Northern California - Have your catalytic welded in...

I took the kids up to the Nimbus Fish Hatchery this morning to see the Salmon and Steelhead. They enjoy feeding the fish and walking along the river.

When we got back to the truck and started it up, it was really loud. I took a look under. Someone stole my catalytic while we were wandering around. They won't do it again. The shop that replaced it ($275 later) welded it into place. It ain't goin anywhere now without some serious tooling.

If you have a pickup, you might think about having it spot welded in.

Sorry to hear about getting ripped off. I live above the fish hatchery and ride by it every day. There are people wandering around all the time. I can't believe that, 1. somebody had the balls to do it in front of everybody and 2. nobody "saw it" and got the license #. Maybe you will get lucky.

These guys are really good. Several years ago,I got computers and camera equipment stolen out of my trunk and my stereo ripped out of my car at the entrance to the track at Modesto JC. My car was parked within three stalls of the entrance. Modesto PD said they were in my car for less than 20 seconds. nobody "saw" that either.
I'll keep my eyes peeled when I go by the parking lot now.

This is unfortunately getting more and more common. The garage where I take my Miata told customers to stop dropping their cars off the night before because they were getting hit with the same theft.

As the economy goes south, the metals "recycling" thefts are going up. I saw a sewer cover missing at a very busy intersection (El Camino and San Bruno Ave) as it was probably stolen to be "recycled".

As the economy goes south, the metals "recycling" thefts are going up. I saw a sewer cover missing at a very busy intersection (El Camino and San Bruno Ave) as it was probably stolen to be "recycled".

I read an article in the news recently about manhole cover thefts. Apparently it's all the rage on the East coast.

The recycling shops that accept obviously stolen items (and thus encouraging the thieves) are as much to blame as anyone. I mean, come on, a guy drives up in an old, beat up truck with a few manhole covers and some freshly ripped out copper wiring in the bed, and that's not suspicious?

Last time I took in a load of aluminum cans, some kids walked in with a tall ladder and dropped it on the scale. I'm sure there's a logical explanation that doesn't involved a work truck somewhere missing a ladder. :rolleyes:

They wont steal after market converters. If yer in the south bay and need one welded I own a repair shop and can weld for ya. Problem is they also use sawzalls to cut em out.

The recycling shops that accept obviously stolen items (and thus encouraging the thieves) are as much to blame as anyone. <snip>

Yup. I'm seriously considering writing my state congress critter to ask about a bill requiring recycling shops, etc. to record drivers lic info on each sale, and include a list of exactly what they bought. That info could be a help to law enforcement in tracking down the thieves. Of course, they'll use fake ID, but it might act as a deterrent.

Dang Joel, on a Saturday morning with I'm sure all the cars and people that are around in that parking lot? Pretty gutsy.

Happened to a friend in a nice neighborhood in San Jose too. :mad:

Happened to a friend in a nice neighborhood in San Jose too. :mad:Weird thing is that I'm pretty sure nicer cars don't have "nicer" converters. The unit out of a Civic is likely going to have the same amount of valuable metals as the unit out of a Mercedes. If anything, there's a bigger converter on cars with bigger engines, so big pickup trucks would be the better target.

*shrug* Who knows.

Weird thing is that I'm pretty sure nicer cars don't have "nicer" converters. The unit out of a Civic is likely going to have the same amount of valuable metals as the unit out of a Mercedes. If anything, there's a bigger converter on cars with bigger engines, so big pickup trucks would be the better target.

*shrug* Who knows.

Oh yeah, my friend has a Toyota Tacoma.

He now has an aftermarket one, and it is welded in too.

He now has an aftermarket one, and it is welded in too.And hopefully electrified. :)

Weird thing is that I'm pretty sure nicer cars don't have "nicer" converters. The unit out of a Civic is likely going to have the same amount of valuable metals as the unit out of a Mercedes. If anything, there's a bigger converter on cars with bigger engines, so big pickup trucks would be the better target.

*shrug* Who knows.

Pickup truck = usually no jack required... just crawl under.

Pickup truck = usually no jack required... just crawl under.Yeah, that too.

Weird thing is that I'm pretty sure nicer cars don't have "nicer" converters. The unit out of a Civic is likely going to have the same amount of valuable metals as the unit out of a Mercedes. If anything, there's a bigger converter on cars with bigger engines, so big pickup trucks would be the better target.

*shrug* Who knows.

