Could I sue my mechanic for potentially installing an aftermarket catalytic converter?

Right so are there any pictures or examples?
You said above: “Check where the muffler connects to the first cat in case he just welded on a used cats section to your original muffler section”

Do you have a picture/example what it looks like when a used cat was welded to the original muffler section?
And the opposite example/picture when a new cat was used?
I’m trying to get an idea what’s the difference between the two possibilities (bad case and good case), and a general idea of where/how to look for it once the car is lifted. Drawing on a schema/diagram will do too.

Are you able to draw it on picture 6/11 in:
Could I sue my mechanic for potentially installing an aftermarket catalytic converter? | Page 2 | PriusChat

Or it’s not showing the area you refer to?

It sounds like the area you describe is covered by the cat shield so that’s why I couldn’t take pictures of it yet.

Thanks again!

 

I asked him he didn’t give me any proof he ordered it. Plus how do you know he’s not faking it or giving you proof for someone’s else catalytic that he ordered? He can also get it from a wholesale or got it long time ago so it’s not a guarantee that he has a toyota parts receipt dated after I came to him first.

About getting the sign off for the used cat it’s ridiculous why have these laws that say it’s illegal if it can’t be enforced? These laws are just stupid if there is no legit way to tell or let the state agency to keep track of what’s being installed and linking it to a big database of new cats. They have to incorporate some smart technology otherwise the law is useless.

I might have to resort back to talk with the mechanic and resolve it with him, but I’m trying to get more evidence before I confront him about this.

Regarding the cat shield I’m not sure which one I have, I’ll try to get some more pictures later to post here so you could see...

Meanwhile, you could see a picture of my cat shield in (in picture 6/11):
Could I sue my mechanic for potentially installing an aftermarket catalytic converter? | Page 2 | PriusChat

 

Yes, it’s possible that if I confront him or tell him I’ll see him in court because I got evidence, he might send someone to my address to steal the cat so there is no evidence anymore...

 

So what you put in the red square is the factory weld?
What do you call the part that is above the red square and the part below the red square and then the part that is all the way at the bottom? Are they all cats or some of them are mufflers? Or is the muffler a complete separate part from this picture, and if so, what section of the muffler is it supposed to be welded to (picture/diagram?)?

Also is the part hanging in the picture is it’s upper part is the one that goes to the engine side (front of the car) or is it the bottom part that goes to the engine side?

Thanks!

 

Right so basically you’re saying to take pictures where I drew the green arrow pointer which is between green markings 1 & 2 of the two “fat” objects in this picture:



So in my picture green marking number 1 is the muffler, and green marking 2 is where the 2 cats are?

Thanks!

 

So in my picture green marking number 1 is the muffler, and green marking 2 is where the 2 cats are?
If so, why my muffler looks so big, old and brown color compared to the picture with your red markings where the muffler appears to be much smaller, new and more silver/shiny in color?

 

Yes, I understand now, thank you for that... I was just wondering if mine was really new, you would think that the muffler would look new, shiny and silver in color... Mine looks bloated/big and brown color - So is it possible that it's my original muffler like you said? Since the thieves only steal/cut the 2 cats portion, but they leave the muffler portion intact? And then like you say, he rather weld 2 used cats to my existing old muffler than to put an entirely new catalytic converter part? Because I would think that the muffler should have been replaced too, since it comes as one big part which includes both the muffler and the 2 cats? So isn't this proves already that it's not a new "entire" catalytic converter?

 

But look at the picture, it's already visible that the muffler is old and brown. I know the places/people I spoke with told me that the catalytic loses it's shininess as soon as the car gets heated (although I don't know to which portion of the catalytic converter they refer to that loses it's shininess the cats portion or the muffler portion or both?), but I barely drove like two days since I got the car back - So not sure if it will look this bad so quickly? But I get what you are saying now, basically you say not to just confirm it by the looks of the old muffler, but also confirm that the cat 1 is welded to my existing old muffler in the portion where they connect.

The other thing is how the other two shops were able to tell that it's used so quickly? Given that only thing they see when they lift my car is the muffler portion since the cats portion is covered with the cat shield, I think they decided it looks used just by looking at the muffler portion. But I will get those photos and confirm again.

Thanks!

 

Is it considered legal for him to keep my intact old muffler, get a new catalytic converter oem, cut the cats from it, and then weld it to my muffler? Is it considered for him that he didn't sell me a "used" catalytic converter in this case? What would be the logical reason for him to keep my original muffler and not to replace it entirely if he receives the new oem as one long part that includes both the muffler and the cats (also it's a little suspicious he got the new original oem so quick given that there is a nationwide shortage and Toyota dealer needs 6 months to get it!)?

Is the part highlighted (part number 17410-21500) in my insurance estimate:


Supposed to replace the entire catalytic converter which would include the muffler as well? Or theoretically he could decide that he just keeps my existing muffler intact and welds to it the cats (which I guess logically speaking he could just get the cats from some junkyard as used or stolen and basically take the rest of the money to himself)?

Btw, the check engine light that he removed is back now. It's the same code related to the catalytic.

Thank you!

 

I was under the impression that it’s one part based on @rogerthat picture above with the red markings/labels

https://parts.lakelandtoyota.com/p/toyota__/PIPE-Exhaust-ASSEMBLY---Catalytic-Converter-Front-Catalytic-Converter-InclResonator/3900473/1741021500.html

What’s the part that @rogerthat marked as the muffler then? And what’s the relation of it to the muffler or how does it connect to it?

 

How do I look up the cat on napa, got a link?
I haven’t accused my mechanic of anything yet, but two shops told me that it’s used, so I’m trying to get to the bottom of it...