Catalytic Converter Theft

Was showing a couple iron worker friends the Valhalla shield today, and what do you know…my converter got stolen while I was at work. The f@&kin’ odds

am I good to drive this thing for a couple days?

 

That really stinks. Stolen with the shields installed?

 

Welcome from TX.... and man that sucks!

 

Brutal

 

I read it as he was showing plates to get but got stolen beforehand?

I just put my plates on Saturday.

 

Negative. Theft has been rampart in Portland and I was showing some buddies the shield I wanted to buy vs new skids.

It did take them 3 minutes, have full video of them too

 

They get all of them?

 

Horrible. I really dont want to have to spend money on this but its probably just a matter of time. For shorter thieves my cats are practically eye level!

 

I think they just got one? I’m a newb with the tundra (embarrassing) looks like they got the passenger side front.

I can still drive this thing though ya? Sounds like a diesel tractor

 

No need to be embarrassed

from what I’ve read you can still drive it

 

Can definitely still drive it. Might throw a code, not sure where the o2 sensors are. Lots of people delete cats and run straight pipes, cats are only part of the emissions system. If you are somewhere that doesnt need to pass inspection you could just have a straight pipe attached where the cat would be and it won't sound obnoxious since you'll still have the muffler.

 

3 minutes just to get one of them?


Joking aside, that sucks. Don't know how long you can drive it like that, but somebody else just had theirs cut while on vaca and drove 750+ miles without them to get home.

 

just sounds so trashy. Literally feel like I should sell meth.

straight pipes would require an emulator ya?

 

For a quick fix you could have a shop connect a pipe where the cat was cut out. Should sound much better and keep exhaust fumes from getting in the cab. I dont know what an emulator is unless it's referring to video games lol

 

I can hardly wait, 4 cats and 8 sensors, wonder what that costs?

 

The last2 cats can be deleted. There are no o2 sensors after the last 2 cats.

 

Sounds like the Oak is in PDX, so we do have to make it through DEQ.

Most shops I’ve heard of are having supply chain issues, so replacement can be delayed.

I got the Valhalla plates on months ago and they haven’t messed with mine, but a bunch of my staff have had cats stolen in the same lot… it does work as a deterrent it seems.

 

Its crazy to think about needing to spend upwards of $500 for a theft deterrent when insurance deductibles are about the same cost if you carry comprehensive. So you're basically paying for not having to deal with the headache. I've looked into the Valhalla plates but thankfully my work lot is a 0 risk spot and I can park at home in a surveillanced driveway so I don't think it makes much sense for me to invest in the plates, considering they will cause increased headache for transmission and differential oil changes and the stock plate is headache enough for engine oil changes. Hopefully more laws are put into place to prevent scrapping of cats which is a better deterrent than plates. Even better solution would be not needing cats at all but the EPA would never go for it.

 

Anyone on the fence

So did they get the other side?
The side pictured is the fastest and easiest.
The other side has a rubber hanger and it takes some time to get that hanger off.
They left my driver's side hanging because the alarm was going off in my employer's parking lot at NOON.
They cut it but they didn't take it.
I'm opting for all new parts since the insurance is paying for it.
The only problem is I'm on day 161 of having my truck at the dealership waiting on parts..

 

Yikes, is the insurance paying for a rental for that long? Could you install a straight pipe in the meantime? I'd be lost without my truck for that long as I use it for transporting my dogs, have a cap on the bed for them.

 

It's crazy to think about a lot of things going on today in America and abroad.
Not going to get political, this forum isn't the place for it.

A few things you might consider in not getting plates:
1. It can happen ANYWHERE your truck is not occupied. Any grocery or retail store, or ANYWHERE else you might park your truck and get out of it for 1 minute.
Parking at home in a surveillanced driveway doesn't mean shit. Your cats can be gone in under 1 minute by masked thieves possibly driving a stolen vehicle.
My dealership has had them stolen off the lot on NEW Tundras.

2. Getting them replaced. This is where it hurts.
My cats were stolen in my work parking lot on 11/15/2021.
My truck has been at my dealership since 11/16/2021, that is 161 days I've been without my tundra.
They currently have 33 Tundras and Sequoias on the lot waiting on cat parts.