Some cases yes, some no. Problem is the mercedes and BMW's are not easy to get out. Toyota 4 runners and Tacomas take about 2 minutes. Your honda has the same value as the Toyota, Mercedes and BMW's are double. Either way, recyclers are not supposed to buy from anyone that is not a licensed dealer. There was a huge bust in Hayward this past summer. The owner had been paying undercover cops to steal converters, then he resold em to dealers.

Oh yeah, my friend has a Toyota Tacoma.

He now has an aftermarket one, and it is welded in too.

Hmmm, I have a Tacoma. I'm looking underneath tomorrow to see just what kind the bolts are. If, you welded the converter, perhaps they will cut the exhaust pipes, creating a bigger problem. From what I see online, the converter has plates which bolt onto matching plates on the exhaust pipe. Maybe you can use bolts with round heads and nuts, or install a shield over the whole thing....:notamused:

Just thinking aloud.

Some cases yes, some no. Problem is the mercedes and BMW's are not easy to get out. Toyota 4 runners and Tacomas take about 2 minutes. Your honda has the same value as the Toyota, Mercedes and BMW's are double. Either way, recyclers are not supposed to buy from anyone that is not a licensed dealer. There was a huge bust in Hayward this past summer. The owner had been paying undercover cops to steal converters, then he resold em to dealers.Ah, they're being stolen for re-use. Then it does make sense to target the big-money autos. I was thinking in terms of selling them for the platinum and whatever else is in those things.

You've got to be kidding me...broad daylight at Nimbus Hatchery?? Wow!!

You've got to be kidding me...broad daylight at Nimbus Hatchery?? Wow!!
+1
You have to have some serious
http://www.toledomedicine.org/walnuts.jpg

They were in that case, but also for recycling. However the value has dropped to half in the past 6 months.

I remember a year back that they were hitting the Uhaul lots for the CC off of the pickup trucks in the fleet.

+1
You have to have some serious"Oh, it's okay, this is my buddy's truck. I loaned him my catalytic converter, and he accidentally left it attached to his exhaust system."

The hot ticket for converter theft is the Toyota pick-ups, especially 4X4's. Toyota bolts theirs in with 4 bolts and the four wheel drives are high enough off the ground not to require a jack. It's just a matter of minutes and they have your converter.

That sucks, Joel. I'm sorry that happened to you.

Jaw-dropping, the brazenness of the act.

Been skimming a few forums and blogs on Cat.Conv. theft. Seems the "pros" use a cordless sawzall to just cut right through the exhaust pipe and take the CC, so whether you weld the bolt flange or not won't make any difference to a sawzall equipped thief. Only to the amateur thief with a wrench will the welding foil him.

Anyway, that's what I gathered.

I guess to foil a scum bag, you have to think like one. The long and the short of it is, if you find him/her underneath a vehicle with a power tool in a public place (like Nimbus parking lot), kick him where it will do the most damage and ask questions later.

My boss had his stolen out of his early 90s tacoma in Roseville 2 summers ago...

The only way to prevent it is to make them inaccessible - drop the truck to a couple inches off the pavement or less.

I'd think RX-7s would be the best targets if you can find one - my 84 had three cats.

...If you have a pickup, you might think about having it spot welded in.

Unreal! In the parking lot of Nimbus Hatchery?!?

It was exactly a year ago, when some scumbag stole it from our little '91 Toyota. Lucky for me, here in Stocktontucky was a sympathetic welder that charged $75 for replacement and welding. For another $25, he welded the CC on the Land Crusher too!

Local news rag had an article about the thefts last year:

Thieves increasingly targeting catalytic converters
Manteca hit hard by theft of lucrative part that recyclers will pay well for.

By Rick Brewer
Record Staff Writer
April 07, 2007 6:00 AM

MANTECA - No one would mistake Mike Sweeney's 16-year-old pickup with a muscle car.

But Sweeney could have mistaken the sound of the engine of his 1991 Toyota Truck to that of a rumbling speedster on the afternoon of March 21.

That's because the truck's catalytic converter was stolen while it was parked in the driveway of his family's home in the 1800 block of Monaco Drive.

It wasn't the only time a vehicle had that part stolen. About 9:30 a.m. Saturday, someone reported that a man and woman drove off in a white Mitsubishi after watching them steal a catalytic converter from a car while it was parked at Home Depot.

A vehicle without a converter would run differently.

