Posted on 04/02/2022 7:30:30 AM PDT by real saxophonist
Stolen catalytic converter could be a total loss after insurance claim
by: Rogelio Mares
Posted: Apr 1, 2022
DENVER (KDVR) — Thieves are targeting catalytic converters at an alarming rate.
FOX31 spoke with a woman who had hers stolen. She said she might lose her vehicle if she files a claim.
Clothilde Syndor lives in an apartment building in Cherry Creek and said when she got her insurer involved after having her catalytic converter stolen, she was told her only means of transportation, her SUV, might be declared a total loss.
Sydnor is somewhat of a pioneer in Colorado.
“My dad and mom lived on a farm, so I started driving a tractor when I was 7 years old,” Sydnor said. She was recognized for being one of the first women to operate heavy machinery in the state.
Driving a car to her doctor’s appointment is no sweat for her.
“I started my car and it was making all this noise. I almost jumped out, I didn’t know what was wrong,” Sydnor said.
That noise happened to be the effect of having her catalytic converter stolen. She even has photos from security camera video of the theft.
Aside from this thievery, Sydnor has a warning for Colorado drivers about their insurance coverage.
“Be sure that they know what their insurance will pay for,” Sydnor said.
After she called her insurer to report the theft, they told her it could be a total loss.
“They’re debating whether they’re going to pay the guy to fix it or whether they’re going to get rid of it,” Sydnor said.
AAA Colorado said drivers should have a transparent relationship with their insurers. Ask them questions about your coverage often, even after something happens.
“If your vehicle’s older, then this could be a total loss. Talk to your insurance agent, talk to your adjuster before you file the claim if it’s really important that that vehicle is not totaled,” Skyler McKinley, with AAA Colorado, said.
Unfortunately for Sydnor, this isn’t the first time her car was targeted. Back in January, she said thieves stole another catalytic converter from her vehicle. She paid for that one out of pocket.
“At my age, I need a car for going back and forth to the doctor,” she said.
AAA said there are legal, after-market, catalytic converters available for folks who choose to get their vehicles fixed without filing an insurance claim, but some of those can be costly.
It took three months of back-and-forth before I could get it fixed and driveable again.
AND, all catalytic converter thieves should be shot on sight.
We have the same problem where we live. All they need is a battery powered grinder with a cutting wheel and a vehicle they can crawl under easily. It typically takes them less than a minute and most people nearby have no idea what they are up to.
Unfortunately, the thieves will shoot back:
The solution is to spot and shoot the lookout first, then the thief.
+1
Just fill the gap in pipe with a glass pack. $20 bucks and good as new.
A Sawzall with a Diablo blade is much faster, just in case anybody wants to get into the business....
Huh? What’s a glass pack? It won’t pass inspection if it doesn’t have the converter though I beleive?
Until your next motor vehicle inspection, anyway.
That's all good unless you have state inspection, then there's no way to get rid of that P0420 code.
That's fine, until you have to get an emissions test/inspection.
There were three Diablo blades on the ground around my vehicle.
“Choice of the pros”
Some areas have free “etching” of cats. I etched mine with license number and sprayed with heat proof paint. Thieves crawl under and see that and it is a no go. Assuming they have any smarts.
Not sure why this is the case unless the car is very old or low valued. Is the replacement catalytic converter more than half the car value?
Denver is a dump.
Question: If the insurance co. declares it totaled, wouldn’t they pay out so the driver could get another car?
PITA, of course, but it isn’t as if one would be stranded forever at home.
It’s pretty expensive, but I wasn’t going to let them take my Element away.
Concur.
Bastards stole mine; $1,500 to replace on my truck.
what a strange designation. Also seems improbable.
“What’s a glass pack?”
“A glasspack is a type of automobile muffler in which the exhaust gas passes straight through the center of the muffler. The basic design consists of one smaller tube centered inside of a larger outer tube that is enlarged or swollen in the middle. The gap between the swollen part of the larger outer tube and the smaller diameter center tube is packed full of fiberglass, hence the name.”
“Glasspacks are an old, simple, and relatively inexpensive muffler design that are effective at reducing back pressure, but not very effective at muffling noise. They are usually easy to identify by their simple tube design. Most are painted or powder coated red, but not all.”
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