Catalytic Converter Stolen - Olathe Toyota ++++

I was recently in Denver because we flew out of DIA for the holiday season, and parked for 10 days in the airports parking lot and nothing happened to my truck. Then when we flew back into DIA at 3am, we got the truck and drove to the Staybridge Suites hotel. Between 3:30am and when I started the truck around 8am in 20 degree temperatures, someone cut the driver's side CAT out of my truck in the parking lot of the hotel.

Sucks yes, but I had insurance that covers it and I was able to get clamps and pipe to span the gap from a local O'Reillys. So after I drove the 4 hours back home staring at the "check engine light", I went to my local dealer Western Slope Toyota to see what it would cost to replace it. First off, they charge a $175 diagnostic fee. Fair enough I thought since they have to put it on the lift. But they won't refund that if you go ahead and contract the service like the local Nissan dealer did for my Frontier.

They tell me $2511.66 for parts to replace the CAT, but they are back-ordered for several weeks, if not months. And if I want to get "in line" for one, I'll have to hurry and pay the full cost upfront. Yeah right, not born yesterday.

Progressive insurance on the other hand sends an investigator out to my workplace for free to inspect the damage. After around 1 1/2 hours, he comes back with an MSRP payout of $2409.17 for parts. He then tells me that dealer service departments usually add a percentage on to the MSRP cost of the parts. And if I want to get the service done there, I will have to pay the difference. Or, he says, I could go to the same dealers parts department and order the parts for the MSRP!

So, just to double check the insurance company, I got on the official Toyota Parts Website, and sure enough every part # he listed (which matched part #s to the dealer estimate) added up to the same cost the insurance company would pay for the parts. But less than the local dealer wanted to charge.

Now here's the really important part of this rant. I started searching for the parts online cause I figured I might be able to get them faster. And then I could have someone local do the work since I'm just recovering from a back injury. In searching, I fortunately found Olathe Toyota! I can't say enough good things about them. They answered my emails within minutes, their price for parts was $1,751.07, so $760.59 less than the local dealers "gun in the ribs" price, and they shipped everything for $55.

On top of that, I ordered the parts on Jan 24th, and they just arrived today Feb 3rd. So yeah, next time I order Toyota parts, Olathe Toyota will be my go to!

https://parts.olathetoyota.com/

 

Lucky they had it in stock. Lots of people have been having difficulty getting OEM in, backordered everywhere.

If your O2 sensors haven't been done recently, may want to buy new Denso and doing those while it's easily accessible.

Thieves suck!

 

Too bad they didn’t take both CATs, $600 more or so for the resonator and muffler section and you’d have a brand new stainless steel exhaust.

 

shifty -

They told me when I ordered that it wasn't in stock, but that they would have to special order it. So yes, I was lucky that they got their order so quickly that they could turn around and send it my way.
A new O2 sensor was part of my order since the person who stole my CAT just cut the wire.

Jack -
Are you talking about an after-market setup that eliminates the CATS?

 

Fortunately not passsenger side. Most all places say dis-contiued but I have not given up yet. I'll have to give Olathe a call and see if they say dis-continued or back ordered. Don't care if back ordered, just want it before they truly go NLA.

 

I just checked, doesn't say NLA.

https://parts.olathetoyota.com/oem-...0dW5kcmEmeT0yMDA2JnQ9c3I1JmU9NC03bC12OC1nYXM=

 

Whoops, sorry I just noticed you had an 04. They do say discontinued for that year. Maybe I should be considering an out of pocket replacement for the Passenger side while they are still available.

 

Yeah, that's for 06 which I assume you have given no info in profile or post. Mine is 04 unfortunately but my hope it's not really discontinued just back order item.

Exhaust Components for 2004 Toyota Tundra | Toyota Parts Center (olathetoyota.com)

 

That’s bizzare one would be discontinued and not the other.

Considering they’re both identical it could be used by someone with welding skills.

 

Not really that bizarre given some 01-03 have certain parts already discontinued. That Ky bourbon kid @Tundra2 warned me a couple years back certain parts were going NLA.

Edit....just noticed the added part....

Trust me, I am considering getting the driver side soon and possibly 2 driver side if indeed can't find passenger. I'll then do as you mentioned, have my local yocal exhaust guy turn it into a useable passenger side, given the straightness of the exit end.

 

I'm too tired to remember details, but basically unless you find new in box, old stock... you're not going to find big pieces for these trucks.

 

I’m in Denver for training at the moment, some guys caught this dipshit trying to steal cats a couple weeks ago at the Woolleys Hotel. It’s been a huge issue in the area.

 

Thanks. I just fixed this oversight.

 

Everyone I talked to said that I was lucky that they didn't steal the truck, as that's happening with almost the same frequency there.

 

I thought if the O2 sensor port was in the CAT itself it wasn't an OEM setup. Or are the 06s different?

 

This is the parts illustration that Toyota gave me with the estimate. And the CAT that Olathe Toyota sent me has the socket to accept the sensor.

 

Must be a later year truck thing then.

 

Other than a check engine light, and possible legalities, are there any negatives to just running straight pipes?

 

I'm about to be attacked from all angles, but no, you can run without them forever with no significant implications. Fuel mileage maybe, but who cares on a half-ton truck? You can buy a lot of gasoline for 2,000 bucks. When my converters disappear, that's it for saving the whales as far as I'm concerned.

 

I don't think anyone is going to attack you for the thought. I think most rational people understand industrial and commercial cause tens of thousands times more pollution than one Tundra. If every active 1st gen poster drove without O2/cats, it wouldn't even put a fraction of a fraction of a fraction's dent into what they're doing.

The major issue I see is ultimately with a CEL being lit all the time. In that state, you have no way of knowing if something else perpetually bad is going south, something that could cause major $$ issues, unless you're scanning a couple of times per month to make sure that's all that's wrong.

Honestly, I wish O2 sims were still a thing. I think having O2 delete as an option would be nice. I still couldn't do it in my state, emissions is required for my truck until 2031.

 

We don't have an emission program where I live, so I'm exempt. But running only one side with a straight pipe, the truck doesn't run as well, the exhaust stinks like an old 60s Chevy running rich, and I used close to a full tank of fuel on a length of highway that normally only needs 5/8 tank. So for me anyway it's worth it to replace it for those reasons.

 

This exact thing happened to me 3 weeks back or so. Traveling to PHX for my daughters volleyball tournament, went to take the fam to an early breakfast before the team met up. Parked in the hotel parking lot with plenty of other vehicles…started it up. Cringe still at the thought of it. Driver side front cat cut out. On waiting list, given ETA of FEB 9th-17th…doubtful. Covered fully by insurance, playing the waiting game. In the meantime, throwing on Talon’s cat plates so I can hold onto the remaining three I have left .

 

Commenting solely because no one has acknowledged the doggo in the picture. 10/10.

 

I'm planning on making my own plates to cover the CATS since none of the manufacturers like Talon make one for the 06. I'm going to make cardboard templates today.

 

She's the best dog we've ever had. Just has a really sweet personality even after we've had both her knees operated on.

 

I also have a 2006. I'd be interested in seeing your finished product.

 

Well, the design is mostly finished in my head. As soon as I get it plasma cut, powder coated, and installed, I'll post some pics.

 

Did run across this company that makes me for your model range Tundra…not a bad price.
https://addautomotive.com/product/tundra-1999-2006-catalytic-anti-theft-deterrent-shield/

 

A lot of us with money in our trucks have lift kits, and I saw this on the Add-A-Cat page:

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