Lexus RX400h catalyst theft

[Hoofy]

R129 300SL said:

Hoofy said:

One little thing - how will they know it's aftermarket until they're doing the deed? And are they even clever enough to realise?

If you look at the YouTube videos these guys usually look under the car before they start jacking up etc

The originals are one piece and the non oem is a bolt on unit with clamps at either end.

They are a different shape and construction.

[Triumph Man]

xjay1337 said:

Look on Ebay I'm sure there are some around.

Probably from the OP's own car!

[Prof Prolapse]

I've never wanted to kick a jack away so much in my life.

[untakenname]

Easiest way to prevent this theft is to get a cheap decat and keep the original in the garage (especially if the cars new as you have 3 years till first MOT), the eml can be prevented by getting a spacer bung for the o2 sensor.

bern said:

Hoofy said:

Dave Hedgehog said:

R129 300SL said:

OP here.

Based in London as well.

Apparently Toyota / Lexus and Honda are the ones they are after for scrap value. They extract the precious metals from them. These makes apparently have very high quality cats.

you have to be registered to run scrap in now, and dealers have to log everything and can face big fines. A pile of cats would be extremely suspicious.

Doesn't seem to be stopping them, though. :/

Hmmm, if only you could find a bent scrap man?

A quick look on facebook marketplace show's dozens of people willing to buy cat converters no questions asked, doubt facebook would do anything and no one seems to be policing it.






https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/24433835...

[irocfan]

jamiem555 said:

I noticed that they’re not using an axle stand. Wouldn’t it be a shame if the jack failed.

problem is there'd be some way you'd be to blame for that too

The Li-ion King said:

The only safe place to park in Newham is in Westfield Shopping Centre. Stratford and its dirty sister Forest Gate have always been bad for car crime.

FTFY

[samoht]

AlexHat said:

Any Prius', Auris Hybrid and now RX400h are being targeted. I've heard of some unlucky people who have had a cat stolen, replaced it, then had the replacement stolen...

It's got so bad that Toyota have come up with what is effectively a padlock for your catalyst.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-49767195
Huge rise in catalytic converter thefts
the cars that are most often targeted are hybrid vehicles.
Since hybrid cars have two power sources - electric and petrol or diesel - the catalytic converter is used less frequently to process pollutants. The metals are less likely to corrode, meaning they are worth more and thus attractive to thieves.

interesting, had no idea that hybrids were likely to keep their cats in better condition, strange.

[stevemcs]

Aftermarket cats are rubbish, oem all the way, op did you lose the sensors as well ?

[xjay1337]

Also on the BBC now.

[freenote]

stevemcs said:

Aftermarket cats are rubbish, oem all the way, op did you lose the sensors as well ?

Fancy paying Lexus £3k? Not me

[whytheory]

Maybe this would be a good investment?

[Hoofy]

whytheory said:

Maybe this would be a good investment?

Sometimes the simplest things...

[freenote]

Hoofy said:

Sometimes the simplest things...

It had crossed my mind...

[Hoofy]

Guess it depends on the crooks. The RX400H etc alloys are different and the various brand badges have blue tints to them.

[Durzel]

cib24 said:

These Toyota cars got for like £400+ at the scrap yard.

It happens this fast.


https://youtu.be/aUlikgzaDOE

It’s lucky the person who owned that car had their neighbour around to do absolutely nothing except film the whole incident.

[R129 300SL]

stevemcs said:

Aftermarket cats are rubbish, oem all the way, op did you lose the sensors as well ?

Hi

Sensors ok. This is a downstream cat so has no sensors after the catalyst. There are two catalysts in the manifolds either side of the V6 which have the sensors close by.

Here is the setup I am fitting this week.

[freenote]

R129 300SL said:

Hi

Sensors ok. This is a downstream cat so has no sensors after the catalyst. There are two catalysts in the manifolds either side of the V6 which have the sensors close by.

Here is the setup I am fitting this week.

Let us know how you get on.

[JonChalk]

eltax91 said:

This type of brazen theft is ridiculous. Didn’t realise the Japanese made higher quality cats I must admit. Particularly vulnerable if you drive an RX or LC then as the t leaf can just crawl under.

Read (earlier today, not on PH), that the hybrids are targeted, especially in cities, as their cats will be in better condition, theoretically having done fewer starts / lower mileage due to partial elec driving.

[V8RX7]

Dave Hedgehog said:

you have to be registered to run scrap in now, and dealers have to log everything and can face big fines. A pile of cats would be extremely suspicious.

The system is a joke, for the second time in my life I took some metal to be weighed in, which consisted of junk and metal from refurbing my house - so steel rads, copper wire, lead roofing etc

I walked out with £800, I was given a licence on the spot, the receipt merely states the weight and type of material.

Whilst they have to pay by cheque, they do cheque cashing on the premises, so effectively you can be paid in cash.

I'd add that this was a modern yard, part of a National chain.

[irocfan]

Durzel said:

It’s lucky the person who owned that car had their neighbour around to do absolutely nothing except film the whole incident.

given that said scrotes would appear to be accompanied by friends with crowbars (as per a Telegraph article) I wouldn't do a whole lot more either.

[5harp3y]

irocfan said:

Durzel said:

It’s lucky the person who owned that car had their neighbour around to do absolutely nothing except film the whole incident.

given that said scrotes would appear to be accompanied by friends with crowbars (as per a Telegraph article) I wouldn't do a whole lot more either.

this, get your head caved in for the sake of a catalytic converter , no thanks!