There are many reasons to drive a Prius including the efficient design, comfortable interiors, improved performance, and of course the Hybrid Features. Unfortunately, one recent downside to owning a Prius has been the increase in theft of the Catalytic Converters on all Prius models, but especially 2002-2009. In addition, there have been reports of theft, or at least damage, to Prius models from all years, since it can be hard for thieves to tell exactly when your Prius was made.
Hybrid Engine:
Hybrid cars, such as the Prius, are targeted by thieves because they have two power sources – an Electric Motor and a Petrol or Diesel Engine – so their Catalytic Converters process fewer pollutants. This means the metals inside Prius Catalytic Converters are less likely to corrode, so they're more valuable and therefore more desirable to thieves.
Materials:
A Prius Catalytic Converters contains palladium, platinum and rhodium. The price of these metals has increased significantly in recent years, making the Prius Catalytic Converter hold more value than ever before.
Location:
The Catalytic Converter on Prius is an "on car" model, where the Catalytic Converter is located underneath the car, which means that thieves can slide under it and simply cut it off. Cars where the Catalytic unit in the engine bay are less susceptible to theft.
The Bad News:
Having anything stolen can be a traumatic experience and theft of the Prius Catalytic Converter is no exception. It can be very unsettling to try and start your car and then have no idea why it is not performing as expected. Once you are able to get your Prius to a Mechanic to asses the damage, the cost to replace a Catalytic Converter can run anywhere from $2,500-5,000 depending on how much damage was done to the vehicle. In addition, other types of damage can occur depending on how "well" the Catalytic Converter was stolen from your car. In some cases, the entire exhaust system might need to be replaced.
The Good News:
The good news is that there is an inexpensive way to deter or even completely prevent the theft of the Catalytic Converter in your Prius. At Reincarnation Inc., our team of ASE Certified Technicians can install a "Shield" that can help prevent theft of the Catalytic Converter and help to avoid costly repairs in the future. In addition, there are other things that can be done such as parking your car in a garage at night (if possible), parking close to walls or fences so that it is harder to slide under the car, and parking in well lit areas. However, the only consistently reliable way to prevent the Catalytic theft, is through the installation of the "Cat Shield" by a Reputable Prius Mechanic.
Reincarnation Inc. The Subaru Guys are proud to offer professional, affordable, and reliable Prius Repair in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Our team of ASE Certified Mechanics perform Digital Inspections on Subaru, Toyota, Honda, Mazda, Volvo, and Lexus to accurately diagnose and repair your Import Vehicle.
Call the shop today to speak to our Award-Winning team about your Import Automotive Service and Repair needs.
Cheers,
The Subaru Guys
The Subaru Guys
1300 2nd Street NW
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87102
505-933-9293
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