Great Dane
Junior Member
Some learn to make good decisions from making bad decisions
Posts: 93
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Post by Great Dane on Oct 30, 2013 5:07:53 GMT -6
I was just told that over the weekend someone slid under a car at our WalMart and cut the catalytic converter off their car. I have heard of this going on in Big Chicago, but first time I heard of it locally .
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Post by seaturtle43 in hostile forum on Oct 30, 2013 6:20:53 GMT -6
Wow. Very strange
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Post by rocket on Oct 30, 2013 6:41:02 GMT -6
Because they are worth a lot of money at the recycling places. People you will know if someone stolen your catalytic converter . You will have a loud car when you start it,especially if you have a new exaust system and the car is running quiet ,then sound like you have no muffler.
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Post by GrAhAm on Oct 30, 2013 6:48:36 GMT -6
Wow, thought ppl stopped doing this long ago
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 30, 2013 7:09:18 GMT -6
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Great Dane
Junior Member
Some learn to make good decisions from making bad decisions
Posts: 93
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Post by Great Dane on Oct 30, 2013 9:20:24 GMT -6
Over $400.00 to replace it.
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Post by no1inparticular on Oct 30, 2013 11:07:41 GMT -6
This is an old trick...Druggie THIEVES have been stealing them for years...
If you have the ability/opportunity, spot weld it on in a couple of places...Otherwise, they can be stolen (especially from high profile vehicles) in a matter of seconds, and the next victim could be you...
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Post by jeffsauto on Oct 30, 2013 11:27:07 GMT -6
This is an old trick...Druggie THIEVES have been stealing them for years... If you have the ability/opportunity, spot weld it on in a couple of places...Otherwise, they can be stolen (especially from high profile vehicles) in a matter of seconds, and the next victim could be you... Dont waste your time, most converters are welded in from the factory and thieves just take a battery powered sawzall and cut the pipes on either side.
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Post by no1inparticular on Oct 30, 2013 12:10:31 GMT -6
Tip #1 from my auto insurance - "Visit a local muffler shop and have the converter secured to the vehicle’s frame with a couple of pieces of hardened steel welded to the frame"...
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 30, 2013 13:26:14 GMT -6
Tip #1 from my auto insurance - "Visit a local muffler shop and have the converter secured to the vehicle’s frame with a couple of pieces of hardened steel welded to the frame"... Typical insurance company, some clueless desk jockey came up with that suggestion. It is a bad idea. Exhaust systems are mounted in rubber for a reason, mounting any part of it solid to the frame will create vibration and noise. And if yours is swiped do not let the insurance company replace it with a aftermarket converter, insist on OEM or you might have problems such as a check engine light that is constantly on.
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Post by no1inparticular on Oct 30, 2013 14:50:21 GMT -6
Tip #1 from my auto insurance - "Visit a local muffler shop and have the converter secured to the vehicle’s frame with a couple of pieces of hardened steel welded to the frame"... Typical insurance company, some clueless desk jockey came up with that suggestion. It is a bad idea. Exhaust systems are mounted in rubber for a reason, mounting any part of it solid to the frame will create vibration and noise. And if yours is swiped do not let the insurance company replace it with a aftermarket converter, insist on OEM or you might have problems such as a check engine light that is constantly on. I'm also a Certified Auto Collision Adjuster, and we often did this at the Body Shop I co-owned...This indeed works... I do, however, agree that one should be sure that their parts are replaced OEM...
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Post by longarm on Oct 30, 2013 16:18:37 GMT -6
I wonder if this theft is covered under Theft with no deductible oe would it be under collision with a $259 or 500 deductible.
It may be covered like window breakage and no deductible.
If so I would not pay someone to weld it up. Jeff says they can cut it off.
Jeff or someone. Can I put in a straight pipe and eliminate the catalytic converter.
