I am hearing about more and more catalytic converters being stolen from Priuses question #1 can the car drive if the catalytic converter is missing ? Question #2 is it safe to drive the car or should it be towed Question #3 how do you know if the catalytic converters been stolen from your car does it make an odd noise like a missing piece of the exhaust system? Thank you!!
1) Yes. Car will NOT be happy. 2) NO, b/c of exhaust gasses entering the car. Have you heard of carbonmonoxide? 3) YES. Car will be loud, not sound right, and warning lights will be displayed.
Mostly, this is a California issue, CARB only allows approved cats, none are approved for the Prius but Toyota's. ($1600) In the other states, you can buy an aftermarket cat for under $400. So, in the US, California is the prime theft area
I'm thinking #2 is "your car will be like a 1960s car without a muffler." Not much real danger of CO unless you idle in a closed garage. Probably MUCH more dangerous to NOT drive out of the area where your cat just got pinched (unless it was from your own driveway). I certainly wouldn't want to be unexpected trying to hike out a area after being hit with crime, and wouldn't want to leave my car there either. PS-Last time I reported a stolen car in Oakland, they said nothing would even be "in the system" until I could wait for several hours or DAYS for a cop to respond and "take the report". AFAIK, accept for putting a "see person about theft report in 120 Maple Lane" on some cops list, there was no other support.