Thank you very much for this information. For those with a Prius, especially a Gen 3 Prius, I would STRONGLY RECOMMEND getting it protected underneath with a cage, titanium bar, or shield. I'm in Chicago, and I have a 2014 Prius which got it's catalytic converter stolen. Third party replacement parts -- it has to be the factory part due to the fact that the thieves cut through the heat recycling system too, not just the around the cat, as was shown in this video. I have to wait up to six months before the part comes in due to supply chain issues. If your shop tries to convince you not to put a cage or rod on it, as mine did, don't listen to them -- bring it to a shop that will do it. Otherwise, prepare to run the very real risk that it will be stolen, and your car may be out of commission for 4-6 months.
@@mufflertech Hey, I live in Chicago, otherwise I'd bring it to you. But I did call around and finally found a shop that would do it. The thieves didn't know what they were doing, and really did a hack job on the coolant pipes -- but with some creativity and some welding, the shop said it will be done. Crossing fingers!
Great video and very useful info. One slight correction tho: the 2010-11 Prius has different taillights than the 2012+ Prius. The 2010-11 Prius taillights look similar to the gen 2 Prius’. The headlights are a better indicator.
I've always thought the placement of the shifter in the interior console was the best indicator between gen2's and gen3's. The Dash in the gen3 are completely different.
Thanks man , from a muffler-mechanic in Ga. I have Prius in my shop, firrst time I see a Gen3(fixed plenty of Gen2). Your video very in formative, had no idea what those hoses were. Thanks again.
great video! thx for sharing. dont mind the folks saying you could have summed it up quicker. lots of good info and nice shots of the prius exhausts systems. thx again!
long is fine and no problem. I was commenting on the other viewers who actually had a criticism. good content! I actually learned some new element of how the Gen3 prius works; and heats up the cabin interior more quickly via exhaust gas heat extraction - at least that's what I think is going on.
Currently, there a plenty of easy pickings with Gen 2 cats. It won't take long for the experienced thieves to find out that Gen 3 cats are just as easy to steal as the Gen 2 ones, They just won't be cutting the preheater coolant lines. Still on a Gen 3, one cut with a Sawzall and just two bolts need to be removed. They will also cut the wire to the oxygen sensor. If the coolant lines are cut, the car can be made drive-able by repairing the lines and refilling the radiator with coolant.
Thanks for info/advice! Very helpful. I have a Gen 4 & I STILL may get a plate to avoid them cutting all those pipes. If they keep doing, they'll eventually get better.🙄 Can't stop them, jst slow them down.
The Gen 3, i doubt, is running coolant in the exhaust system for cooling. The cats will glow red with bad fuel/air ratios and that's after the secondary cat. I think they're doing that to heat the coolant to either heat the motor faster or provide heat faster to the climate control system. Just to clarify.
@@Francois_Dupontthe exhaust is the fastest thing to warm up. Use it to heat coolant, you can then heat the cabin and motor faster. Once you're cruising, you just continue running it and cool the coolant in the radiator. EGTs aren't typically a problem in gas vehicles. So you don't need to worry about the exhausts. In contrast, new diesels monitor EGTs AND have an air mixer at the exhaust tips to lower discharge temps to safe levels. Also, in comparison, a 1992 Honda Civic puts out similar HP to a Prius. And the 1992 Civic radiator is (jokingly) smaller than my air cooled motorcycle (air cooled doesn't typically have a radiator). You look under the hood of a 1992 Civic and you expect a normal sized radiator. It's half that size.
@@jkutches17 I think you are correct. Unfortunately the cost of a little faster warm-up can be an internal leak into the converter which will slowly drain your coolant and lead to a cracked block. Bad idea by Toyota engineers in my opinion.
Wait! If it is a Prius, and if you were located in their area, and the unfortunate Prius had only a few miles to get to your shop over city streets, doesn't it run on electricity alone?
I wish I saw this like a month ago! Every Gen 2 owner be aware they are coming for you! Please let everybody who owns one know they are being targeted by these vandals. Mine was taken 2 days ago in a very safe parking area behind my house!
