stolen catalytic converter & aftermarket replacement through insurance- some takeaways

Go to this link:
https://www.yitamotor.com/collections/catalytic-converters/products/yitamotor-catalytic-converter-for-2004-2005-2006-2007-2008-2009-toyota-prius-1-5l-epa-obd2

 

TMR-JWAP gave me the link below to a thread where he discusses his success using the Yita Motor cat. You can read what he says in more detail there.
TMR-JWAP Decided I'm going sell my factory oem Cat. | Page 2 | PriusChat

 

Does that donut gasket work ok, or is it recommended to go with an OEM gasket?

 

I don't know, the unit hasn't arrived yet. I may use my original gasket, which was still on my car. Ask TMR-JWAP, he has installed a bunch of these.

 

I've seen some pretty bad flange gaskets when dealing with these... But probably not that big of a deal as long as you have smooth surfaces, because these gaskets have springs on the bolts that hold them in place because bumps on the road shakes exhaust system so it's not the kind of gasket that is bolted down solid and won't have lots of pressure on the inside to cause it to leak. Once the cat clogs up its gonna leak no matter how good the quality of the gasket.

 

Go with the oem gasket. I did quite a bit of research on these before I replaced mine with that Yitamotor cat. I recall some of the common issues people had with this cat was related to the included gasket. Often issue was resolved after switching to the original oem gasket.

 

More good news
Toyota Prius tops Carfax list of vehicles targeted for catalytic converters
Toyota Prius tops Carfax list of vehicles targeted for catalytic converters

 

Here's the full carfax story:

Link:
Catalytic Converter Theft: Which Vehicles are Targeted Most Often? - CARFAX

Summary:
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Which Vehicles Do Catalytic Converter Thieves Target?

Top Cars Targeted Nationwide
Nationally, there’s a range of vehicles in play. Not surprisingly, some of the most popular nameplates of the past two decades are among the top targets. What is surprising is that it’s not just one manufacturer, nor just one body style. Targeted vehicles range from small cars such as the Chrysler 200, to SUVs such as the Honda CR-V or Chevy Equinox, all the way up to full-size pickup trucks from Ford and GM.

1. 1985-2021 Ford F-Series pickup trucks (F-150, F-250, etc.)
2. 1989-2020 Honda Accord
3. 2007-17 Jeep Patriot
4. 1990-2022 Ford Econoline vans
5. 1999-2021 Chevrolet Silverado pickup trucks
6. 2005-21 Chevrolet Equinox
7. 1997-2020 Honda CR-V
8. 1987-2019 Toyota Camry
9. 2011-17 Chrysler 200
10. 2001-21 Toyota Prius

Top Cars Targeted in the West
Location matters! The West has many of the same top targets as the national list, but the Prius sits atop the list instead of the Ford F-Series pickup, no doubt because the hybrid is incredibly popular in areas – such as California – with high gas prices and strict emissions laws. Subaru models are also popular in the mountainous regions of the West, where drivers like the standard all-wheel drive (AWD).

1. 2001-21 Toyota Prius
2. 1985-2021 Ford F-Series
3. 1989-2020 Honda Accord
4. 1990-2022 Ford Econoline
5. 1999-2021 Chevrolet Silverado
6. 2007-20 Subaru Outback
7. 2007-17 Jeep Patriot
8. 2003-11 Honda Element
9. 1998-2020 Subaru Forester
10. 1995-2021 Toyota Tacoma

Top Cars Targeted in the Northeast
In the Northeast, it should surprise no one that Subarus appear; they’re ubiquitous on New England roads because of their standard AWD.

1. 1985-2021 Ford F-Series
2. 1987-2019 Toyota Camry
3. 1989-2020 Honda Accord
4. 2007-17 Jeep Patriot
5. 1997-2020 Honda CR-V
6. 1998-2020 Subaru Forester
7. 2007-20 Subaru Outback
8. 1990-2022 Ford Econoline
9. 1999-2021 Chevrolet Silverado
10. 1993-2020 Nissan Altima

Top Cars Targeted in the South
In the South, there are more sedans in the lineup, including the compact Chevy Cruze and the midsize Dodge Avenger.

