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First post here in 10 years... because my catalytic converter was stolen :-(

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by Kampy, Jan 29, 2023.

  1. Kampy

    Kampy Junior Member

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    Haven't posted here on PriusChat in the past decade, but I'm back!

    Unfortunately, the thing that brought me back here was getting my catalytic converter stolen off my 2012 Prius IV (purchased and always registered in CA).

    I've already filed a police report (online), once that becomes official will be contacting my insurance co. (Progressive).

    I don't have a ton of money and am kind of a cheapskate, so I will be trying to fix this situation as cheaply as I can... if I can DIY some of it to save $ I will... just now starting to figure out my options...

    Is there a section of this forum (or other websites?) dedicated to dealing with replacing a stolen catalytic converter? Please point me in the right direction, thanks
     
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  2. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    You might be able to do it on the cheap for a little while, at least until your vehicle inspection comes up then the visual inspection will be failed unless the mechanic doing the work isn't very thorough. The other challenge is that the seller of your cat that would work fine in most states won't sell them in California so you're going to have to get someone outside your state to buy it. Here's a link to a low price high quality cat plus their map: https://www.ebay.com/itm/195197617160

    upload_2023-1-29_12-10-48.png
     
  3. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    If you have full coverage on your car, you don't need an official police report. Just report it to your insurance company and get the process going. There may not be any OEM parts available for purchase, but your insurance company may be able to get you a rental car until the parts become available.

    In CA you cannot legally put an aftermarket Catalytic converter on, however some people are able to get an aftermarket part from online market places (craigslist, offerup, facebook etc). These options are fairly cheap and you can weld on the part yourself.
     
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  4. Todd Bonzalez

    Todd Bonzalez Active Member

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  5. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    Seems to me until you do for an inspection you can just put a piece of pipe there and drive while you're making that money living in California so when the part does become available you can buy it for $3,000 and have it installed maybe by then you'll be out of the car who knows and then what can they do when you're inspection comes up they just fail you they don't do anything and tell you you're not supposed to drive the car that's when you go to Colorado with your car for a while or something and work there.
     
  6. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    There is a section dealing with stolen cats.

    Use the search forums link up top and search

    stolen cat
     
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  7. Georgina Rudkus

    Georgina Rudkus Senior Member

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    Anyone with a stolen Gen 3 cat in California needs to watch this YouTube video to see the options for a replacement.



    There is only one case I know of of someone who installed a California legal aftermarket converter,

    Check out this Priuschat thread.

    Magnaflow CARB Catalytic Converter | PriusChat
     
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  8. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    Put a non carb cat on then put a shield over it. Inspection won’t remove the shield to check the actual cat. Easy peasy.
     
  9. Georgina Rudkus

    Georgina Rudkus Senior Member

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    They are required to check for numbers embossed on the cat at the CARB inspection station. Covering it with a shield that does not have an inspection port is a FAIL.
     
  10. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    No need for welding... They're direct fit replacments.
     
  11. Georgina Rudkus

    Georgina Rudkus Senior Member

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    That might be true for Gen 2 aftermarket converters, but not for Gen 3 models. Aftermarket Gen 3 converters do not come with the exhaust engine pre-heater and must be welded to the entry point of the preheater. f the thief destroyed the pre-heater, your only option would be an OEM replacement from Toyota.
     
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  12. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    Just rig up a pipe to help quiet the car down a little Make sure that the oxygen sensor wires aren't shorted tape them up hang them up somewhere where they're not going to get burned and drive the h a l e out of the car until your next inspection comes up and while you're doing all that maybe you're thinking about going to another state to create a registration I don't know where you'd go out there I don't know the area that well maybe Utah you know some states that are just not that caring about this sort of thing and when you go to a state like that you'll be able to buy just the catalytic converter the bulbous piece have that welded on or what have you or you can buy a whole aftermarket cat from the big guys on whatever site you use put that on have the PO420 issue get a rider on that and keep driving because nobody can fix it and in the state with no emissions or minimal emissions you should be able to get a rider especially in a state full of farm vehicles and equipment and poor people You would think anyway I got a rider in Massachusetts back in the '80s but that's another whole story and there was no Prius yet.
     
  13. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    And another thing to consider is you could just push the Prius off to the side since it's pretty much worthless now without its cat in California and go for the $3,000 repair they're talking about to fix the Prius You could buy a Chevrolet Aveo with 19-in rims and all that nonsense The LE model or LX or GLX or whatever it is and only be about I don't know 8 mi to the gallon off the Prius Mark or something close to that and not even worry about it to be honest with you I give yourself a big headache. It's my Prius cat was stolen tomorrow even in the town I live in with no emissions I just hop on my Italian Aprilia scooter and actually be kind of happy that I don't have to worry with the car especially during the good parts of the year.
     
  14. gramps

    gramps Member

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    I'm sorry to hear about your loss. I haven't posted much in the last 10 years like you. My 2009 Prius had the catalytic converter stolen Saturday night.
    I've had full coverage since I bought it new 14 years ago.
    My insurance (Geico) says $250 deductible, free towing to my mechanic 20 miles away. He has new cat converters in stock. Rental car is approved but we don't need one.
    For now the game plan is to find a buyer and get it repaired and then sell it. I got a 2023 COROLLA Hybrid a few months ago.
     
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  15. Kampy

    Kampy Junior Member

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    your insurance plan is better than mine. My comprehensive deductible is $1,000 and if I change it to $100 deductible, it'll cost me an extra $70/mo

    I'm not 100% positive yet that I want to spend 1500 or more to get my 11 year old Prius repaired... but at the same time, I still like it, and would rather not spend a bunch to replace it. *sigh*

    All you gen 2 and gen 3 owners out there... (especially in CARB states) if you haven't been hit yet, you might wanna install one of those security shields ASAP. I thought my neighborhood and parking space was immune to this epidemic but I was wrong
     
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  16. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    DIY hardening I’ve done, hopefully helps:

    1. Wrapped rear cut zone with chain, secured at every turn with bolts/nuts, outermost ones with permanent thread-lock.

    2. Large letter engraved license plate and VIN along rear section of Cat.
     
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  17. Todd Bonzalez

    Todd Bonzalez Active Member

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    Hi gramps, how are you liking the Corolla hybrid? I was just thinking the other day what a good value proposition they are compared to a new Prius
     
  18. Georgina Rudkus

    Georgina Rudkus Senior Member

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    This cheap method helps, too; vht painted side view.JPG 209769_Bumper_Sticker.jpg
     
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  19. Todd Bonzalez

    Todd Bonzalez Active Member

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    Well, that's one way to deal with the problem: :ROFLMAO:

     
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  20. Kampy

    Kampy Junior Member

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    Hi Mendel, thanks for the suggestion... yes, I am thinking I will either add a shield and/or some additional steps like you have done and also maybe following Georgina & Todd's examples– painting it orange, maybe adding a decal below the side doors that says "OEM CAT already stolen. Replacement cat contains no Chromium (worthless)"
     
    Mendel Leisk likes this.