Catalytic Converter Theft

[Sasquatch]

What about those of us who have sensors - Is there any way for us to chuck the CC?

Maybe someone sells "special sensors" that trick the ECU?

Or maybe its as simple as connecting a resistor where the sensor would connect?

The resistor trick works for other sensors. We did that for a while on one of the tow trucks I used to drive - damn AC thermistor sensor plug was poorly designed, kept having issues with the AC not working. Boss's kid was an electrician and gave us the idea - went to Radio Shack (when they were still a thing) and got a resister after finding the proper values for that sensor. AC worked great until we had the entire AC system replaced in that truck.

 

[billtool]

Man- I used to love Radio Shack!

 

[pronstar]

What about those of us who have sensors - Is there any way for us to chuck the CC?

Maybe someone sells "special sensors" that trick the ECU?

Or maybe its as simple as connecting a resistor where the sensor would connect?

Depending on the vehicle, you may be able to turn off/disable sensors with a pro-level programmer like HP Tuners


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[baboon]

Sounds like city folk problems. I had lunch at the VFD today. Out here we worry more about them starting a grass fire then getting stolen.

 

[Sasquatch]

Sounds like city folk problems. I had lunch at the VFD today. Out here we worry more about them starting a grass fire then getting stolen.

Ever see that video of a Florida state cop who starts a grass fire with his car after going balls out to catch up to a speeder?

 

[TheDan]

They typically sell them to a fence, who will then shop them to trusted repair shops and dismantlers.

It’s nearly always big-selling vehicles that get hit by thieves.

It was a practical question, lol... I have a bunch of junk cats for obscure cars (only good for recycle, not repairs) that I can't get rid of anymore. Don't think a fence will be of much help.

 

[GasGuzzler]

In Texas the presence of the converter is part of the SAFETY inspection required in all counties. Only in emissions counties does its effectiveness matter. If the inspector looks underneath, he can fail it for safety. He most likely will not look.

It's not the age as much as the origin that makes them valuable. Aftermarket converters are pretty much useless from an effectiveness standpoint, likely because they do not contain the levels of precious metals needed to work effectively. Thieves will often not even go to the trouble of stealing an aftermarket converter.

Recyclers DO NOT require proof of ownership of the vehicle to purchase cores. They DO require ID. We pile all our scrap up and "a guy" comes and low-balls us to haul it off. He does that tens times a day then sells to the same recycler. After a while they know him. We DO NOT sell converter cores in most cases because the core charge to us from GM is so high.

We repaired two church vans and a Rent-A-Center van that were all hit the same night and then a couple days later, the church vans were hit again. County Sheriff asked us to engrave the replacement parts with the VIN to match the thief to the part. This all happened in the last three weeks.

As far as deleting one yourself, the ECM will have to be jacked with via either a hand-held "tuner" (canned tune) or a real person can use real software to change parameters. Simulators rarely work. O2 sensor outputs a variable voltage from 0 to about 1.2 volts (0-1200 mV) and depending on the age of the vehicle, the ECM looks for it to vary OR stay steady depending on position (pre or post catalyst) and situation (cold start warm up, etc.). Expect to pay about $350 for this service. The cables and software run $600 and up. Each VIN requires its own license and depending on year/make/model can require anywhere from one to 4-5 credits at $100 each. Plus you're paying for the knowledge the tuner has.

HPTuners and EFILive are the two mainstream gasoline tuning platforms.

Both my GMCs are tuned for performance and mileage. My 2004 Bonneville driven by my 17YO son is "tuned" to remove P0420/P0430 and all position 2 O2 sensor codes for a similar reason to this topic.

 

[striker55]

My buddy had his exhaust system replaced with headers on his Corvette. Put the stock system on craigslist, a guy purchased the cats and paid asking price for the whole system. Didn't want the extra pipes. Said he sold the metal in the cats.

 

[dsgrey]

No emissions inspection here so I think I’m OK. The muffler shop guy said he thought it was worth 500-600 to the thieves. 23 years old I can hardly believe it’s with that much.

I'm in a non-attainment zone which requires emissions inspection. Had mine the other day which was a look under the hood (not under the vehicle) and an odb reader. You should be fine unless you move to one of the zones. I've heard a clean converter was worth around $500 thus why they are stolen from newer vehicles.

Emissions inspection just a few days ago with an odb reader:
1) looking for any codes being thrown. Any will cause a failure.
2) looking for monitors being ready. Pre-2001, you can have 2 not ready and post-2001 you can have 1 not ready.

