Catalytic converters contain platinum, palladium, and rhodiumexpensive precious metals that react with exhaust gasses, heat up a ceramic honeycomb element, and convert harmful combustion byproducts, such as nitrogen oxide and carbon monoxide, into less harmful gasses. I do remember the owner saying it was a very tough fit (no pun intended), but it was CatClamp friendly. What to install to protect catalytic converter on 2010 Honda Fit? And theres a new rattle when the engine starts under hard acceleration. I personally have never installed a CatClamp (or any other Catalytic Converter device) on that specific vehicle. I'm thinking a "skid plate" covering the catalytic converter, attached to the FRAME may be the best route to go. One downside of the CatClamp is that installation can be difficult at home, but totally doable. When I first started this catalytic converter obsession 5 years ago, the shops I spoke with all said the same thing: The thieves will never steal an after market catalytic converter. The Catstrap has the easiest setup for a DIY protection installation. This week my catalytic converter has been almost stolen twice. Park indoors if possible. The more inconvenient your vehicle is to get to, the more likely a If you find discrepancies with your credit score or information from your credit report, please contact TransUnion directly. I just purchased a new 2023 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid Blue and was wondering if you might can direct me on which way to go. This is a good idea in general. An experienced thief will probably target a higher value item, but Ive heard of plenty of these secondary converters being stolen. There were a little under 60,000 Prius and 82,000 Toyota Tundras sold in the US just in 2021 alone, all of them high targets for expensive catalytic converter theft. These may be the cheapest catalytic converter alarm on Amazon! Wouldnt expect a MillerCat Shield for the Elantra to happen anytime soon, but you never know! Ad-free. Also made of durable and corrosion-resistant aluminum, this shield is ideal for older Priuses with the 1.5L engine. Im only familiar with the Gas Elantra, but if the Hyundai Elantra Hybrid Blue catalytic converter setup is similar, youve got two catalytic converters: the primary one is up in the engine compartment at the manifold and a secondary one under your car inline with the exhaust system. This will help police track such crimes and might assist in arrests. 7.3,gas engine. Not all thieves are smart enough to notice the difference between original parts or cheaper versions which are aftermarket. If you start your car and hear a low, loud rumble, one of the first things you should check is whether your catalytic converter has been stolen. Strategy 1: Park in a safe, well lit place with lots of traffic. Stainless steel cables welded from the catalytic converter to the cars frame. Miller Cat Shield wouldnt take the discount code Gearist! I have a 2012 Subaru Outback which Ive maintained well and is excellent condition. But there are three main strategies to significantly reduce your risk. Thefts of the converters in the city so far in 2021 have increased by 300% compared to the same time period last year. You can watch their install video here. They seem to work as intended, but im looking to test it somewhere low inside the engine compartment where its easy to access for the vehicle owner, protected from the elements, and tough for a thief to find. I have Ford E350 shuttle buses and I have the Catstrap on all of them. So, what is the best catalytic converter anti theft device? For around 30 bucks or so for a twin pack it may be worth a shot. Gearist never sells your information to third-parties. When evaluating offers, please review the financial institutions Terms and Conditions. Just answer a few questions to get personalized results from our lending partners. We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer), pop up in the news every late winter and early spring. I called Hyundai and could not get any help from them. Bottom line, if youre looking for something off the shelf, check out the Cat Clamp. WebUltra-destruct self-etching labels CATETCH/CATGUARD labels with unique PIN codes for your catalytic converters. Advice totally makes sense! Check out the comments on this page https://www.gearist.com/cat-clamp-review-honda-catalytic-converter-theft/ where I go into a detailed description. Park in well-lit areas: Other methods for theft prevention will help, too. Hi According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), nearly 14,500 catalytic converters were stolen nationally in 2020, and that number jumped to 50,000 in 2021. The short handles help with the limited clearance when youre crawling under your car. If youre not familiar with safety procedures or are uncomfortable working under your car, its best left to the pros. Order your CatShield direct and use Discount Code : GEARIST. I have