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Great Dane
Junior Member
Some learn to make good decisions from making bad decisions
Posts: 93
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Post by Great Dane on Oct 30, 2013 16:30:00 GMT -6
I know a shop is not suppose to change anything on the exhaust ,and if you were to live where they do emission texting,you could not do it yourself or at all,they will tell you to change it back. They have been doing this texting in the Joliet area for awhile, surprised that isn't here yet
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Post by jeffsauto on Oct 30, 2013 16:37:31 GMT -6
Jeff or someone. Can I put in a straight pipe and eliminate the catalytic converter. I am not sure if you can or cannot on your own vehicle legally. It would be illegal for anyone else to do it for you. There is no performance advantage by taking it off, plus it would probably turn the service engine light on. I have posted some reference from the EPA site: The act of removing a catalytic converter without replacing it with an approved replacement (known as "tampering") is illegal under federal law and is of great concern to EPA because of the high pollution levels that are emitted by vehicles without properly functioning emission controls. The original antitampering law was part of the Clean Air Act of 1970; it applied only to manufacturers and car dealers. The antitampering law was expanded by the 1977 Clean Air Act Amendments to apply to all automobile repair facilities, commercial mechanics, and fleet operators. And the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments (CAAA) broadened the tampering provision even further; it now applies to everyone, including car owners. Here is the text from the 1990 CAAA (http://www.epa.gov/air/caa/caaa.txt): "Section 288 – Enforcement (b) TAMPERING WITH VEHICLE EMISSION CONTROLS – (1) Section 203(a)(3) (42 U.S.C. 7522(a)(3)) is amended to read as follows: '(3)(A) for any person to remove or render inoperative any device or element of design installed on or in a motor vehicle or motor vehicle engine in compliance with regulations under this title prior to its sale and delivery to the ultimate purchaser, or for any person knowingly to remove or render inoperative any such device or element of design after such sale and delivery to the ultimate purchaser; or '(B) for any person to manufacture or sell, or offer to sell, or install, any part or component intended for use with, or as part of, any motor vehicle or motor vehicle engine, where a principal effect of the part or component is to bypass, defeat, or render inoperative any device or element of design installed on or in a motor vehicle or motor vehicle engine in compliance with regulations under this title, and where the person knows or should know that such part or component is being offered for sale or installed for such use or put to such use; or ' (2) At the end of section 203(a) (42 U.S.C. 7522(a)) insert the following: 'No action with respect to any device or element of design referred to in paragraph (3) shall be treated as a prohibited act under that paragraph if (i) the action is for the purpose of repair or replacement of the device or element, or is a necessary and temporary procedure to repair or replace any other item and the device or element is replaced upon completion of the procedure, and (ii) such action thereafter results in the proper functioning of the device or element referred to in paragraph (3). No action with respect to any device or element of design referred to in paragraph (3) shall be treated as a prohibited act under that paragraph if the action is for the purpose of a conversion of a motor vehicle for use of a clean alternative fuel (as defined in this title) and if such vehicle complies with the applicable standard under section 202 when operating on such fuel, and if in the case of a clean alternative fuel vehicle (as defined by rule by the Administrator), the device or element is replaced upon completion of the conversion procedure and such action results in proper functioning of the device or element when the motor vehicle operates on conventional fuel.'." The resale of a vehicle which has already had the catalytic converter removed is not specifically addressed by federal law. Therefore, the person who removed the converter violated federal law, but not necessarily the person who sold the vehicle. However, the sale of vehicles that have had the emission control system removed, disabled, or tampered with may be further governed by state or local laws.
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Post by OutlawwithaSnipeSniper on Oct 30, 2013 18:25:20 GMT -6
Typical insurance company, some clueless desk jockey came up with that suggestion. It is a bad idea. Exhaust systems are mounted in rubber for a reason, mounting any part of it solid to the frame will create vibration and noise. Not to mention they put heat shields around them and typically on the body around them to prevent heat transfer. Anything you do to weld steel to the frame or body will transfer that heat, which could conceivably start a fire......... I am not sure the new ones run as hot as the old ones did, but many field fires were started int he old days by hot cats.
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