QOTD: Have You Been The Victim Of Catalytic Converter Theft?
It's been a problem for some years now, given the value of the metal and how a practiced thief can swipe a converter quickly. Especially now that so many folks drive crossovers and SUVs that have more ground clearance -- and are easier for a thief to get under.
Here in Chicago, I hear anecdotal reports of converters disappearing from street-parked cars occasionally.
So, has it happened to you?
Sound off below.
[Image: Setta Sornnoi/Shutterstock.com]
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Tim Healey grew up around the auto-parts business and has always had a love for cars — his parents joke his first word was “‘Vette”. Despite this, he wanted to pursue a career in sports writing but he ended up falling semi-accidentally into the automotive-journalism industry, first at Consumer Guide Automotive and later at Web2Carz.com. He also worked as an industry analyst at Mintel Group and freelanced for About.com, CarFax, Vehix.com, High Gear Media, Torque News, FutureCar.com, Cars.com, among others, and of course Vertical Scope sites such as AutoGuide.com, Off-Road.com, and HybridCars.com. He’s an urbanite and as such, doesn’t need a daily driver, but if he had one, it would be compact, sporty, and have a manual transmission.
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Several years back, before cat theft became a thing, I switched to high flow cats on my 350Z and just trashed the OEM ones. I honestly had no idea they were worth much. I self deleted the rear cats on my C7 when I installed a Borla X-pipe. Cat theft is not something I worry about.
Slight intermittent rattle from my 2002 Silverado 5.3L at idle, more noticeable when in Drive and the rpms are slightly lower. When you raise the rpms it is obvious that it is not bottom end or top end engine noise. (The fuel trims are fine, computer is pretty happy.)
At the Hardee's drive-through window with the brick wall reflecting the sound it sounds like my truck is coming apart. Hmmm -- seems like it isn't going to heal itself. So I stop by Auto Zone and convince the youngster at the counter to come out and have a consult (the more experienced person declined, "I am not a mechanic." lol). We isolate the sound to behind the engine. No external parts seem loose. I wonder out loud if we are hearing the catalytic converter honeycombs coming apart and flapping in the exhaust breeze. Hypothesis formed -- thanks kid! (Had him check the catalog for new catalytic converter prices but only out of curiosity.) What do I owe you? No one likes money. Ok.
At home, in daylight, put the stethoscope on the cats while idling, nothing. Turn the truck off, grab a rubber mallet and tap (lightly! let's don't send them over the edge) on the cats. Yep, there it is. Driver side even though we heard it more on passenger side. Well shucks, cats are expensive, right? Or used to be. Or can be. (Let's see if we bought the wrong truck.)
Next stop rockauto dot com... no hang on there hoss, use your noggin, let's don't go ordering parts willy-nilly. Hook up the scanner. Upstream O2 sensors switching like they should. One downstream sensor switching like it shouldn't. Ok, now we know.
Rockauto dot com (again, still). The 'OE Design' 'E.P.A. Compliant' Walker brand that we like is around 340 bucks before shipping and taxes, but wait. One "Wholesaler Closeout" available for $210.79... stay calm lol.
Four new O2 sensors plus the converter assembly (includes both sides) plus gaskets and hardware takes us to $435 all in. Not installed yet, don't rush me. 😉