Featured Sad Catalytic Converter theft news

All I know is in the article... But Prius are the most popular because they wear out slower due to hybrid efficiency, so are most sought after/profitable by the criminals who take them apart and extract the valuable material...

 

While the catalyst function may wear out due to clogging or a covering layer, these metals don't "wear out". Unless they somehow erode away, which I haven't heard of, the metal refiners can still extract them all even from a completely "worn out" cat.

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

The valuable catalyst materials are originally coated onto a honeycomb or latticework. If the assembly is overheated, the structural honeycomb can melt, slump, droop, or even get blown out the tail end in droplets, carrying the catalyzing layer along with it.

You'd need a very fuel-rich condition like an injector stuck open to get it that hot. Rare, but it does sometimes happen.

 

In that condition, the rear oxygen sensor will definitely throw an OBDII error code.

 

the Jack you used to lower that low would either be stuck, allowing the thieves to use that Jack, or the jack that could get so low and still be pulled out? Yeah, that's the Jack the thieves would use next

calif requires thumbprint & CA driver's license in order to sell a cat. it only helps a little.

not NO problem .... a different problem;
$1,000's in 480v main Breakers ripped off from supercharger cabinets out of the station linking SoCal and Vegas


[Updated] Tesla Supercharger connecting LA to Vegas vandalized ahead of Thanksgiving weekend
Stealers gonna steal
.

 

Who's Jack?

 

But isn't it possible to get something like a corolla, or Yaris catalytic converter, measure dimensions, then weld it there?

 

It is possible, yes. That would get the car going quietly again.

However, in California the car will be inspected every year. If the inspector finds anything other than the original parts, the car fails and can't be operated. The inspectors in California are very strict in comparison to most other places. That's why this is such a big problem there, when it wouldn't be a big deal in many other places.

 

Haha! That's like when I was a youngster watching old cowboy movies: "Shoot at Will". Who's Will, what did he do that everyone should shoot at him only, and the biggie: I never heard of an Indian named "Will"!

 

There are two O[2] sensors on each side of the converter to measure the effectiveness of the catalytic converter. If they fail, you get a check engine light and a code.

Bob Wilson

 

One front and one back to compare before the CAT and after the CAT to determine efficiency.