My cat convertor was stolen; can someone recommend used of aftermarket cats that won’t trigger CEL?

Well... If you're determined to save money, buy this aftermarket cat via a friend/family out of state: Catalytic Converter For 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Toyota Prius 1.5L EPA OBD2 | eBay Then do lots of research of smog check mechanics near you and go to whoever is the laziest most could care less shop you can find.

You only have to pass the visual inspection where mechanic confirms a Toyota OEM logo is on the Cat. You could even put a Cat cover on it so it's harder to see. However some shops will charge a fee to remove cover to inspect Cat.

Hard to say which shop will be your lucky day, because derelict ones may be already trying to get out of trouble.

Alternatively, there's a near $1K aftermarket cat that was recently approved in California that's way cheaper than $2.5K OEM version. So you could simply find a shop that installs those as well as does inspections and get it all done at once in the $1.5K range.

 

Welcome to California, the land of dreams.

 

Yes... Make sure those exposed wires don't touch each other or touch the metal body of the car. A replacement O2 sensor costs anywhere between $20 to a $100 depending on which one you buy. There's plenty of Youtube videos on a how to install it, as well as how to install a replacement cat.

 

When my cat was stolen, the insurance just installed a non Toyota model. Engine light after a few months. I reset it using torque app and a bluetooth OBD adapter. I then had a new Toyota sensor fitted. Engine light came on again after some months. Eventually insurance paid for complete assembly replacement that includes the sensor and heat restore container. No engine light now but rattle from Toyota catlock