My 2005 Honda crv got its cat stolen in MTA metroNorth parking lot in view of their police station police parking. Good thing it was an after market Cat from ebay . only cost me $114 plus sensor . So it was not that espensive
Thanks for the video, useful info here. Scrapping out our gen 3 and turning it into sand rail car. Head gasket already failed (mom never serviced the damn thing). I got in under there and unbolted the whole assembly front and back, cut the coolant lines, one being intake to the cat and one being outtake I believe? Just gonna splice em together for a sand rail vehicle, off road only, we have a perfect sized steel pipe piece to splice them which is lucky because I did NOT watch this prior to taking it off and I got COVERED in coolant. 😅 But hey, there's a perfect assembly ready to be scrapped and hopefully splicing those lines lets the coolant return to engine and the car be usable off-road. Don't want to have to completely revamp the coolant system for an off roader sand rail. Next project, off goes the hybrid battery system and leave it at 12 volt with engine haha.
Got my gen 2 Prius cat stolen here in Australia. It is just starting to be a problem. We can go with a non OEM part as there is nothing illegal. Lucky my insurance covers the cost but have to pay $600 excess
On the GEN 3, cutting the coolant lines and driving just causes the head gasket to fail prematurely. Especially the 2010-2012. Good video from a 3 Prius owner.
I drove mine for a couple miles on the highway before I realized that I shouldn't be (red light flashing). I've been awaiting a replacement part for ~8 months at the dealer now. My fear is that I damaged the engine in those few minutes driving. Any thoughts on that?
How about installing a length of steel truck brake line with one end welded shut. Zig zag the line near the converter cut points with the dead end up by the headpipe bolts.. In the trunk mount a cylinder of mace pressured up to 200 psi. When numb nuts saws through the little line in his way, he gets a face full of bear spray..... or concentrated chlorine. Something to thank him for ever considering your car.
While I don't think there has been a case on cars yet there was one where someone did that with a shotgun on their property to try and ward off trespassers. Instead he crippled the person in question and was found guilty on a charge and had to pay some serious money to the guy as the courts more or less said, yes they shouldn't be trespassing but that's not a reason to leave a trap. Same goes for a car. Now if you wanna leave something that would dull their blade to nothing in there by all means do it. No law on that part.
Troy New York. Watch your cars. They're out there! They botched my cat, and cut it in half. While I am covered by insurance, I still have to pay the deductible. I wonder if I could get the parts from the garage, and if I can if I can sell it?
They got my 3rd gen prius two days ago. Multiple Toyota dealerships in Chicagoland area telling me there’s a 6-12 month wait for backordered cats. Not sure what I’m going to do now.
Looks like the Gen 3 is a lot harder to steal and hopefully will not be targeted as much. That’s the one I have. I will not drive it if mine gets stollen, knowing the coolant lines get cut. Thanks!
The gen 3 converter is more difficult to steal. There is not as much room around it to work. The gen 4 has a shield from the factory. Toyota keeps improving.
@@danmarjenka6361 I added a shield just for peace of mind. I have seen quite a few stories of 3rd gen cats getting stollen. I should have sprung for a 4th gen but still love my 2013.
Thank you for this helpful video. Someone stole the cat from my Prius (3rd gen) recently. Luckily, they didn't cut the coolant pipes, but the real problem now is I can't find a cat for 3rd gen Prius in the US at all. Do you have any suggestions where I should look for? Best,
Gen 2 to Gen 3 a mild update? The Gen 3 was a completely new car from the ground up. There may be a smattering of shared components, but it'd be minimal at best.
Colby have u gotten gen 4 prius? Mine has plastic shields. What site can I go to to locate all fasteners. Im a senior & cant be on ground all day. Im concerned how little miles I put on & thats WHY prius' are gullible. Engines dont run as much. Thanks again! Ive been watchn ALL of ur videos!! Ur our hero!!😁
Rice thanks for the kind words and thanks for watching! We do just the cat security on the gen 4’s, nothing else needed in my opinion on the late models.