3. My ONLY saving grace is my dealer is paying for my rental/loaner 2021 Tacoma.
Many on this forum, and I mean several, are not getting that deal.
This means they have no transportation while waiting on parts, are using an alternate vehicle, or paying out of pocket for a rental.
My rental bill so far that Toyota is paying is already up and over $5K.


You do what you want and more power to you.
But to disregard the ramifications of not being prepared to give some deterrent of theft is not going to help you if they are stolen.

Good luck..

 

Read above...
The rental car insurance limit per claim is $1500.
That lasted 33.5 days @ $45 per day.
Being I'm on day 161, the rental fee minus the $1500 the insurance will pay is up to $5760.
Parts and labor for the actual cat replacement and repair is $6000.

 

Totally hear you and thats what made me look into the plates in the first place, I'm lucky with my work lot being patrolled by armed law enforcement but my driveway and grocery stores definitely have me concerned. It's just trying to way out the cost, I'm sure I'll be kicking myself if they do get stolen. In my head I would say I'd put in a claim, pay my 500 deductable and then put straight pipes until parts are available but it is definitely just a sh!tty situation anyway you look at it.

 

All good points, and I’m scrambling to learn as much as possible as quickly as possible.

They did get the “fastest and easiest side” so Im thankful I still have the other 3 remaining.

Im reading 02 sensors are located only within the front cats, so it sounds like I’m somewhat screwed here. But then it was mentioned i could simply patch in some pipe in lieu of the cat and get myself back to a more audibly acceptable level.

I’ve started my claim with insurance but wondering if this is an opportunity for some other mod? Exhaust? Proper straight pipe? Vahalla shield? Or RCI engine and Tran skid plate (there’s a local selling new for $550)

thoughts?

 

Personally I'd look into what it would take for an o2 cat delete, Im sure there's information on that since people have been doing cat deletes since they were invented. Then also take into consideration the ramifications if you need to pass an emissions test yearly as well. If I were in a state that didnt need to pass emissions I'd want to just delete cats all together. I had a previous vehicle that I did a cat back exhaust on that would regularly throw an o2 code and id just clear it when ever it came up and it was never and isssue. When you throw an o2 code it typically will trigger a CEL but not have any effect on drivability.

 

I don't know what your state emission laws are.
Some are replacing the missing cats with Magnaflow aftermarket cats.
Some states (California) don't allow that.
Many have stated the aftermarket cats will eventually turn on the check engine light and if you have state inspections, it won't pass with a check engine light.

There are MANY threads here on the situation.
I'd check into your state's requirements and go from there.
In Texas, it is illegal for a shop to install a straight pipe to bypass a catalytic converter, even in this situation.
Some shops will do it if you pay them enough, some won't.
Hell, some shops will print you out a passing state inspection without looking at the vehicle if you pay them enough..

Catalytic Converter Laws in Texas (itstillruns.com)

 

Yeah 100% depends on the state. If you have an OB2 scanner you can easily clear a CEL and in my experience it will stay cleared for enough time to pass an inspection but like you stated theres tons of info on cat deletes. Here a video of just the first one to pop up on youtube, not a ton of info but sounds great https://youtu.be/XqQJi5iseIE If you could take the insurance payout and invest in a catless setup that might be the best way to go. Nothing to steal and a cooler sounder truck.

 

Oh man did I need to hear that! Thanks for saying that! Say it again!

 

Can you capture some important screen shots from the video, such as suspect vehicle, suspect(s) (face, etc. that best identifies him/her), and anything else that would be helpful in thwarting their future efforts, such as video clip/images showing suspect behavior prior to targeting your vehicle. I know there is more than 1 crew doing these crimes in every major metro area. However, any information may be helpful in preventing theft.

Thanks and sincerely sorry you were a victim!

 

So to elaborate I install cctv and cameras do nothing stop them from cutting. They hit a customer of mines house at 8:30 am and stole the cats from his Prius BUT within two hours and including the help from cameras including the ones we installed they were able to get the theives at the scrap yard in the city. Again it doesn’t stop them.