"It takes out the emission control in a car, so it would be polluting a lot, the check-engine light would come on and it would be very loud," said Jerry Smith, manager of J.P.'s Muffler & Smog, 410 S. Main St.

Smith said his business has replaced stolen converters on five cars in the past six months. Manteca police say they have recorded eight such thefts in the past six months.

Catalytic converters may seem like an odd thing to steal, but law enforcement agencies say they are being stolen at a high rate across the country. Cindy Burdette, crime prevention specialist with Sacramento County Sheriff's office, said Toyotas provide the biggest target because their catalytic converters can be removed easily and quickly. They are attached by only two bolts.

For criminals in the know, converters are as good as gold. Actually, better.

Catalytic converters contain tiny amounts of three precious metals - platinum, palladium and rhodium - that have seen their commodity rates skyrocket in the past two years. According to online commodities Web site www.kitco.com, the price of rhodium has shot up in the past five years from $380 to $6,000 per ounce. It closed this week at $6,075. Palladium rose from about $200 per ounce two years ago to $360 in April 2006. It has remained steady at the higher price for the past year, and closed this week at $352. Between April 2005 and November 2006, the price of platinum rose by more than 60 percent, from $865 per ounce to $1,355. This week's close was $1,264.

John Shegerian, chairman of Fresno-based Electronic Recyclers, said the building boom in China and India is creating an insatiable appetite for everything from precious metals to plastics. That's driving up commodity prices.

"All of those products that come out of our waste stream are reusable," Shegerian said.

Thieves are trading catalytic converters in to some precious metal recyclers that will accept them for about $100 apiece, experts say.

Those who extract the platinum, palladium and rhodium can sell the metals for thousands. Experts say the average converter contains 1 to 2 grams of platinum, palladium and rhodium. That equals about 0.07 of an ounce, meaning 14 or 15 converters are needed to equal one ounce of the metals.

"It goes hand in hand with copper theft," said Manteca police spokesman Rex Osborn, referring to another metal that has seen a recent increase in theft due to higher commodity rates. Pieces containing copper have been stolen from new home developments, train tracks, the Altamont Wind Farm and irrigation pumps on numerous county farms.

Catalytic converters help reduce the amount of raw emissions from car exhaust. They've been built into all gasoline-powered cars built in the past 30 years. At various muffler shops in Manteca, it costs $100 to $150 to replace a converter on any car with a model year of 1996 or earlier, and $300 to $500 for newer cars.

Contact Rick Brewer at (209) 239-3324 or rbrewer@recordnet.com

Figure I would bump this thread to ask a question. My 2003 Taurus wagon, 125k, when started in the morning I can smell an exhaust type smell in the car. It goes away after about a minute. It doesn't do this at lunch, sometimes it does at 5pm when going home. The dealership said the CC has been moved some and it should replaced. I'm sure this part and the labor is not cheap.

CC has been moved? During normal usage or moved by someone?
Replace it; you don't want to get carbon monoxide poisoning.

Figure I would bump this thread to ask a question. My 2003 Taurus wagon, 125k, when started in the morning I can smell an exhaust type smell in the car. It goes away after about a minute. It doesn't do this at lunch, sometimes it does at 5pm when going home. The dealership said the CC has been moved some and it should replaced. I'm sure this part and the labor is not cheap.

Moved??

If it came loose, you would notice the sound of the exhaust leak.

Ramon, this is an easy thing to replace yourself. No harder than assembling a bike.

Just buy a bolt-in CC, and it will take under 30 min. Don't worry about welding it in, as trucks are the main target since thieves can crawl under with no jacks.

Or take it BigSean if you don't want to get under the car :D

Moved??

If it came loose, you would notice the sound of the exhaust leak.

Ramon, this is an easy thing to replace yourself. No harder than assembling a bike.

Just buy a bolt-in CC, and it will take under 30 min. Don't worry about welding it in, as trucks are the main target since thieves can crawl under with no jacks.

:rolleyes::rolleyes: A Ford Taurus in 30 minutes on jack stands??? I cant do it that fast on a lift with all the proper tools. The Taurus is one of the biggest pain in the ass jobs I do. Also, there is no direct fit converter for it in California except from the dealer. The laws changes January 1'st and right now there is only universals available.

On the other hand, I have no idea how a converter moves. Unless they mean it broke on the inside and is rattling. The Taurus did have a problem with cracking on the pipe near the firewall, but it is easily corrected by welding it.

