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Damage from Attempted Catalytic Converter Theft

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by PriusDrift, Jul 29, 2020.

  1. PriusDrift

    PriusDrift Junior Member

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    Hi everyone,

    I was out cleaning the MAF on my car this morning when I noticed large bolts and springs under my car. Sure enough, someone attempted to steal my catalytic converter again. It looks like the cat is all still in tact, but I am hoping for some armchair diagnostics if anyone has time :) Do ya'll agree that the 02 sensor was cut and could that account for my car sounding like the converter was taken? Thank you very much!

     
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  2. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    it sounds like the catalytic converter is taken because all the bolts have been removed. You need to bolt it back. You'll need to see if you can save the oxygen sensor, maybe need a new one if you can't get it to work again after putting the wires back together

    Someone must have disrupted the thief and he took off
     
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  3. TMR-JWAP

    TMR-JWAP Senior Member

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    I love the rebar welded on.
    Wonder if I could find a market for some very high strength rebar as cat protection? We've got some stuff that would destroy a sawzall blade before it got a few millimeters. Thief would need a case of blades...and a couple hours...
     
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  4. PriusDrift

    PriusDrift Junior Member

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    Thank you!
     
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  5. PriusDrift

    PriusDrift Junior Member

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    You were right, the race car sound was due to the bolts being removed. Had the bolts put back on and a new downstream o2 sensor installed. Also had this Cat Security plate installed to deter future thieves - it also covers the sensor, making it hard to clip again.
     
  6. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    They hit the same car twice? What balls. Wonder how much there getting for the rhodium anyway.
     
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  7. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    That sucks.

    Please don’t take this wrong but are you a lady seems like they go after female owned cars more like there scoping it out first so they don’t catch a beating coming out from under the car. They got balls. Must be a lot of money involved.

    Lady g2 lurkers in California pay attention watch out for cars following you home so they can see where you live the cowardly pos’s. Be aware of your surroundings.
     
  8. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    I remember lots of talk years ago on this site you couldnt weld anything on a g2 it would damage the car.

    What do you think Tmr? May be worth it to get some rebar welded on mine I know a good muffler shop that could do it.
     
  9. Georgina Rudkus

    Georgina Rudkus Senior Member

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  10. Frank1234

    Frank1234 Member

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    Will a nice and loud 2 way pager car alarm doesn’t help!
     
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  11. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    Doesn’t help. It may not shake the car enough to set that alarm.
     
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  12. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    From reports here, I haven't noticed the thieves to be discriminating by sex. Or even scoping it out first. Just taking any they can find. Starting in the places and at times they are least likely to get shot, then branching out to wherever there is still a remaining accessible supply.
     
  13. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    Seemed like a bunch of women lately. But maybe there just driving around looking for g2s.
     
  14. Frank1234

    Frank1234 Member

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    Why every time I hear about stolen cat it’s in California, is this a California problem or it’s only some states in the US.
     
  15. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    You've missed numerous reports from a handful of other states.

    Is was rampant in England, especially in and near London, long before it came here.
     
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  16. Frank1234

    Frank1234 Member

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    I came across this article on the online news,

    a message for businesses buying the metal from criminals.

    “It all starts with you guys,” he said. You guys are the ones that are creating this demand the reason these thieves will go out and do this.

    Anyway looking at this in a positive way it’s better to get the catalyst converter stolen than have the whole car stolen.
     
    #16 Frank1234, Aug 1, 2020
    Last edited: Aug 1, 2020
  17. Frank1234

    Frank1234 Member

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    Hey everyone guess what, I wake up at about 5:30 this morning to a security alert then immediately I looked outside while am looking outside a man got out the driver door and went around and under my Prius with a flashlight and probably you know what happened next i was outside in matter of seconds, I talked the guy to get the f...out he got in his car and because the street is a dead end he has to drive by me where and standing waiting to take a picture of his plate but nothing there he has not plate so he got it way with nothing, and all I know what car he was driving, so luckily he didn’t have a chance to make any damage.
     
  18. Moses Bruh

    Moses Bruh Member

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    quick action, glad you and your car is safe. Does the under of your car have any security for the cat?
     
  19. Frank1234

    Frank1234 Member

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    Not and someone that live in California where this was endemic talk me the cat plate it can be cut as easy as the cc so that just make the repair more expensive, I have motion sensor security where I park my 2 Prius at night that’s how I wake up and stopped the thief but that will not help somewhere else, do you have something on mind that is warranty to work because besides my deductible be $50 dollars and my motion sensor at my home i will like to have a protection for when i am on public parking locations.
     
  20. GetShrek'd

    GetShrek'd New Member

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    After having someone install a Cat Security Plate; I found out I have a Bad-Out-Of-The-Box-Brand-New Downstream O2 sensor (Denso). Installation of O2 sensor not covered by warranty, so to replace the Faulty O2 sensor with Cat Security plate still installed; Is there an easier way or special tool worth using to replace it without the Cat Security Plate being removed or cut open? Gen 2 Prius.