If a new car is 50k give or take, how can the cat be worth 10% of the vehicle.Quote:
Originally Posted by Danno
My tinfoil senses are telling me it’s a conspiracy between the criminals and the stealerships.
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If a new car is 50k give or take, how can the cat be worth 10% of the vehicle.Quote:
Originally Posted by Danno
My tinfoil senses are telling me it’s a conspiracy between the criminals and the stealerships.
It really does seem like petty criminals have a green light these days. The police don't care. Most stores don't care. Shoplift away! For the most part no one is going to stop you.Quote:
Originally Posted by Name Redacted
My car is 16 years old.Quote:
Originally Posted by Core Shot
It’s not meth heads. At least not in Oregon. They busted a huge criminal enterprise that was running out of a very swanky neighborhood in Portland that was doing most of it around town.Quote:
Originally Posted by zion zig zag
$5k is the bend-you-over price. EPA-compliant aftermarket converters are a thing although who knows about availability right now. Buying and having a local independent install could be an option.
https://www.magnaflow.com/collection...tic-converters
Maybe it is, I dunno. But there are 2 converters on my car. And the quote also includes O2 sensors. The actual cost for each converter was just over 2 grand, so double the price in your link. This is an independent shop in an industrial area who comes highly recommended (and has seemed like a stand up guy). So maybe I am getting bent over, but I'm guessing it's by the world and not specifically from the shop. Plus, I need the work done now.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mazderati
We need more stories like this one. Feel good story of the year?:Quote:
Originally Posted by mcski
https://youtu.be/R9ZBBFwlCPc
Sent from my Pixel 3 using TGR Forums mobile app
Quote:
Originally Posted by Danno
5k repair for a 16yo car. gawd, what a mess.
yeah, pretty insane. But glad I still held on to comprehensive coverage! And FWIW, in today's market, that's probably only half of my car's value. But really, even if I didn't have comp coverage, I have no choice, I have to pay it.Quote:
Originally Posted by jmedslc
yup, true story. i got a friend here in SLC area that made a few million in his "precious metals recycling business" back in the early/mid aughts, collecting and shipping converters from old vehicles that went to the scrapyard. i wonder if he's still doing this or if his business is defunct now. i'll make a point to inquire next time we talk.Quote:
Originally Posted by Danno
Not sure how it’s going but WA recently enacted a law prohibiting salvage yards from buying private party catalytic converters, a great step to removing the incentive for stealing them.
Of course in the more conservative part of the state there’s been an outcry about “hurting small businesses because we won’t punish the criminals” as if the salvage yards haven’t known they’ve been mostly fencing stolen goods.
I just signed up for a free program offered by my local sheriff's department, where they supply a VIN stencil to be applied to the cat. You can DIY or bring to a shop participating in the program and they'll do it. All free of charge to the public.
I'm a little unclear on how a painted on stencil protects against a thief grinding off the VIN, but maybe it's enough of a deterrent to help. Can't hurt.
In CA you can not have a used CAT installed, so why do they get stolen, for the metal in them? If yes, then recycling CATs should be against the law unless the whole car comes in with it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Falcon3
it's all for the metal in them, they have precious metals.Quote:
Originally Posted by liv2ski
I think I found your perp.Quote:
Originally Posted by Danno
Attachment 425307
Where were you before I parked at the PnR?Quote:
Originally Posted by Mazderati
What I'm wondering is if it's possible to rig up a MagnaVolt like system to your catalytic converters. That would take care of business pretty quickly. Then just drive over the smoking husk of a corpse like a mere speed bump. Thunk-thunk.Quote:
Originally Posted by Danno
https://youtu.be/bMtqRir7dco
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Ruh-roh. Now you've activated the Bmills spring gun signal!Quote:
Originally Posted by MontuckyFried
why do I have to resort to this?
Attachment 425318
Have you tried putting a clothes hanger on the door handle?Quote:
Originally Posted by ~mikey b
Sounds like you are getting your original converters back.Quote:
Originally Posted by Danno
Not a chance. This guy is a reputable business who has been around for decades, recommended to me by my mechanic who I trust.Quote:
Originally Posted by Elkhound Odin
Now I'm annoyed by the USAA appraisal team, who a) is asking for photos that I uploaded to USAA's website this morning, and is asking for photos of the dash, radio, and front and back seats, for a claim about catalytic converter theft. WHen I gave them a WTF, they said that it's standard procedure for cars that are older the 10 years.
My former home state passed a law where scrap dealers had to get a copy of the DL and a photo of anyone selling CC's, as well as a valid VIN for each converter. Didn't stop thefts, but cut it down significantly.Quote:
Originally Posted by Falcon3
This is a problem with easy fixes. Are our elected officials in the pocket of Big Scrap Metal?