Cheaper Catshield Alternatives

I go back to my old question - has a Gen 4 PRIUS (now pushing 6yrs old) - ever had a Cat stolen?

Nobody has reported a single one on Prius Chat. So I suspect it's NONE.

One of the Cats needs the engine removed (almost) to find it anyway. And the other is so small, I suspect the serious thieves wouldn't bother.

 

Hmm, I find it telling that they don't tell you the material that the shield is made of, just that it's "aluminum". Well so is aluminum foil lol.

I suppose some kind of shield is better than no shield, and may deter a thief based on the presence of something there, even if it may not be a harder heat tempered alloy like 7XXX or 6XXX, etc.

When you get it, try flexing it. It should be very rigid and difficult to bend. If it flexes easily, then it is probably made of soft aluminum.

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

Yes stolen.
Not mine but to a friend of mine in the parking lot of her work in the middle of the day. Cost was $1600

 

Ahh - that's the first response I've had in the 4 or so years I've asked. You'd have to wonder about the thieves - obviously didn't know that they were just getting a baby converter with very little value to them.

 

Well me too, I don't have the shield installed. And I never knew it had 2 converters. So I guess they took that small one? Never asked just felt sorry for her and was wondering if I should get one or not.
After it happened, was looking at Amazon .saw some at about $50 but didn't buy yet.now that I know they need to take the whole engine apart, I'll just wait. anyways my car is always inside the garage . I thought many Priuses had their cats stripped. Mmmm

 

The primary targets were Gen 2 - and to a lesser extent Gen 3. This is 2 views of Gen 4's first Catalytic Converter.




Not 100% certain if you need to remove the engine - but I can't see how you could do it in-situ - or cut a hole in the cabin floor (*)



(*) - not as silly as it sounds - well, maybe in a locked PRIUS. But we had an early Ford Falcon here in Australia and if the WELCH PLUG needed replacing at the back of the engine - 2 choices - remove engine - or cut hole in floor. Many holes were cut in floors.

 

The OP's shield should work just fine. To the accomplished knowledgeable thief, any shield is only a visual deterrent against the novice.

 

The Toyota Prius
The Toyota Prius is the most recognizable hybrid on the road—and that’s why it’s one of the vehicles catalytic converter thieves target the most.

Because the gasoline-powered engine in the Prius (and most other hybrids) doesn’t run all of the time, the catalytic converter doesn’t have to work as hard. As a result, the converter is more likely to stay in better condition longer, thereby retaining more of its precious metals.
https://www.carparts.com/blog/what-cars-are-targeted-for-catalytic-converter-theft-the-most-often/

 

The experienced, pro-thieves (organized crime) know better than to hit the Gen 4s. The amateurs, I'm more concerned about them just mucking about and causing expensive repairs. So I got the shield as a visual deterrent. The true deterrent is that my street parking is in front of a popular store (daytime traffic), in a neighborhood with active night life / near a popular park.