Mine is leaking right before the actuator but I'm unsure as to what hose to buy to replace it. Should I try and get a new one or bypass it? I'm not really sure what to do.
Anybody know where to buy that muffler/slash G3 coolant unit. Mine got knocked out by road rubbish, now leaking coolant. Dealer says 2700 dollar part that cant be had due to back order. Online suppliers also out.
Thanks for the video! I am going to install Cap City Muffler's Cat Security shields on my Gen 3 Prius. Have you heard about Cap City's anti-theft products? Are they any good?
I uber hard core. My car on cold start will make a loud knocking noise. I had to pay 800$ to replace a head gasket?? Thhey said the coolant got into the sparkplugs
Thanks for the video. I own a Gen 3. There are a lot of cat thefts in my area. I am wondering when my turn is. I don't drive my car much since I now work from home. How would I know that the cat is gone?
Like you're missing a muffler. It won't sound like quiet Prius. There are good cat converter lock videos out there too as I'm looking into getting one!
As already stated, you’ll know as soon as the combustion engine fires up. See my video on driving a gen 2 for reference ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-kP3_cwJKoGU.html
At 4:41, what is the small pipe just to the left of your hand? There’s one on either side of the unit. I have one bent and trying to figure out what to do.
I just bought a 2023 Toyota Corolla Hybrid. Should I be worried about about thieves stealing my catalytic converter? Or is it just the Prius catalytic converters that is more desirable?
Can I drive mine to a shop if the upper/front catalytic converter is still attached and they cut between the two resonators (it still has the o2 sensor too). The idiots stole my resonator and the back cat instead of both cats 😂 Would it hurt anything to drive with the pipe severed between the two cats? I would have to go around 8 miles.
It sounds like you no longer have the coolant exchange unit which means the coolant lines are not hooked up. If I’m right DO NOT drive it, even 8 miles.
One mechanic told me that they usually only take the fist cat on the gen 3 so he quoted me a lower price, then he told me later that they took both. That rings as a bit bogus and potentially manipulative to me because why wouldn’t they just take both if they are right next to each other. Is he correct though?
Hello, I enjoy watching your videos and I appreciate your advices. The thieves recently stole the catalytic converter of my 2011 Hybrid Toyota Prius. Now I am looking for replacement to fix my car. Any help and advice of where to find replacement is appreciated. Thank you
Unfortunately I don’t know of any shops I can recommend in that area, my advice is to research reviews online to find a good reputable independent to help you.
What if I need to remove the cats because they r clogged can I just remove the cats and put aftermarket ones as long as I don’t remove the water Lines I got a 2010
@@toulee8051 👈Well! that will be silly thief. Easy the whole car, that has motor with expensive powerful magnet, copper, etc, unlike petrol engine just cheap alu.👽
Question: How big is the risk to a thief who's trying to steal a Gen 3 cat of being sprayed with coolant from the heat exchanger, which can be boiling hot?
Pretty low unfortunately. Most thefts happen long after the car has been parked and depending on the ambient air temperature, engine coolant loses its temperature pretty quickly.
@@mufflertech san francisco. i cant even get an official estimate till the 6th. just saw that toyota is going to offer the plate to be installed on all new vehicles.
@@mufflertech yes god morning. We live in Eugene Oregon. I keep looking online but I just can’t seem to find anything when it comes to 2010 to 2015 prius. Strange. There’s one called the ‘Magnaflow’ yet it doesn’t seem to have the coolant fluid connectors so can’t see how that would work.’ Here is s link if you have any interest in what they are offering www.carparts.com/catalytic-converter/toyota/prius/2013
What's the deal if you install a cheap non-Toyota OEM part and then take the car out of California, where the OEM is not required for smog? Will it still function just fine?
Yes, you just won’t ever be able to register in California or New York until it gets an original part, at least until the other states adopt CARB rules, and it’s likely coming.
