Angry

[Rolling_Thunder]

well...     came out from class tonight and started up my truck...      hmmm   exhaust is a little loud -  someone ended up stealing my Cat converter...      I know this has been a problem in most areas but jeez...    take my Cat with 140,000 miles one it...     probably was on its way out anyway.   Still frustrating - kind of humorous that it would be the scum of the earth stealing crap from a College parking lot...       oh well...    guess im off to the dealership tomorrow.

[A383Wing]

yea..happens up here as well....just go aftermarket..way cheaper than dealer

think Magnaflow

[Brock Samson]

much easier to get 'em out from under a truck i hear...   sucks!

[RallyeMike]

Bummer. It's happened to a lot of people I work with. Of course many are big macho construction guys with trucks ..... (easy targets). 15 seconds with cordless Sawzall and the cat is gone.

[learical1]

yea..happens up here as well....just go aftermarket..way cheaper than dealer

think Magnaflow

In California, where Rolling Thunder lives, aftermarket converters must be "CARB" approved to be used.  Many aftermarket converter companies don't have enough volume in sales to warrant paying for the test, so they don't offer the products in California.  It is also against California law to install used converters on cars, so your only choice is usually the dealership.  Unless you want to drive to a neighboring state, pick up the aftermarket converter and risk the $25,000 fine.  I don't know what would happen if you were able to get the vehicle out of state and get the converter installed in say Nevada.  Chances are you'll fail the next prostate exam emissions test.

[skip68]

Yeah that does suck

[xpbprox]

Leeave it like that! Sounds wicked awesome. I had a buddy who took it cat off and replaced it with a bolt in section of pipe, it looked stock so the smog place let him pass. Or you can so it how I did it last time, gave the guy some extra cash...

[Rolling_Thunder]

well Magnaflow makes a CARB legal direct fit unit for a nice $600...     so yeah...      I am going to a dealership in the morning to see their price...      The truck uses 3 cats all together...    not a major thing but I do need it here in CA...    I can't think of a way of preventing it down the road...   the only thing I can think of is welding it in...    but a sawzall would still get it out...  but I would feel better about it at least...    I'll update tomorrow   

[tan top]

aww man sorry to hear this !!  , thats low !! steeling a use cat

[Charger-Bodie]

well Magnaflow makes a CARB legal direct fit unit for a nice $600...     so yeah...      I am going to a dealership in the morning to see their price...      The truck uses 3 cats all together...    not a major thing but I do need it here in CA...    I can't think of a way of preventing it down the road...   the only thing I can think of is welding it in...    but a sawzall would still get it out...  but I would feel better about it at least...    I'll update tomorrow   

Can a skid plate be installed in that area to detur the thieves from the extra work.

[Rolling_Thunder]

well Magnaflow makes a CARB legal direct fit unit for a nice $600...     so yeah...      I am going to a dealership in the morning to see their price...      The truck uses 3 cats all together...    not a major thing but I do need it here in CA...    I can't think of a way of preventing it down the road...   the only thing I can think of is welding it in...    but a sawzall would still get it out...  but I would feel better about it at least...    I'll update tomorrow   

Can a skid plate be installed in that area to detur the thieves from the extra work.

I'm looking into that right now - I just got a quote for a new replacement Cat...     $903.33 - and since I live here in CA it is pretty much a dealer only thing...     Magnaflow makes a replacement but its MSRP is $1,016.00...       So I guess I'll be going through my insurance on this one and installing a steel plate or something to help prevent it from happening again. 

[Old Moparz]

What about getting a used one from a junkyard?   

I remember buying $5 mufflers for $100 cars years ago.

[xpbprox]

What about getting a used one from a junkyard?   

I remember buying $5 mufflers for $100 cars years ago.

That illegal here in California, the cat has to be new and come with some sort of certification.

[Old Moparz]

What about getting a used one from a junkyard?   

I remember buying $5 mufflers for $100 cars years ago.

That illegal here in California, the cat has to be new and come with some sort of certification.

Didn't know that, thanks.   

