Replacement catalytic converter

[blackburnju]

Our catalytic converter was stolen several weeks ago. And we cannot find any shops anywhere in the San Francisco Bay area that will do replacement catalytic converters on a 2002 Winnebago mini RV. Does anybody have any suggestions or has anybody found any shops anywhere within a hundred miles of San Jose California that might repair or replace catalytic converters? We are frantic.

[ScottG]

A Prius CC costs about 8X that of an avg F150 (more precious metals) because they have to work efficiently at lower temps due to the vehicles start/stop capability.

[Tom_Anderson]

pnichols wrote:
Why aren't the millions of gas powered pickup trucks getting their converters stolen? If it's happening with PU's too, I sure don't seem to be reading much about it. :h

It's definitely happening just as often with pickups. And not just gas engines. Diesels aren't safe, either.

[bobndot]

It seems to be with the 'more friendly' emissions vehicles . I'm reading there are different amounts of metals contained inside the various cc's. Some manufactures might be more than the others.

[pnichols]

This appears to be a discussion concerning Class C motorhomes with gas engines that hence have catalytic converters that are getting stolen.

Are cat thieves picking on Class C motorhomes for some reason? Why aren't the millions of gas powered pickup trucks getting their converters stolen? If it's happening with PU's too, I sure don't seem to be reading much about it. :h

[Cruisineasy]

NorCal Muffler in Manteca services Motorhomes. They can also weld rebar on the tubes to help protect from thieves.

[vern_kelly]

Ever wonder why the price of gas/diesel in Cali is the highest in the USA including Hawaii? Kind of affects RVers, even you guys/gals visiting from out of state!

Ever wonder why any new 4 or 2 stroke garden equipment including generators will be banned by 2024 in Cali? (might even include new RV generators) Rv industry is currently trying to fight this.

Ever wonder why new ICE cars are planned to be banned by 2035 in cali? Trucks will be next. Diesel trucks for sure.

Ever wonder why Recreational offshore fishing and tour boats are being required to change out or heavily modify their existing diesel engines by 2024 in Cali whether they can or not?

Ever wonder why New homes will be mandated to have solar power and not have natural gas connections in cali.

Ever wonder why Gas water heaters are scheduled to be banned by 2030 in cali?

Yes Mary Nichols is behind all this and has plans for everyone! I don't think I covered a tenth of the plans all backed by the Cali Guv.

I luv California and all the places to RV here but the rules are onerous. That's a pleasant word for the meaning!:)

[klutchdust]

Vern said:

"Make no mistake RVers: the state of California has a CARB (California Air Resources Board) headed by a woman named Mary Nichols. She is appointed and has been there since Schwarzenegger. She is very powerful and does not care about you and especially your motorhome, boat, car, truck, lawnmower, chain saw or motorcycle. Her goal in life is to get you off the road! She has stated publicly she hopes gasoline exceeds 8$ a gallon to get people to quit driving. Her kind is unfortunately spreading though out the USA. Remember her name as most do not know her. "

If you live in Ca., she is the least of your worries. Ca. is circling the drain............

Does anyone know how etching a number into the cat makes a difference to thieves? Most of these cats are shipped overseas or to black market disassembly sites. Like they care about that number.
Seems like another "feel good" attempt that does nothing towards the real problem.

[vern_kelly]

I really feel your pain. You have a legal vehicle and have an exhaust system component stolen and the state of California makes it worse (much worse).

My dads 2002 E450 V10 Minni did not pass smog initially a couple years ago because the state software wanted to test it as OBD2. Under the hood it said OBD1 and only has two upstream O2 sensors with no downstream O2 sensor. So Ford readyness software never shows the O2 ready. After two weeks of my research driving a couple hundred miles and talking to the state referee he agreed with me and talked to the smog station that did the test. It then passed under OBD1.

Make no mistake RVers: the state of California has a CARB (California Air Resources Board) headed by a woman named Mary Nichols. She is appointed and has been there since Schwarzenegger. She is very powerful and does not care about you and especially your motorhome, boat, car, truck, lawnmower, chain saw or motorcycle. Her goal in life is to get you off the road! She has stated publicly she hopes gasoline exceeds 8$ a gallon to get people to quit driving. Her kind is unfortunately spreading though out the USA. Remember her name as most do not know her.

[bobndot]

Maybe it would be easier to try and shut down the black market for these - rather than trying to stop the thieves from being able to remove them from vehicles?

Phil, I think it comes down to economics.
It's not a big enough problem yet. I don't think enough cats are stolen in this country for a fed investigation to open. So many agents and costly specialists are needed to organize and carry out something like that.
If they farm out cats overseas, then I would think international legal teams would also be necessary. It's too expensive ! It's on us for now and probably will always be.

Do a research of how many cats are stolen each year and divide that by 50 states.

[pnichols]

I'm curious concerning this whole catalytic converter stealing situation:

1. How, and to whom, do the thieves sell them?
2. What do the people who buy them from the thieves do with them?
3. Are these stolen converters merely winding up being installed by muffler shops in other states .... or other countries?

Maybe it would be easier to try and shut down the black market for these - rather than trying to stop the thieves from being able to remove them from vehicles?

[Grit_dog]

Sqdancecaller wrote:
We feel your pain! Ours was stolen 2 weeks ago while it sat in our driveway. We do live out in the country so guess it was easy pickins! We have been very lucky, Insurance paid for the repairs, local muffler shop was able to get a replacement and is now scheduled to go in the shop on Monday! Hope you succeed in getting yours repaired.

Dang, got methy people out in the country too...

At least easier to get fixed than in Cali, but this is getting out of hand, everywhere it seems.
Not a week goes by on virtually every construction project we have going that something doesn't get stolen or vandalized.
Highlights from 1 job in the last month.
3 cordless tools and $1000 worth of batteries for them, out of our staging yard, fenced, occupied during the day, out of an unlocked storage container.
Forklift or manlift start battery almost every weekend. Either stolen or break in attempt into locked battery box.
Brand new demo saw, set down on sidewalk within 100' of where crew working. Car pulls into lane closure, grab n go, $1200 drove away in a $1200 meth-mobile!
All the job trucks now get taken home by employees at night. We've resorted to just making them take home trucks for someone as less of a chance being vandalized at someone's residence vs sitting on the job, where it is a certainty every weekend.
Security system only lets you know who's going to steal it the next time, doesn't prevent theft cause not like the cops show up.
Security guard, also useless on a 2 mile long job. Other contractor tried it for a while at great cost, but not too hard to watch the rent a cop drive the other direction at night and know you have a half hour or more before he comes back by.

I'll refrain from the political comments...lol

[Sqdancecaller]

We feel your pain! Ours was stolen 2 weeks ago while it sat in our driveway. We do live out in the country so guess it was easy pickins! We have been very lucky, Insurance paid for the repairs, local muffler shop was able to get a replacement and is now scheduled to go in the shop on Monday! Hope you succeed in getting yours repaired.

[Cruisineasy]

There is a Shop in Manteca Nor-Cal Muffler and Truck. They can install it and make a cage with re-bar. Monkey's (that's the name of the shop) can do it also.

[blackburnju]

One last post. Out of all the catalytic converters on the website, only 3 were approved by the state. When we shared the list with the shop, it turned out only 2 we're actually legal for getting our registration.