With the new laws the days of owner repairs on converters are gone, as are general mechanic shops. The state is getting tighter on air quality. The only way to do it, go to the dealer and get ripped for the part and bolt it in.

Figure I would bump this thread to ask a question. My 2003 Taurus wagon, 125k, when started in the morning I can smell an exhaust type smell in the car. It goes away after about a minute. It doesn't do this at lunch, sometimes it does at 5pm when going home. The dealership said the CC has been moved some and it should replaced. I'm sure this part and the labor is not cheap.

Now that I see the year, Im sure it has a crack near the hanger on the bank 1 converter.

Thanks for the replies everyone. Suckage too is car has to be smogged this year for the first time.

:rolleyes::rolleyes: A Ford Taurus in 30 minutes on jack stands??? I cant do it that fast on a lift with all the proper tools. The Taurus is one of the biggest pain in the ass jobs I do..

I had no idea the Taurus was a particular PITA. :crash:

I can do the job in 30 min on most Toyotas. ;) (after I hit the bolts with PB blaster and let them soak ).

Depends also if it is a primary or a secondary cat.

I also don't know how a cat "moves" unless he meant the hanger broke like Sean said.

I had no idea the Taurus was a particular PITA. :crash:

I can do the job in 30 min on most Toyotas. ;) (after I hit the bolts with PB blaster and let them soak ).

Depends also if it is a primary or a secondary cat.

I also don't know how a cat "moves" unless he meant the hanger broke like Sean said.

The Taurus has 2 cats on a y pipe, the rear one is slammed between the firewall and the block. Very little room to get to the bolts and the o2 sensor. This car only has 2 primary cats, one for each bank(side of motor). Some toyotas and hondas are easy to bolt in and out, but the cost can be outrageous. The Honda(a big seller) is $900 (and up to $1100) just for the part. My cost installed is $385. Most fords, chevy's, Jeeps, are welded on one side or the other. Also some VW's and Mazda's are bolt ins, again there is a huge cost for those compared to the weld in converter.

Thanks for the replies everyone. Suckage too is car has to be smogged this year for the first time.

The Ck Engine light is not on is it? The description you gave leads me to believe its just a crack. The dealers usually wanna make ya replace it. All it needs is a weld. 20 minutes tops.

No, the light is not on. I'm going to assume it has to work the hardest when the engine is cold and that's why I'm getting that smell and then once it's warmed up it doesn't have to as much.

The Taurus has 2 cats on a y pipe, the rear one is slammed between the firewall and the block. Very little room to get to the bolts and the o2 sensor. This car only has 2 primary cats, one for each bank(side of motor). Some toyotas and hondas are easy to bolt in and out, but the cost can be outrageous. The Honda(a big seller) is $900 (and up to $1100) just for the part. My cost installed is $385. Most fords, chevy's, Jeeps, are welded on one side or the other. Also some VW's and Mazda's are bolt ins, again there is a huge cost for those compared to the weld in converter.

I ended up having to use a metal racing cat (weld in) rather than the ones with ceramic. I blew the innards up on the OEM (ceramic one)... :D:twitchy:

Nice thing is my exhaust setup has a "cat pipe" and I used a V-band flange on the downstream side, the other side bolts to the header flange. I can get it off in minutes.

Building my exhaust on the other hand took like two full nights worth of labor, and I still have to tweak the positioning of one of the tips (after like a year of being lazy)... but I am still pretty happy how it turned out :)

http://carpron.com/multisite/d/196973-1/me_exhaust.JPG

http://carpron.com/multisite/d/220765-2/exh_welds.JPG


This is why it doesn't like ceramic cats ;) 292 rear wheel hp out of a supercharged 1.8L 4-cyl

http://carpron.com/multisite/d/194406-1/dyno_022008_2.jpg

No, the light is not on. I'm going to assume it has to work the hardest when the engine is cold and that's why I'm getting that smell and then once it's warmed up it doesn't have to as much.

actually its due to expansion and contraction of the metal. As it heats up it expands most likely sealing the leak, or atleast enough. You should be fine for your smog. If the NoX is too high there is a good chance it is caused by a leak.

I ended up having to use a metal racing cat (weld in) rather than the ones with ceramic. I blew the innards up on the OEM (ceramic one)... :D:twitchy:

Nice thing is my exhaust setup has a "cat pipe" and I used a V-band flange on the downstream side, the other side bolts to the header flange. I can get it off in minutes.