not had anymore problems since they tried to steal one catalytic converter from my business yard. Hello, Will your product work on a 2009 Kia Sportage? Youll never be able to stop a determined thief. And California is the state with the highest number of thefts of catalytic converters, with Texas coming in second. Usually if its a model I dont have hands on experience with I can make a few calls and see whats been working, but coming up empty for the 2002 Jetta! It would require the VIN to be stamped on catalytic converters of new vehicles and would create a grant program for VIN stamping of existing vehicles. Called local Honda dealer and they were no help. Because theyre model specific to your Prius or Element, installation is fairly straight forward. Contact the police. Hey there Mark. The Catlock is another clamp and cable device catalytic converter lock, although not as substantial as the CatClamp. Hybrid vehicles are particularly vulnerable, because those cats utilize even more of the precious metals within. Your username maybe be your email address. Here is a list of our partners. Im looking for some kind of theft deterrent. A member of the NYPD's Auto Crimes Unit applies a unique serial number to a vehicle's catalytic converter during a catalytic converter theft prevention event in Ocean Breeze on Friday, April 14, 2023. But what really makes catalytic converters an appealing target is how easy they are to steal. Generally speaking, comprehensive auto insurance policies may cover the cost of replacing a stolen catalytic converter. We can, however, make it a lot harder. cut. Her personal finance insight has been featured on Forbes, The Boston Globe and CNBC throughout the years. Pre-qualified offers are not binding. Sobering! As theyre expanding their cat shield line up, it looks like theyre tackling the vehicles that are likely targets for catalytic converter theft. Not so much. Unfortunately, a camera wont do much for stopping theft, but it may help the police after the fact. Here are some tips and tricks on catalytic converter theft prevention: 1. The Toyota Priusa popular gasoline-electric hybrid with two convertersis a favorite target, according to the NICB. .css-1r3oo2y{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;display:block;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;font-family:Paralucent,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:1.25rem;line-height:1.2;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-1r3oo2y:hover{color:link-hover;}}.css-1r3oo2y:hover{color:#454148;}How to Shoot a Vehicle for Bring a Trailer.css-17kabay{display:block;height:0.625rem;margin-top:0.625rem;position:relative;width:1.25rem;}.css-17kabay:after{content:'';height:0.625rem;left:0;position:absolute;top:0;width:1.25rem;}.loaded .css-17kabay:after{background-image:url(/_assets/design-tokens/autoweek/static/images/diamonds.322aecf.svg);}, Best Mechanic's Creepers for 2023, Tested, Save Big Bucks on Our Best Car Cleaning Kits, Automotive Airbnb Activities for Your Next Getaway, Our Favorite Automotive Books for Car-Loving Kids. Install an anti-theft device on your catalytic converter, 4. Probably will try mounting it with heavy duty velcro and 3M VHB tape. But also, one of the links you have mentions spray painting your catalytic converter a bright red or blue with some high-temperature BBQ spray paint. 4. Apply a commercial catalytic theft prevention device such as CatClamps or CAT Security. And its happening everywhere- every type of neighborhood to every type of vehicle. However, Ive seen CatClamps work on a surprising range of vehicles. One of the shops I use had a customer who insisted on an OEM (Original Equipment from the Manufacturer) Catalytic Converter replacement for their Honda Accord. This is exactly why its important to do everything you can outlined in the article, especially a physical deterrent, to reduce your chances of catalytic converter theft. If youre installing at home and have a limited toolbox, you may need to buy a RivNut tool with short handles (Miller CatShield) or a regular old rivet tool for the CCM CatSecurity Plate. WebThe bad news is a replacement catalytic converter will cost you up to $4500. Sorry to hear about your van. Unsurprisingly, those rare metals are worth quite a bit of money. A stolen catalytic converter replacement can cost up to $3,500 for the most-targeted vehicles. 