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.
“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.”
An interesting business, etching license numbers into the converters.
I had to replace one on a high-mileage vehicle, it was a couple of years ago but cost less than $300 with installation. The shop just welded it in place.
But that’s where shops differ. To do it back to OEM state, it means replacing exhaust pipes. And the OEM cat will be triple the aftermarket converter.
One shop I went to refused to put in an aftermarket, saying it wouldn’t pass. They were wrong.
Will a cheaper converter last as long as OEM? Probably not, but unless you’re burning a lot of oil and it clogs, it should go for five years or more.
Not a gearhead, eh? No sweat. It's a type of muffler that has no baffles. An old trade name, even painted red, Cherry-Bomb.
Thanks for the explanation. Do,they pass inspection in strict epa regulated states?
I bought an off brand replacement converter on eBay for my old pickup five years ago for 60 bucks. I just looked and the cheapest one I could find is over 200 now.
Let’s GO Brandon!
They’re probably having a lot of these claims, and the repair costs are beginning to add up. Plus, in the current market, the payout from totaling the car may not even buy an adequate used replacement.
It’s a veiled threat so they don’t have to pay for the repairs.
Excellent idea. I have the etcher to do that. Sounds like a useful project.
Yeah, I don’t get why they threw that in there. Adding more significance to the story, I guess.
I woild imagine this could,be ripe,for scam too by an owner. Remove the converter, claim it was stolen, and get new one and sell,it replace older one.
An off-duty deputy was killed in Texas yesterday when he tried to stop these bums from stealing one at a retail store
I’ll stick with the Chain Cutter. Much less noise.
Straight Pipes.....
Watched this chase live (from a “citizen journalist”, not MSM) last week.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7261FvGG0c
This was Cal. but I guess in states like N.Y., with their OEM regulations/inspection, the cost to replace cats. often exceed the vehicles worth.
I have this problem right now. It’s a battle dealing with this whole process . Probably going to have to take it to arbitration
What about the oxygen sensor issue
Why?
Because Deep State doesn’t want you driving.
And to all of the comments about state inspections, those don't happen everywhere. I live about 6 miles outside the Chicago metro area, and we don't have emission inspections here. That happens just inside the metro area. Of course, the rules are probably different by state....
https://www.autoinsurance.com/articles/catalytic-converter-theft/
Scroll down to the bit about “Dors insurance coverage catalytic converter theft”.
You’d better have comprehensive.
And Deep State’s cool with making you get it.
Honda vehicles are a prime target. Honda has now started putting the converter in the engine bay. That is where mine will be in my next vehicle
Direct pipe it.
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