I know the details of #2 due to having some warranty work being done and they disconnected the battery. It takes some magic voodoo for the Evap monitor to complete it's cycle. I originally had the EGR monitor throwing too but after driving 50 miles it cleared.

 

[Tex929rr]

I'm in a non-attainment zone which requires emissions inspection. Had mine the other day which was a look under the hood (not under the vehicle) and an odb reader. You should be fine unless you move to one of the zones. I've heard a clean converter was worth around $500 thus why they are stolen from newer vehicles.

Emissions inspection just a few days ago with an odb reader:
1) looking for any codes being thrown. Any will cause a failure.
2) looking for monitors being ready. Pre-2001, you can have 2 not ready and post-2001 you can have 1 not ready.

I know the details of #2 due to having some warranty work being done and they disconnected the battery. It takes some magic voodoo for the Evap monitor to complete it's cycle. I originally had the EGR monitor throwing too but after driving 50 miles it cleared.

No plans to move and if I did, we could put an antique plate on it in two more years and avoid inspections. I know there are limits on antique plated vehicles but we already have three and no one has ever asked about it when we drive them places.

Bexar county keeps flirting with emissions non-attainment but never quite gets there. Even though Kendall County is adjacent we are not part of their three county EPA zone, so I’m betting we are OK for my lifetime, anyway.

 

[Lonesome Dove]

6 more tanks of fuel makes a total of ?
How much did you have to pay for a straight pipe and some flanges? Sounds crazy.

 

[ZX9RCAM]

I've heard of people running a straight pipe through a "converter", to pass a visual inspection.

 

[Axxe55]

I've heard of people running a straight pipe through a "converter", to pass a visual inspection.

I have done that on a few that were stopped up. Looks like it still has a converter, but runs like it has a straight pipe.

 

[Tex929rr]

6 more tanks of fuel makes a total of ?
How much did you have to pay for a straight pipe and some flanges? Sounds crazy.

$121.90. At $4 per gallon it will take around 30 gallons to pay for the repair. Saving 20% means 3-4 gallons per tank, so at best it’ll be paid for in 7.5 tanks or at worst 10 tanks. I think a one hour repair for that price is a bargain.

 

[Sasquatch]

I have done that on a few that were stopped up. Looks like it still has a converter, but runs like it has a straight pipe.

Eh, just go old school and jam a rod thru the plugged up converter knocking a large enough hole thru it that it passes visual muster, but runs like a straight pipe

 

[billtool]

In TX- if your car is >25 years old, CC’s are a zero issue. There or not there. Working or not working.

 

[TheDan]

Recyclers DO NOT require proof of ownership of the vehicle to purchase cores. They DO require ID. We pile all our scrap up and "a guy" comes and low-balls us to haul it off.

SECTION 2. Subchapter A-3, Chapter 1956, Occupations Code
Sec. 1956.0321. ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS REGARDING PURCHASE
OF CATALYTIC CONVERTER. (a) In addition to the requirements of
Section 1956.032, a person attempting to sell a catalytic converter
to a metal recycling entity shall provide to the metal recycling
entity:
(1) the year, make, model, and vehicle identification
number for the vehicle from which the catalytic converter was
removed; and
(2) a copy of the certificate of title or other
documentation indicating that the person has an ownership interest
in the vehicle described by Subdivision (1).
(b) A metal recycling entity may not purchase a catalytic
converter from a seller who does not comply with the requirements of
Subsection (a).
(c) A metal recycling entity may not purchase a catalytic
converter unless the entity determines that the catalytic converter
is consistent with the manufacturer's specifications for a
catalytic converter from the vehicle for which the seller provided
information under Subsection (a)(1).

 

[pronstar]

Cat substrates tend to get brittle over time.

Often, a few hammer strikes to the outside is enough to make most of it crumble.

A rod accomplishes the same thing but from the inside.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[hooper]

Had the converter swiped from a friends car, they bought a new one and I welded logging chain on both sides to points where they could not simply cut it off with a sawzall, it has been 6 months and it's still on there.

Toyota Tundras seem to be real popular with the cat thieves. There is a guy local to the Houston area that makes a type of blocker plate.

 

[Texasjack]

Converter thieves hit an apartment complex down the road from me and ripped off 7 trucks. Cops say they love places where they have an easy time getting in and out. A few minutes with a battery powered reciprocating saw and they're gone.

A car salesman was telling me that the Toyota folks came up with a bolt-on cage to protect the converters on some of their models. On their vans, new converters cost over $2000. The cage doesn't stop thieves, but it slows them down enough that they usually move on to easier targets.