Catalytic Converters Theft Experience

Anyone have an issue with a first gen using federal cats on a CARB tundra? My stupid truck is CARB and I put federal cats on it. LSS, It's not showing a check engine light, but it has soft lights showing the system has "not completed certain checks". Any help would be greatful as the internet has come up bust.

 

https://www.whsv.com/2023/02/10/thieves-target-oscar-mayer-wienermobile-steal-catalytic-converter/

 

I hate a thief! Seems like Toyota and the other companies would start building the trucks with factory cat theft shields. My guess, for a couple hundred bucks on each truck they could save alot of hassle and headache and costs. How many times across the country has those huge costs added up waiting on parts. And no doubt they would profit on the shields anyhow.

I blame alot of this on the recyclers. They shouldn't be taking cats at all from lay people, unless you can prove you owned the vehicle it came from.

 

A lot of states have laws that say an individual can't just walk up and sell a cat. The problem is business to business sales are not regulated so you end up with cat thief rings.

 

Noooo, not the weinermobile! Lol

 

I think some of the recycler’s are as crooked as the crooks.

 

I think I'm going to order the RCI trans skid w the free cat plates mostly because of this. I was just under the truck and the cats are just too easy to steal

 

Mine were stolen from a public park and ride lot during daylight hours last spring.

Because my truck is an 08 my insurance company could use aftermarket parts. My local mechanic went with Napa and told me if I get a CEL comeback and they’ll replace it under warranty. A year later and all is well.


I added Valhallas Shield plates, front and back.

 

That’s what I did and I’m very pleased with the product.

 

When my cats were stolen they left one side hanging.
I tried to sell them locally on social media but kept getting lowballed, I only asked for $300 for them.
I went to a couple of local recyclers and they wouldn't touch them, even with my invoice for repair from Toyota.
They said the Texas state laws are so strict, it is too much trouble and paperwork to buy them from walk-ins.
I finally sent them off to a company up north.
They paid for shipping and gave me $300 for them.

It is my understanding that a lot of these stolen cats are sent to ports and literally shipped off to foreign countries for processing.

 

Instant Karma.

 

Why did they pay that?

 

Nice

 

Anyone know of a place in or near Calgary AB who sells these?

 

I have a "federal

Because I dropped my truck off at Toyota of Orange for some minor body work. They don't do body work so they towed it over to the shop they send all of their paint work to. The cats got stolen while at the body shop. Funny thing is Toyota of Orange asked me if I think the body shop should pay for the rental. I said "if I was the shop I wouldn't since it's Toyotas deal that the cats are on back order. But I really don't care, I know I am not paying for the rental" They sent me to Enterprise to pickup a rental truck....

 

Just a heads up, I was switching to USAA auto insurance, when they were quoting me, they asked me if I wanted rental car added.

Dont know if all Ins companies do this, but might be worth checking to see if you do have rental car in your policy.

 

My insurance does but it's for a maximum of 15 days or something useless like that.

 

Glad you knew, I had no idea that rental car was an option.

I hope the guys who have had their Cats stolen didn't have to pay for a rental for the months their trucks sat at the dealerships waiting on parts.

 

Design issues?

No one was stealing cats at the rates they are being stolen now when the Gen 2/2.5 Tundra was designed. Nor could they have predicted the value of elements going up or recent supply and scarcity issues.

Design is about tradeoffs and the cats are optimized for emissions and probably maintainability. Where Toyota is dropping the ball is not offering a security plate but they are probably making bigger money selling cats.

 

Mine is 30 days, but several year ago after an accident they tried to give me a low payout for my car which I fought and they dragged their feet deciding what to do. By the time it was all said and done I had the rental for almost 50 days, the insurance tried to tell me I had to cover the 20 extra days, when I dropped the rental off they gave me a bill, I said to send it to the insurance, they paid it because I never heard anything more. So just because it's 15 days, if it's out of your control you can fight it. I understand in the situation of waiting for replacement cats might be uniquely different but still...

 

I would think insurance would have to reconsider these days. Even if I was in a collision, it would probably take a body shop more than 30 days to get parts.

 

Yep, that is why they hit Prius's often even though they have to jack them up.

 

Imagine trying to install that

 

Nice deal with that atleast, even though the whole thing sucks

 

does anyone sell reasonable priced security bolts? Talon's wants $60 for 4 bolts and a driver.

 

The bolts Talon sells is made by Bryce, so if you want the pentagon shaped key you'd have to go through them but they have a minimum order amount to buy directly so not worth it unless you have other people going in on it. I don't recall the thread size, but take a look at McMaster-Carr, they sell stainless steel round head tamper-resistant bolts like the one from Talon in different key shapes from #4 to 3/8" and M3 to M10 thread sizes.

 

Try your local hardware store like Ace.

 

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