Catalytic Converter Stolen - Olathe Toyota ++++

Ahhh yup saw that too…this other one says won’t work with V6 Tundras..only the V8’s, not sure what the OP has. It’s similar to RCI’s skid plate/cat guard set up…just an option if applicable .
https://skidrowoffroad.com/collecti...a-tundra-catalytic-converter-guards-2000-2006

 

That's similar to what I made a cardboard mockup of today. The difference is that I plan on extending the main "plate" toward the back of the truck about 10" more. Then I'll make some side shields to protect the sides of the CATs between the 2 frame cross members, and also behind the second cross member to restrict access to the back of the CATs. The side shields will also work to stiffen the plate. Similar to what Miller Cat does - https://catshield.com/products/2007-2021-toyota-tundra-2008-2022-sequoia-cat-shield

I had also planned on a few more slots to vent the heat from the CATs, and definitely use

more than 4 attachment bolts! If a thief can remove a CAT in 90 seconds, how much longer would it take to remove 2 bolts, bend the cover down and proceed to cut out the CAT? ADD Automotive only uses 3/32" aluminum!

I have decided to either use 3/16"-1/4" aluminum or 1/8"-3/16" steel. Because that seems to be what most of the manufacturers of these plates are using. It will depend on the costs of whether I use aluminum or steel. If it's too expensive, I might just opt for

Thanks for that link. I didn't realize Skid Row was doing CAT protection plates.

Also, these are the type of bolts I plan on using to attach to the frame members.

 

I like your design of extending it 10 more inches…definitely makes it very difficult to reach in there to cut in front of the cat. I was leaning towards cat shield as well but wasn’t a fan of how thin it was…I liked the idea of a “skid” plate that also functions as a cat shield. I went with the 10 gauge powder coat, double duty as skid protection and thief protection. Those bolts are perfect, love the included head protection “washer” included. I’m sure you design is gonna be killer .

 

We have a design for the 1st gens. It only fits the 2004-2006 4wds though. I think it will also fit 2005-2006 2wd as well.... but the main problem we ran into it every year of the 1st gen tundras seems to have something different on it on the years before 2004.

It is a two plate design, every 1st gen Tundra cat I saw has the cat right over the transfer case cross member. We originally sold our transmission plate separate from the transfer case plate, but had too many people complain that it didn't cover enough. After a few returns we started only selling the 1st gens as a two plate setup and had way less complaints on coverage.

I also have a design for a front skid plate about halfway down, but kind of shelved it.

This was all before we were vendors on Tundra, now that we are on here, I am much more open to supporting the 1st gen community and bringing it back if there is interest. I would also be open to looking at a few older 1st gen trucks to see what tweaks we can make to adjust the plate to fit the rest.

https://www.talonsgarage.com/produc...a-tundra-catalytic-converter-anti-theft-plate

 

I'd use different types of bolts if you can. I had my cats stolen in Denver about a month ago and for my shield I'm going to use a few torx anti-tamper bolts, some hex bolts and regular screw bolts. Don't know if it will really do anything, but at least making the thief switch tools a few times should slow them down a bit.

I also really want to find a way to electrify the plate so it zaps them when they touch it. Somebody really needs to invent something!

 

There might be legal repercussions for that. But a dye pack like they use for bank robbers might be an option.

 

Just get a couple of signs/stickers with "Warning! Electrified undercarriage! May at least give them pause for cause.

 

So I wanted to finally update everyone on my truck.

I designed and CNC routed a 1/4" aluminum guard system for my truck. I then installed it and tested it but the damn O2 sensor error for my driver's side wouldn't reset. So I've had to leave the guard off until I could correct the problem.

I had a bunch of other things going on at the time so just drove it like that for a few months. After I got some time, I started researching what could cause this. I tried the side to side swap....Nope. I tried checking for shorts in the wires...Nope. Looked for any fuse related to the 02 sensor....Nope. Replaced the upstream sensor...Nope. Finally in desperation, I took it to the local Toyota dealer for diagnosis. They charged me the $175 diagnostic fee to tell me I needed a new 02 sensor....Nope. I insisted on talking to the mechanic and told him if that was the case, how come I could switch side to side and not get the error on the passenger side?.....Doh! He then took it back in for further diagnosis at a cost to me of $450 more. And they then told me it was a short in the wires...Nope. I told them if that was the case, they could go ahead and fix it but I wanted a guarantee that it would be corrected....Nope. They called me the following Monday and told me they finally traced it to a short in the ECM. This part is $1000 alone and $90 to install.

Since they already had the truck I said to go ahead, but told them I wanted documentation sent to me that this was indeed the problem before I paid for any parts. They did this but then called me back after I agreed and told me the part was out of stock and would take 2 weeks to get. OK, in for a penny....