1. 1985-2021 Ford F-Series
2. 1989-2020 Honda Accord
3. 2007-17 Jeep Patriot
4. 1999-2021 Chevrolet Silverado
5. 1990-2022 Ford Econoline
6. 2007-21 Jeep Compass
7. 1993-2020 Nissan Altima
8. 2008-14 Dodge Avenger
9. 2011-17 Chrysler 200
10. 2011-19 Chevrolet Cruze

Top Cars Targeted in the Midwest
The Midwest list is a blend of other regions, with the Chrysler 200 much higher there and the Honda Accord much lower, but still in the Top 10.

1. 1985-2021 Ford F-Series
2. 2007-17 Jeep Patriot
3. 2011-17 Chrysler 200
4. 2005-21 Chevrolet Equinox
5. 2008-14 Dodge Avenger
6. 1990-2022 Ford Econoline
7. 1997-2020 Honda CR-V
8. 1999-2021 Chevrolet Silverado
9. 1987-2019 Toyota Camry
10. 1989-2020 Honda Accord

Carfax was able to create these lists by looking at service reports for catalytic converter replacements from more than 60,000 service shops across the country from 2019 through the first three months of 2022.


What Car Owners Can Do
Some protections are just common sense. According to McDonold with the Maryland Vehicle Theft Prevention Council:

• Park in a well-lit area, especially when it comes to fleet vehicles, which many businesses own.
• Park in your garage instead of in the driveway or on the street.
• Always be aware of the area around where your vehicle is parked.
  

The NICB also has suggestions:

• Install a catalytic converter anti-theft device.
• If you have to park in a driveway, consider installing motion sensor security lights. “While lights may not provide complete security, they may make some thieves think twice,” the NICB says.
• Have a muffler shop etch your vehicle’s VIN on the converter and spray it with highly visible, high-heat paint. Doing so enables law enforcement to track the converters, which in turn could lead police to the thieves.

Lawmakers Tackle the Problem
Part of the problem is that catalytic converter thefts are hard for law enforcement to track. Converters typically don’t have a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) stamped on them. Ultimately, thieves (or their partners) melt down the precious materials inside, making it hard to assign blame.

As the size of the stolen catalytic converter market continues to grow, state legislators and law enforcement groups are stepping up to battle thieves.

Bills have been introduced across the country, and several have already become law. Although they may differ slightly in their approach, the goal remains to lessen the incentive – and ease – for criminals to sell catalytic converters. If both decline, so should thefts, officials believe.

Among the efforts underway:

• Mandating that anyone selling a catalytic converter to a scrap dealer be at least 18 years old and show identification and proof of ownership.
• Tightening recordkeeping requirements for scrap metal dealers.

Many of these state laws would mandate fines and/or jail time for perpetrators.
Some industry watchers think federal law should be adjusted as well. Car recyclers can sell salvaged catalytic converters, provided they meet EPA emissions standards, said Sandy Blalock, executive director of the Automotive Recyclers Association (ARA), a group that supports professional automotive recycling businesses. Used catalytic converters may be a cheaper alternative to new units for car owners whose converters have been stolen. The problem is, Blalock says, the guidelines for selling used catalytic converters are from 1985.

“It has been 35 years since the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published its enforcement guidelines regulating the sale of used OEM catalysts,” Blalock said. The ARA wants the EPA to revisit its guidelines.

“It’s our belief that all vehicles today are capable of diagnostic measures to assure the converters are good,” Blalock said. “We could have saved a lot of consumers money when they had to replace their converters due to theft.”

Editor’s note: This story was updated to include new number of reported thefts for 2021.
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