Nationally, 37 percent of catalyst theft claims tracked by the Bureau in 2021 were located in the Golden State — a disproportionate share that even takes into account California`s large population. The following links provide additional information for replacement catalyst manufacturers: The organization paid about $400 for a shield to protect the converter and began parking the car in its warehouse. And because it wasn`t the first time someone had broken through a metal fence to get to their parking lot, they decided to invest in a sturdy 8-foot fence. On Sunday, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed two bills that would require recyclers to keep specific records of the parts they buy and sell, requiring that used catalysts be sold only by authorized parties. The catalytic converter is installed “one-to-one” (a new converter is installed for each original converter replaced). It is forbidden to decrease or increase the number of catalytic converters (compared to the OE configuration). Agyeman paid $500 for the repair and his insurance covered the rest. He spent an additional $150 to have a protective barrier installed on his converter, hoping to deter potential future thieves, and between $6,000 and $8,000 for an improved home security system, he estimates. By September, he had still not heard from the police, he said. There are steps motorists can take to reduce the chances of their converter being stolen, according to the Bureau of Automotive Repair. Parking on a well-lit street — or in a garage if you have one — helps. You can set your car`s alarm to increase the likelihood that it will go off if someone tries to go under the vehicle.
And there is a whole niche market of shields, pliers, skid plates and cages that can be installed to protect converters. If you do not follow these recommendations, the original problem may recur and damage the new converter. CalMatters contacted Ford, Toyota and Honda. Ford did not respond to CalMatters` questions. Toyota also did not respond to CalMatters` questions, but a spokesperson said in a statement: “Catalytic converter theft is an industry-wide challenge. The most effective approach requires close collaboration between the auto industry and local and state authorities to develop legislative solutions to eliminate the market for these stolen parts. The vehicle is specifically included in the catalytic converter application list and the converter is legal for use in California. In October 2007, CARB adopted revised regulations and evaluation procedures for the approval of new catalysts sold in California. The requirements apply to all new aftermarket transformers manufactured for sale or sale in California after January 1, 2009. The requirements also expire on provisions allowing the sale of certified spent catalysts from 10 July 2008. This means that after this date, no used converter can legally be offered for sale, sale or installation in California. Still others see the new laws as a step in the right direction.
They`re not going to completely “erase” the problem, said Amanda Gualderama, a legislative advocate at the AAA. But the bill that restricts who can legally sell converters, SB 1087, fills in loopholes in existing laws, she said. Determining the right trade-in converter for a particular vehicle requires a bit of research. The Walker® CalCat catalog® specifically indicates which converters are legal for use in California and on which vehicle models they can be installed. About 1,600 are stolen each month in California, according to a 2021 presentation from the state`s Bureau of Automotive Repair. Hondas and Toyotas, especially older Priuses, are most often targeted, according to the AAA Automobile Club of Southern California. Hybrids have two converters and the parts tend to wear less, making them more valuable, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau. The thieves sell the converters, which can be removed in minutes with an electric saw, for $50 to $250, the office wrote in a statement.
All OBD applications in the Walker® CalCat® CARB compliant catalog refer to an EFN. Be sure to check your EFN to avoid incorrect application of the replacement catalytic converter. If the label is missing, it is necessary to contact the original distributor to obtain the information or order a new emission control information label. Before installing a new converter, get all the PCM (Powertrain Control Module) error codes and perform the necessary repair procedures on all stored codes. For some applications, manufacturers may have issued technical service bulletins indicating that updates to the PCM may be required to address emissions issues. It is rare for people to get caught by the police while taking the converter because it happens so quickly. And if law enforcement finds someone with hundreds of converters, it could be suspicious, but, Tokat said, because the converters aren`t labeled, they can`t be traced back to a specific car. “Catalytic converters have obviously always existed, and they`ve been stolen forever, but never so bad,” said Jared Cabrera, service editor at Art`s Automotive in Berkeley. The Air Resources Board`s (ARB) California evaluation procedures for new aftermarket non-original equipment catalytic converters (California procedures) were adopted by the Board on 19 August 1988. A preliminary procedure entitled “Optional assessment methods for new replacement catalytic converters without original equipment” was introduced to meet the specific requirements for catalytic converters for vehicles equipped with on-board diagnostic II (OBD II) and entered into force in December 2001. These regulations require that new aftermarket catalysts meet the requirements of Section 2222(h) Title 13 of the California Code of Regulations (CCR) be exempt from California Vehicle Code Section 27156, which allows them to be offered for sale, sale, installation, or use in California.