We have a Gen 2 (parked in the street) and a Gen 3 garaged. Our Gen 2 just got the converter taken less than a week ago. Cut wires for the sensor dragging....anyone know if Gen 3 are less susceptible to theft?
@@mufflertech what is the ration now? Is it still 10:1? I’m just wondering if gen3 are being targeted next as all gen2 are being junked due to high repair cost.
Is it easy for them to take this part? Because my engine light has been off and on for weeks and I get a oil change took 15 minutes I stayed in my car, would I be able to tell if they stole it? Or does it take work to get it off?
Nobody would do that while you are sitting in your car. You would have heard a lot of loud grinding under your car during the oil change, and the exhaust would have been very loud upon driving away. The light you see is probably the Oil Change reminder light.
I have a 2010 Prius and just noticed my coolant reservoir low. It leaks through the actuator and seems like a pain to fix. Does anyone know about this problem or does anyone have a link to a video where they replace the actuator? Thanks.
Just had the cat converter stolen from my 2006 gen 2 prius at 11.am. in department store parking lot, parked next to front door. I just happened to hear the young female store "security guard" at door say, "Somebodys car is jacked up and I hear a saw!" I looked out and it was MY car! I ran out and shouted, "Get away from my car!" but the guy was under the car with the get away car in the parking space next to me with its trunk open waiting for the part. He came out grabbed the jack, tossed everything in the trunk and hopped in the getaway car with the trunk door flapping as they went and just looked at me. I got photos of the driver, and the get away car with the stolen bent Florida license plate on the back. Lucky for me, the guy dropped his driver's license and a hotel room key, and cash in his dash to leave. HaHa! Gotcha. Three hispanic men. The driver's license was a six month AB-60 California license issued to illegal immigrants who can't prove legal residency. Hopefully, the police will get one team of thieves off the street. Broad daylight in a store parking lot!! I am still in shock. I don't know what to do now, local repair shop says 3 month wait for part, and I did not have comp insurance, and although I loved my Prius for 16 years, I don't want a car that is a target of these thieves...and don't know what is safe so not driving for awhile. I will be carrying pepper spray and a stun gun now. I knew that eventually they would get to my car as I was hearing reports everywhere. The dealership said the cage only slows them down a couple of minutes.
I have a Acura Legend 1993. And The Catalytic converter was Cut off with the Y Pipe. Where Can I buy the Y Pipe to replace the one that was cut off my Acura Legend 1993?
@@marlionisaac8072 Sorry, I have a very busy shop and DM’s here take a backseat to my customers in person. We don’t quote custom work by phone or message, we need to see the car in person. The estimate is free.
Toyota (or any other manufacturer) had no idea this was going to be a thing. And even if they did, why should it be their responsibility? The cars don’t come with wheel locks or break resistant glass for other forms of theft, why should they have something for the car underneath? I’m not looking to be argumentative just pointing out that automotive manufacturers can’t plan for what thieves are going to do in the future. Your frustration should be directed at the government that gives or doesn’t give law enforcement the teeth to deal with it.
@@mufflertech Thank you for the response! Is it possible to install a Catalytic Converter only, without the recirculation System, and bypass the coolant entirely? How will that affect the vehicle?
@@viktor_vaughn in California there are no alternatives to the OEM that are legal. If you’re in a state that isn’t regulated you should be able to run a permanent bypass on the coolant lines without issue. The only side effects would be a longer warm up period for the coolant.
They’re worth less because of a lower amount of precious metal than the older generation’s. They still have a fairly high content compared to most other vehicles produced. They are now one of the highest targets as the older generations have aged out.
@@mufflertech thanks for that information. My car just got hit with theft over the weekend in Los Angeles. In your experience, is this covered by comprehensive insurance?
@@mufflertech Thank you very much, I actually have a 2012 lexus ct200h I was told OEM only for light to stay off... Would you agree? Is there an aftermarket you'd prefer? I would be replacing O2 sensors with OEM. I'm in Illinois...