so go figure.
     
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  12. golfmk681

    golfmk681 Active Member

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    I just got mine replaced from a guy I found on facebook market place for $420 but its back on the road and works "normal". Wonder if the cell will be trigger and if so if I clear it, will it come back right away or a few days. My cat was actually throwing the catalytic converter code but it did so randomly and it would disappear and come back on time to time.
     
  13. 2GenPrius

    2GenPrius Member

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    They look under the car for this, assuming they do look. Cats have OEM markings.[​IMG]

    Wow, I know that guy. They buy the cat for $130, and use an aftermarket O2 sensor. Labor is about $240-250 cash in their pocket. From what I can ascertain, the aftermarket O2 sensors are usually the ones throwing the code/CEL down the line. Another possibility is as explained earlier about the clipped wires being shorted and affecting the ECU. This would come from driving the vehicle around with the clipped wires hanging, they could arch in theory (or water).

    If your Prius was burning oil as mine was, likely your cat needed to be replaced anyways, which leads me to believe the whole horseshit of being required to replace with OEM only is just so they force folks to buy newer cars (more tax and registration revenue). I drove the hell out of my car for about 50-60 miles on street and highway to see if I would set off the CEL/throw a code. Nope.

    I do have a hookup to buy a brand new OEM cat for about $1690 out the door. 2 MONTHS backorder time.
     
  14. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

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    The requirement is to use a CARB-approved part. The question you need to ask is, why has no aftermarket supplier of a Prius equivalent catalytic converter had their parts approved for CARB states?

    Usually, you follow the money to find the answer. No need for conspiracy theories.
     
    #34 dolj, Feb 27, 2021
    Last edited: Feb 27, 2021
  15. 2GenPrius

    2GenPrius Member

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    How is it a conspiracy theory if its true? Even your own reply insinuates so. Anyone who has followed through on the process for CARB approval or exemption knows this.
     
  16. golfmk681

    golfmk681 Active Member

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    6004021D-A8A5-450D-98EB-01823479229B.jpeg B4D7634F-D278-4B6D-AF70-E066413F187D.jpeg You think my anti theft method will work. I just did this right now. I’m gonna BURN THIS CAR TO THE GROUND IN FRUSTRATION if this replacement cat, which is not even oem, gets stolen.
     
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  17. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

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    I was replying specifically to this:
     
  18. 2GenPrius

    2GenPrius Member

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    Which is true. It's not a conspiracy theory. Did you miss the post where I called the CARB for a full electric exemption and they said no and to buy an approved car on their list?

    Do you even LIVE in CA?
     
  19. 2GenPrius

    2GenPrius Member

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    Don't blame the car. The car is only doing what it's supposed to be doing. It's the assholes that don't respect other people's personal property, and other assholes who won't allow us to use an aftermarket cat because they're keen for folks to get a new car, or ante up and pay for an OEM cat. Because the difference between $140 for an aftermarket to $1690 for an OEM one is a lot of sales tax difference, and difference between whether an insurance claim or vehicle owner eats it.

    I feel really bad for CA Prius owners who let their guard down and didn't opt for full coverage during a majority of this COVID shutdown and got pinched. They got the biggest shaft of all.
     
  20. golfmk681

    golfmk681 Active Member

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    I know lesson learned. I just didn’t feel comprehensive was worth it when a car was purchased for $3000. Given the cost of the car do you think insurance will even cover the car and replace the car? I would think they would just total the car.