Catalytic converter anti theft

Older vehicles have less precious metals in the cats over time. hybrids are prime targets cause they don’t use gas as much & makes them retain the metals longer

 

I've already repaired my brother's exhaust 3x already, (05 Honda accord) with plenty of solid steel rods welded on to the cat and exhaust pipes. His exhaust pipe looks ridiculous with all the rods and pipes welded to it and the dam scumbags still trying to steal it.

I've contemplated glueing 0/6 barbed fishing hooks or razor blades under the chassis. But knowing california, the thief will probably just sue me for getting hurt while stealing and win...

 

One of these mounted under the truck seems more and more appropriate these days.

 

Sure, let's all make more smog. Do you know the penalty for removing your converter?
Don't be an annoying fool.

 

Thefts here in Portland are on the rise so I had one of those cat security shields put on my truck. I wasn’t able to do it myself, due to a bad shoulder and prosthetic leg, but anyhow I like the coverage it gives. Makes me feel like it would be a good deterrent from these losers stealing them. I took a few pics from under the side to show.

 

I want to get something like this but I have a 4wd I4 and they only seem to make them for the V6

 

I’d guess its got something to do with the crossmember location….you could always email them and find out what the difference are.

 

It sure looks good and secure. Almost like a real skid plate. Now I'm thinking about armor under my Taco.

 

I wasn’t sure what to expect considering I couldn’t do the installation myself but yes its very secure and sturdy. I’m real happy with the results for sure.

 

I bought one and had my shop install it. And it's also a 3rd skid plate in addition to the two TRD plates. Better to have this if I'm out of town. If you lose your cat, I've heard it's a while before you can get a replacement.

 

No penalty for removing my cats because we don't have nanny state inspections or a retarded CARB agency- I can put a 1960's diesel out of a tractor or a gasifier in my truck if I want to. It's apparently a shock to most Californians, but nobody outside of California cares what California does as long as it doesn't affect them; based on my time there even the northern half of the state hates the southern part.

 

You might be shocked, but if a police officer in any state gets a bee in their bum after pulling you over, you can get charged with a Felony for doing that.

 

It's entirely possible, but outside of states with emissions testing, have you ever heard of anyone ever getting caught, much less fined? Most places it's a fix it ticket.* As it is it's pretty pointless since modern cats aren't restrictive enough to make a difference on anything but high performance cars, and the Tacoma certainly doesn't qualify as a performance vehicle. Personally I'd replace mine if they were stolen since I try to be a responsible owner, I tend to keep my running gear stock for reliability, but I do know folks who can't really afford the extra expense and would just straight pipe their vehicle. I can't really fault them when little is done to deter theft and the thieves, if they are even caught, get a slap on the wrist.


* "In short: DON'T. If your car came with a catalytic converter you're looking at fines of up to $10,000 for removing it. Sort of. Removing the catalytic converter is illegal, but getting caught without one isn't. Most states will simply suspend your smog certification until you get a new one installed."
https://legalbeagle.com/7194804-catalytic-converter-laws.html

 

On their web site they state that one for the I4 will be out soon. BTW, I put one on my V6 Prerunner (before they came out with one for 2WD) and the crossmember is different from what's on a 4x4. Still worked out and will deter the theft of the cats on my truck.

 

Oh grow up. Nobody came here to hear you rant about California.

 

Kind of like locking your doors to your house.

 

I had these installed at a local muffler shop today. About an hours worth of tack welding. Enough of a deterrent to pick another vehicle to steal from? The cable slack makes it difficult to effectively cut.

 

And that's the whole idea with any anti-theft device, make it where the scum bag doesn't want to take the extra time and effort.

Good for you!

 

Problem is there's dogmatic sayings and propaganda in CA professing CA leads the way.

Each trip out is refreshing, more so now as I progress in my move.

 

Well that’s hardly the only problem, and frankly it’s not all propaganda.

We know it sucks. I’ve lived here for 45 of my 60+years, and I’ve watched it all go sour.