Your Toyota Tundra’s catalytic converter protection is an integral component of its exhaust system, controlling carbon emissions to help keep vehicle exhaust under control and safeguard the environment.
Unfortunately, your catalytic converter protection is an attractive target for theft. Fortunately, there are several methods available to safeguard this essential component against intruders.
Installing a Catalytic Converter Shield
The Toyota Tundra has become a target for catalytic converter protection thieves due to its abundance of precious metals inside them. These elements act as catalysts, filtering vehicle exhaust and reducing carbon emissions.
On the open market, converters can be highly valued – with each conversion potentially yielding $200 or more. While this might sound like a lucrative opportunity for criminals, it can also present significant risks if they don’t know what they’re doing.
If you want to prevent catalytic converter protection theft, one way is to install a catalytic converter shield on your car. These durable steel covers surrounding the converter are difficult to cut through or remove and provide extra protection.
Catalytic Converter Theft Deterrents
The Toyota Tundra is one of the most sought-after vehicles with catalytic converters, so it’s no shock that theft of these parts has become a problem. Replacing them can cost thousands of dollars and take up to several months for delivery.
Fortunately, there are steps you can take to deter catalytic converter protection thieves. These tips include parking in a secure spot, engraving your vehicle identification number on the converter and installing catalytic converter locks or covers.
Thieves only target converters if they can get under your truck and cut it off without being noticed. This may be difficult if you park in a garage or well-lit area, so try to pick an area that gives them some difficulty.
Catalytic Converter Covers
A catalytic converter is an essential piece of equipment for cleaning harmful emissions from your car’s exhaust system. Constructed out of platinum, palladium and rhodium, the converter removes harmful particles while providing improved efficiency in fuel consumption.
The converter also contains a ceramic honeycomb element, which heats up to convert combustion byproducts into less harmful gases. The precious metals inside converters can be worth hundreds of dollars when scrap metal dealers extract them and resell them.
Unfortunately, catalytic converter theft is an epidemic across the United States. According to data compiled by the National Insurance Crime Bureau in 2020, more than 14,500 converters were stolen nationwide.
Thieves often target converters for their resale value to scrap metal dealers; one converter can fetch up to $1,000 in value.
Thankfully, there are several ways to protect your catalytic converters and reduce the likelihood of theft. One popular option is installing a catalytic converter cover; these covers are easy to install and will make it harder for thieves to remove your converters.
Catalytic Converter Locks
The catalytic converter is an essential element of your vehicle’s exhaust system that converts harmful emissions into oxygen, nitrogen and less harmful gases. Bolted to the underside of your car, it presents a tempting target for thieves as it contains precious metals more expensive than gold.
Recent years, thefts of catalytic converters have seen a marked increase. Thieves target them for their gold-like value and ease of theft to sell on the black market.
Fortunately, there are a few ways you can protect your converter. Start by applying brightly-colored spray paint like the kind used on grills and heat vents – this will keep the outside of the converter clean and clear.
Another way to deter thieves is using a catalytic converter lock such as the CatClamp ($175, available online). This lock surrounds your converter with aircraft-grade wire rope that’s difficult to cut. It attaches to both exhaust pipe and frame of your vehicle at multiple anchor points, making it nearly impossible to take out without cutting all wires.