How to Prevent Catalytic Converter Theft
A catalytic converter is that round canister that connects two pieces of piping in the exhaust. Don’t confuse it with a muffler though (this picture shows the difference).
You’ve probably noticed that catalytic converters are being targeted by thieves more and more. Perhaps you’ve felt this on your own skin as your converter got stolen recently.
There are two major reasons why catalytic converters are attractive targets of theft:
#1 Reason: Expensive metal components
They contain plenty of platinum, rhodium and palladium. Many have noticed a correlation between the frequency of converter theft with the increase of the prices of these materials.
Platinum is particularly expensive, so the converters are easily sold to scrap yards for $150 to $200 a piece. On the other hand, a brand new catalytic converter can cost up to $2000.
If you’ve tried driving without one, you’ll notice that your car will run poorly because of the gap in the exhaust system. It’s also illegal in the first place.
So someone snatching your converter will maybe earn him $200 but it can create $2000 in damages to you, the owner. All the more reason to read up on our security measures to prevent this from happening.
#2 Reason: It’s easy to remove!
Catalytic converters are easy to remove if they’re not secured with additional locks. All the thief needs is a saw and sometimes a sliding board or a jack to get under the vehicle.
Taller vehicles like SUVs and trucks are more vulnerable because it’s easier to get under them. Once he’s under it, the thief will use a saw to cut through the piping on both sides of the converter and pull it off.
How to know if your catalytic converter is stolen
There are multiple giveaway signs:
- loud rumbling or roaring sound as soon as you turn on the engine
- the sound gets louder when you hit the gas
- a sense of sputtering as you change speed
- your vehicle doesn’t drive as smoothly as it did before
Check your exhaust system by getting under your vehicle to see if the catalytic converter (the round canister) is there or not. If your catalytic converter is there, but your vehicle has most of these symptoms, it could be broken or clogged.
Get it checked out by a professional to solve the problem. It may require fixing or full replacement, depending on the severity of the damage.Alternatively, you can follow the the tips from this video to examine it by yourself for blockage and other problems.
Preventing catalytic converter theft
Luckily there are many ways to protect your catalytic converter and your vehicle in general from criminals:
1. Secure your garage door
Keep your car in the garage if you have one available, and keep the door closed when you’re not there. However, keep in mind that this isn’t a full solution because garage doors can be very vulnerable to break ins.
Sometimes they don’t close properly, or they can be susceptible to the “fishing method”; the door is opened slightly on top and then a cloth hanger is used to manipulate the opener.
Not all garage doors and openers are vulnerable to this trick, but some are, so check out our garage door security guide to learn more.
2. Be extra careful when parking outside
Thieves prefer to work in dark areas because there’s a reduced risk of being noticed. Therefore try to park in well-lit areas if you’re parking on your driveway or in public.
The second great deterrent are security cameras. Look for a public garage or parking lot that has security cameras and/or a security guard on site.
Home security cameras are also very useful for keeping an eye on your vehicles. Especially wireless cams that have motion sensors and night vision like this very popular and affordable Zmodo camera from Amazon.
Also try to avoid parking in corners and desolate areas in general. Park in the center of the parking lot rather than a far away corner. Also look for areas with increased pedestrian traffic.
3. Use a converter lock
4. Weld the converter to the car frame
5. Weld or bolt additional obstructions
- Use some kind of “locking” bolts with nonstandard or keyed nuts.
- Spot-weld the bolts or nuts.
- Weld an ID plate on the converter
- Bolt a cover plate to the frame rails that covers the converter but allows the exhaust system to wiggle.
6. Use a vibration-trigger alarm
7. Engrave your VIN number onto your catalytic converter
This will make it easier to identify your converter in the case it gets stolen and someone is able to find it. Furthermore, if a thief sees the engraving, they might opt to steal from a different vehicle to avoid the additional risk.
Final Word: Preventing Catalytic Converter Theft
If you’ve had your converter stolen before, you know how much hassle and money it can take to replace it. If the oxygen sensor or a pipe was cut in the process as well, it can be even more expensive than the usual $1000-$2000.
The best way to prevent this from happening is to be smart when it comes to parking, to use deterrents like an alarm and welding something like an ID plate on the converter or engraving information that could incriminate the thief.
But keep in mind that these are all half-measures, since many people have gotten their catalytic converter stolen even when they parked on a busy street with pedestrians moving about all the time.
The risk is reduced, but most people are probably taken by surprise and don’t react to the thief, thinking that it’s just the owner fixing something on the car.
So if you want to FULLY secure your catalytic converter I suggest using the Cat Clamp, which is the only locking device that properly addresses this problem. Hope this helps!