2. Heres why catalytic converters are being stolen, what makes them so attractive to car thieves, and what you can do to prevent your vehicles from going missing. Heres hoping they work! I would definitely make some calls in your area to see about getting some physical protection on your vehicle like the CatClamp. Why are thieves targeting catalytic converters? Looking at replacement costs for a 2002 VW Jetta catalytic converter was a real eye openerespecially in the CARB states like California! You're going to want to read thisespecially if you drive a Toyota Prius. However, if you drive a late-model Toyota Tacoma 4x4 with a 3.5L engine you're in luck because MillerCat has designed a cat shield just for you. That's why I'm so jazzed to be shining light on what works, what doesn't, and how people can enrich their lives by being smarter consumers. Catalytic converter theft is on the rise and to a shocking degree. The good news is that due to its location under the hood its not an easy theft target. They are usually parked at the ends of the parking lot. Even if your car isnt on the most stolen catalytic converter list, it can happen to you. Im googling and not seeing a good video, but this seems like the best option I could afford right now. If it was my money and I was protecting a Prius or an Element, Id go for one of the cat shields. Aside from comprehensive insurance coverage and setting your alarm to its most sensitive setting, is there anything we vehicle owners can do to make sure we're not stuck with expensive repairs? The catalytic converter is an exhaust system part thats necessary for your car to pass safety and emissions inspections in many states. That was so funny about the electric car. Alarmsboth full vehicle systems and special converter-specific onesalso can be effective deterrents. Im sure youll get a couple of Huh?s before you find one, but Im sure somebody local can help you out. Ill try all 3. Need theft cover for 96 Ford E 350 Cutoff van. The NICB says replacing a catalytic converter can range from $1,000 to $3,000, which doesnt include loss of work or paying for alternate transportation. State lawmakers across the country have already been responding to the surge in catalytic converter thefts, and the NICB is tracking more than 150 pieces of legislation either enacted or under consideration to prevent these thefts. WebA pr. Thanks! What to do if your Mazda CX-5s catalytic converter is stolen. This information may be different than what you see when you visit a financial institution, service provider or specific products site. Before joining NerdWallet, Julie oversaw editorial teams at NextAdvisor, Red Ventures and Quote.com. Alarm 2-Pack Although professional installation is suggested, If youre comfortable changing your own oil you shouldnt have a problem installing this yourself. Save products you love, products you own and much more! A number of other states have proposed legislation. Youd be looking to protect the secondary one. Park in a well-lit area. Hello. On Nov. 2, the Justice Department announced the takedown of a national, multimillion-dollar catalytic converter theft network. We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer) as we strive to provide site experiences for browsers that support new web standards and security practices. The best bet: if you have a garage, clean out all of that old sports equipment and park your car in there instead! Comprehensive insurance covers stolen auto parts. Also at risk are street-parked vehicles and trucks parked overnight in unattended lots. I cant remember off the top of my head if the e350 frame measures out the same as the f-series pickup trucks, but you may want to look into that and see what kind of skid-plate options are available and if theyll cover your catalytic converter. WebConsider these tips to help protect your car from catalytic converter theft: Know if your car is a likely target: hybrids, SUVs and trucks have valuable or easily removable catalytic converters. And while our site doesnt feature every company or financial product available on the market, were proud that the guidance we offer, the information we provide and the tools we create are objective, independent, straightforward and free. Buy a catalytic converter clamp. To be honest, not so sure about their strategy. The problem I have with the Fast Guard Catalytic Converter Alarm instructions is the location, AND the fact that they give you stickers to put on your car. Youre probably talking about the oxygen SENSOR, but yes, supply chain issues arent helping with the increased demand. Anything else would get a CatClamp. If your car was insured, youll likely pay little out of pocket to get a new catalytic converter, depending on your deductible. Can you suggest which anti theft device would be best for catalytic converters? Thanks, F-350 diesel dually owner! I cant say for sure yet, but if all the volume comes out of the front of that little device, the noise is easy to overcome by just putting your hand over it. The best preventive measure you can take is asking your mechanic to use welding techniques to attach the converter more permanently to your undercarriage. When it comes to catalytic converter theft, insurance coverage can vary depending on the policy. To compound the problem, were starting to hear of stolen catalytic converters being sold and used on the secondary market not for scrap, but as replacement parts by less than honest folks. 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