So after 2 weeks had passed, I called them to see where the part was. They called me back within the hour to let me know that Toyota was requiring them to do a "task case" on the diagnosis before they would release the part. And yes, that required me to take my truck back yet again to leave with them for analysis and diagnosis, but this time it was on their dime. Once the task case was completed, they released the truck to me and I had to wait another 2 weeks to actually get the ECM installed, which was another trip to the dealer but this time I only had to leave it for 3 hours.

Finally, no more red light on the dash! The service manager said that the most likely cause was that the thieves cut the wires for the 02 sensor rather than unplug the connector. This created frayed wires so that when I started the truck, there was a direct short back to the ECM.

So I've attached pictures of the preventative measures I've taken to prevent this in the future. And, I'm willing to share my design with anyone that wants to do this for their truck. It takes me about 20 minutes to take it out or put it back in place so next time I need to have the tranny filter replace I'll have to drop this out before I take it in.

There are some things that I would change if I were to do it again. The first is that I would pay someone to weld the angled sides in place on the main sheet. I went with multiple pieces because I wanted more flexibility to bolt everything in place. It worked, but now that I've done one, I know which parts can be static and which need some adjust-ability. I also thought that the local aluminum shop could bend 1/4" based on a conversation with one of the shop guys. Turns out every bend cracked and they had to weld them anyway.

Overall, I'm really satisfied with the project. I took it on about 40 miles of teeth rattling washboard roads, and then inspected everything at several points for loosening but seems locked in place. I had used Nylock nuts on bolt through holes, and plenty of lock-tight on the bolts going into the cross members. I also checked for heat buildup by idling my truck with the A/C on on a 98 deg. day. There wasn't any significant heat buildup over not having it bolted in place. Sorry, I'm not methodical enough to document the numbers.

 

Nice design!

I've actually warned a couple of people about that exact issue, I think @literallyme was the last one, over here and @rustbucket6753 over here. Kills me, seems people kinda gloss over getting their cats stolen when throwing O2 codes. I've started asking everyone at this point.

Curious, what was the code you were getting, do you remember?

 

Man that looks great. Congrats. Just some advice--obviously you can do whatever you want--if you send someone measurements or CAD drawings or whatever, you should at least consider something like doing that pursuant to a Creative Commons license. I'd hate for someone to take your hard work and you give it to them thinking they're just being a kewl dood, only to have them sell it without you getting any credit for it.

 

What a saga! Thanks for sharing the great design. Thieves suck! I guess I'm lucky they just cut my cats and didn't hit any wires.

 

I purchased a trans/cat shield skid plate from Skid Row Fab.


https://skidrowoffroad.com/collecti...a-tundra-catalytic-converter-guards-2000-2006

They have sales occasionally around holidays. Purchased on July 4th sale for 10% off

 

Lundy:
I looked at the skid row plate, and my first design was very similar to this with the angled plate. I actually made plywood mockups so I could test access and fit. But there were a couple of things I didn't like for my truck. First, there are only 4 bolts holding it to the bottom of the truck, mine has 8. The other thing I considered was the resourcefulness of thieves. A long blade on a sawz-all can reach a lot of places. So even if someone couldn't actually get the Cat out, that doesn't mean they can't try and cause a lot of damage in the process. And third, I have a "bridge piece that bolts between the front side-shield, and the back side-shield crossing over the top of the mid cross-member. So if my bolts did come loose for whatever reason, these would hold the whole shield in place to prevent it from falling off of the truck. And, each of these is at least 3 more bolts to remove to get to the Cats.

Shifty:
I think that the code was P0138. But, I suffer from CRS from time to time. I'll look at the Toyota service report to make sure.

JasonC:
Thanks for the advice on the Creative Commons. You're right in that I just want to help others on the forum, but it would suck if a leach came along and grabbed my work.

 

It's not a matter of "if" it's a matter of "when" these days. The world is full of opportunists looking for an easy buck on the coattails of someone else's efforts nowadays, and it's super-easy to find a factory in China willing to take someone else's innovations and plans and turn them into $$.

At least if you apply CC license, you have legal footing to protect yourself domestically. Some people will actually give slack and let the thief run with it, and if they make anything, sue for a portion of all profits.

But the reality is, if they steal it and use an overseas contact to have it manuf'ered at a sweatshop in mainland PRC for import, you're pretty much SOL, you can only go after the importer. This is large enough I don't think it'd be feasible to do that, but ... I wouldn't put it past anyone. And the other reality is, whoever sends it to PRC to have it made will have the design stolen from them also, and eventually get cut out of market too. Same happened with the dude who designed the TRD Pro grill for our trucks, only he was the original designer.