Hcl

Hi All,

Came out of the office tonight to find the catalytic converter stolen off my 1999 XJ. Does anyone know the best way to replace this? Is it safe to drive home/to a mechanic?

Best,
HCL

awg

yes, its safe, but you almost certainly will have to wire up the remainder of your exhaust, it will be very noisy

I got one off Ebay for $70 and had my exhaust guy weld it on

(it was failed, not stolen)

Rogue4x4

Unfortunately, it won't be $70, he's in Colorado according to his info, and they adopted CA emissions rules, so only OEM or CARB legal converters only,, significantly higher costs.

https://cdphe.colorado.gov/aftermark...tic-converters

Rogue4x4

579.00 on Rock Auto

https://www.rockauto.com/en/parts/wa...converter,5808


FWIW, that price has more than doubled in just a few years, they got you by the short and curlies,, and they know it.

The only difference in a CARB legal cat and non legal one is the God damned stamp that says CARB compliant. ****ing crooks.

robsjeep

my opinion...., kill all criminals, just kill them all.

awg

Admittedly this was a couple of years ago, before they went up steeply in price, it was probably made in China, and may even lack the right amount of the vital metals, however, I dont think anyone could pick it wasnt OEM, I am only cussing I didnt get the old carcass back. It doesnt set a P0138 code

Rogue4x4

There's definitely cheaper ones out there, and they can tell, the CARB approved ones are stamped, and the stamp needs to be visible to pass inspection. No stamp, no pass.

FWIW I lived in both Colorado and California, and replaced cats in both states.

You need to be extremely diligent in what you purchase in both states, buy the wrong thing and you're assed out. I just want to be as clear as possible, so someone doesn't waste unnecessary money and time on the wrong thing.

Rogue4x4

I hope you're including the politicians and CARB officials in this statement, they're as big of crooks as the ones stealing the cats, lol

straws

Happened to me a few months ago. I built a transfer case skid plate that also extended out under the cat with little walls that come up and basically trap it between the skid and the floorpan. It was way too much work so if I were you I'd buy the Barnes4WD transfer skid and a weld onto that the cat protector. It'd take an afternoon but save you another $500 a few months from now when someone else rips you off again.

robsjeep

You should straight pipe it, until the current emergency of lawlessness behavior is quelled. Of course to remain smog legal, you should have a good quality shelf cat, the one that stays on the shelf inside a secured garage, in a strong steel safe except for test days. It is the wild west out there and you got to do what you got to do. Some folks have had cats stolen from their cars more than once, after a few times the damage repair costs exceed that of the car worth, it is pathetic.

It should be a hanging offense, that is how they used to deal with horse thieves, the car is the modern day horse, and a modern day thief is still a thief, hang them high! (short drop method, let'um wiggle a while.)

Support hemp farmers, hang criminals! ☺

Or at the very least, put them in jail overnight. 🤔

exasemech

I have a junk yard a quarter mile from my house. They have a billboard in town that says "we buy catalytic converters... spot cash paid.
I will say that if someone wants to get to my vehicles they would need to get through a locked gate and then up the 100 yard gravel (noisey) driveway.

Hcl

I do live in Colorado and got a quote of about $1000 from a muffler shop for replacing with a new CARB certified catalytic converter. Do these new aftermarket California Air Resources Board (CARB) certified catalytic converters impact performance at all? I haven't come across any OEM ones but is it worth trying to track down an OEM one?

Rogue4x4

They're exactly the same. Just stamped. Check Walker's website, that's who I went with...use their vehicle finder to get the correct part number for your ride, then search the web for who has that part number for the best price.

$1000 seems steep to me, are they replacing everything from the manifold back?

https://www.walkerexhaust.com/produc...onverters.html

MaskedMallard

That price sounds accurate. Figure the cost of the converter from a locally sourced parts store (Rock Auto has at $579.00). But, Rock Auto doesn’t have a walk-in brick & mortar store. I’d bet the shop is selling the catalytic converter for at least $700-$800 plus tax (tax at $50.00?). Figure the shop is billing an hour at perhaps $100 an hour. The technician will probably have to use the torch to remove the rusted bolts. Figure exhaust clamps / bolt kit for $20.00. Shop supplies, etc….

Rogue4x4

Yeah, I suppose. But this is why I do my own work, lol