[twodko]

Its been a problem here in NorCal as well. There are options though. I should also mention that NO smog station can let any vehicle "pass" on their say so. Whether its a "test only" station or a full smog test station, the DMV gets only what emissions information the smog machine sends to Sacto........pass or fail.
I've got a 97 half ton 2wd Chebby pickup, v-6 auto. The cat wasn't stolen but the OEM was toast inside. I took the truck to a Johnny Franklin exhaust shop and they replaced the cat with a CARB approved direct replacement unit for my truck. RR plus the cat was a bit over $250. Check around because there are state licensed exhaust shops that install Ca. CARB approved cats for way less than a dealer. My 97 with a v-6 so maybe worked in my favor as to replacement cost. 

[nvrbdn]

it would be cheaper to find the thief and throw him a hundred bucks and get the one back he stole i think if those are the rules in replacing them, then it should be illegal to posess or sell to scrap a used one with out a license.

[Charger_Dart]

it would be cheaper to find the thief and throw him a hundred bucks and get the one back he stole i think if those are the rules in replacing them, then it should be illegal to posess or sell to scrap a used one with out a license.

Well Said 

[xpbprox]

it would be cheaper to find the thief and throw him a hundred bucks and get the one back he stole i think if those are the rules in replacing them, then it should be illegal to posess or sell to scrap a used one with out a license.

It is illegal but the regulation isn't there to regulate. I think they mostly take them so they can recycle the precious metal inside of them not to redistribute them through junk yards and such

[Rolling_Thunder]

that is exactly what they do - sell it for the precious metal...      the problem is the whole CARB approved deal - I have called around to most exhaust shops and they can't replace it due to the truck being too new...      everyone reports me to the dealer...     I can find 49 state legal replacements all over for like $150...    cheapest CARB approved one is the Dealer's $900+  ---   how can CA have CARB and still be in a budget crisis ?  haha                    I'll just have to bite the bullet and but it from the dealer...     no smog problems, no headaches except the bill...     

[Old Moparz]

that is exactly what they do - sell it for the precious metal...      the problem is the whole CARB approved deal - I have called around to most exhaust shops and they can't replace it due to the truck being too new...      everyone reports me to the dealer...     I can find 49 state legal replacements all over for like $150...    cheapest CARB approved one is the Dealer's $900+  ---   how can CA have CARB and still be in a budget crisis ?  haha                    I'll just have to bite the bullet and but it from the dealer...     no smog problems, no headaches except the bill...     

$900?  Ouch!   

After losing the 1st one to a thief I'd be looking for a way to protect the replacement.

[Tilar]

What about getting a used one from a junkyard?   

I remember buying $5 mufflers for $100 cars years ago.

That illegal here in California, the cat has to be new and come with some sort of certification.

Didn't know that, thanks.   

The state of Californication is stealing them and selling them for $100 and making you buy new ones.   

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

Ebay?

[bobs66440]

well...     came out from class tonight and started up my truck...      hmmm   exhaust is a little loud -  someone ended up stealing my Cat converter...      I know this has been a problem in most areas but jeez...    take my Cat with 140,000 miles one it...     probably was on its way out anyway.   Still frustrating - kind of humorous that it would be the scum of the earth stealing crap from a College parking lot...       oh well...    guess im off to the dealership tomorrow.

A good reason to lower the car 

[Brock Samson]

you didn't read the post.. 

[A383Wing]

basically, Rolling Thunder is screwed...he has to have California Carb certified cat...Magnaflow sells those as well...a bit more than the other 49 state ones...

I'm emission certified up here...we gotta go through the same thing...if car is a CA car...then it has to have a Carb cat....otherwise it will fail

Ebay, junkyards and private people cannot sell cats...it's against Federal Law and subject to a $10,000 fine or more

and he has to have that cat converter in there..otherwise it will set a code and it will turn on check engine light and then no fuel control for engine

be careful if you put a protective plate under there to stop this from happening again....the cat has to have "breathing" space to keep cool..I have seen cars interior catch on fire because of cat getting too hot and not able to cool

Bryan