Catalytic Converter stolen, next steps?

I think they won't total the car. They may refuse a dealer markup.

Allstate is not great to start with but that dealer price is high since retail for a bolt on cat and exhaust heat recirc system is around $2k.



I would expect a $2.5k to $3k offer could allow a muffler shop to install an oem cat and recirc system.

There are aftermarket cat only suppliers like the Walker 16649 that will keep the light off. Assuming they left the recirc system. The concern might be for how long the Walker cat lasts especially if your v burns oil which is common. I have seen one Prius go three years and counting with a Walker.

 

Any high quality muffler shop can do this repair; but it depends on where they sawed it off and what's missing. I believe your in a CARB state, so that replacement need to be CARB compliant - which means OEM or 1-2 CARB compliant after market replacement. If the cost is close - I'd probably go for the OEM replacement unit. Check out the warranty on those aftermarket units. There may be some sort of 5 year or some mileage minimum warranty. Since it's a CARB mandated replacement - they're not allowed to give you a "tail-light" warranty. Verify with your states emissions rules and regulations.

After the job is finished and if you opted for an aftermarket unit; I'd take it to a smog shop to make sure it passes inspection. Best to know now and get the shop to fix it correctly than find out a few years down the road. Ask me how I know about that one!! Ended up taking that shop to small claims court for refund and reimbursement to get it redone correctly.

Hope this helps......

Allstate; the good hands people - unfortunately they are in your pockets and wallet.

 

Three years ago at 110,000 miles, the cat on our 2005 Honda CR-V was stolen. Our insurance paid the claim for a Walker CARB compliant replacement.

 

Illinois is not a carb state. On top of that, some carb states like Virginia have decided to disregard their carb state status which was great when it provided extra long standard warranties but not so great today if you are a politician.

 

If Ilinois is indeed NOT a CARB state; that dealership estimate was highway robbery!! Get several estimates at multiple muffler shops; the price will vary widely. Unfortunately, this is a pretty common thing. A tremor switch and CAT shield needs to be added to deter future incidents or just a simple alarm with a tilt switch - since thieves needs to jack up the car to get to the CAT.
Ask about length of warranty on the job and if you have state mandated smog inspections; I'd get it checked out - to make sure the job was done correctly.

 

Buy the OEM part and have a muffler shop install it. It's a bolt-on with two doughnut gaskets, need to by another down-stream sensor and the EGHE hose connections. Easy-peasy. about 1.5 hrs labor.