Building my exhaust on the other hand took like two full nights worth of labor, and I still have to tweak the positioning of one of the tips (after like a year of being lazy)... but I am still pretty happy how it turned out :)
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I assume its a toyota MR2. The ceramic wouldnt mind it, its most likely the wrapping that hold the ceramic in place that cant handle it. My guess is hot exhaust gas temps just cook the wrapping and then the bisquit rattles and breaks into pieces.

Although Im not a fan of Borla, it looks,like a nice build. Did you make it, or is it an assembly? I see tig welding on the pipe muffler joint. The muffler itself is the size and shape of a camaro muffler. Thats why Im confused on the car.

actually its due to expansion and contraction of the metal. As it heats up it expands most likely sealing the leak, or atleast enough. You should be fine for your smog. If the NoX is too high there is a good chance it is caused by a leak.

+1

You should always go to the smog test with the car FULLY warmed up. Independent of leaks, cats just work better hot. In fact, I think some of the newer hybrids even have electric heaters to preheat the cats for better emissions results (since they have some major battery power to quickly zap the cats).

I assume its a toyota MR2. The ceramic wouldnt mind it, its most likely the wrapping that hold the ceramic in place that cant handle it. My guess is hot exhaust gas temps just cook the wrapping and then the bisquit rattles and breaks into pieces.

Although Im not a fan of Borla, it looks,like a nice build. Did you make it, or is it an assembly? I see tig welding on the pipe muffler joint. The muffler itself is the size and shape of a camaro muffler. Thats why Im confused on the car.

2001 MR2 spyder.

My buddy has a machine/welding shop. We made it together from individual parts. I bought the SS mandrel bends, the muffler, flanges, and bar stock (for the hangers), etc.... I Basically did all the lining up and cutting, and he did all the welding (my welds look crap :p ).

The muffler is a Camaro style (1 inlet, basically an internal Y-pipe, and 2-outlets). It works well for the application, since I like the look of dual outlets. It's full 2.5" dia.

here it is with the bumper cover removed.

http://carpron.com/multisite/d/194354-2/borla_spyder.jpg

2001 MR2 spyder.

My buddy has a machine/welding shop. We made it together from individual parts. I bought the SS mandrel bends, the muffler, flanges, and bar stock (for the hangers), etc.... I Basically did all the lining up and cutting, and he did all the welding (my welds look crap :p ).

The muffler is a Camaro style (1 inlet, basically an internal Y-pipe, and 2-outlets). It works well for the application, since I like the look of dual outlets. It's full 2.5" dia.

here it is with the bumper cover removed.

http://carpron.com/multisite/d/194354-2/borla_spyder.jpg

Looks like a good job Marco.

Is that the ultra-reflective paint that "blinds" or overexposes traffic cameras on your license plate?

Is that the ultra-reflective paint that "blinds" or overexposes traffic cameras on your license plate?

LOL... photoshop man!

Also some VW's and Mazda's are bolt ins, again there is a huge cost for those compared to the weld in converter.

I used to have a 84 RX-7 (12A). 3 cats. First one, today, it $475, second, $700 (only $400 on the auto), third? $2100! And thoes are Mazdatrix costs for OEM ones, not 100% MSRP dealership ;) .

Good thing I lived in Michigan at the time - I registered it with open headers :D The AWD DSM I had after that had an O2 dump and no cat... On the other hand, today it got up to 8F at my mom's house!

or simply don't have any :P:thumb:

people here have been stealing A/C units, and pool heaters for all the coils of copper in them....


Some cases yes, some no. Problem is the mercedes and BMW's are not easy to get out. Toyota 4 runners and Tacomas take about 2 minutes. Your honda has the same value as the Toyota, Mercedes and BMW's are double. Either way, recyclers are not supposed to buy from anyone that is not a licensed dealer. There was a huge bust in Hayward this past summer. The owner had been paying undercover cops to steal converters, then he resold em to dealers.



Mercedes & bmw have more $$$...how so?

platinum is platinum. unless they have larger/more converters




the cars you'd want to hit are the cars with multiple converters....

that and trucks for the easy access


Ah, they're being stolen for re-use. Then it does make sense to target the big-money autos. I was thinking in terms of selling them for the platinum and whatever else is in those things.

they are being stolen to recycle the valuable metal inside.


CC has been moved? During normal usage or moved by someone?
Replace it; you don't want to get carbon monoxide poisoning.

your not going to get carbon monoxide poisoning from not having a catalytic converter....lol!


Chad