Catalytic Converters: The Latest Target

Car thieves used to smash windows, get inside vehicles, hotwire and drive off with them. Then, they’d either sell it outright to someone or take it to a “chop shop” to have it stripped for its parts. While that still happens throughout the nation, a new trend is becoming increasingly common: the theft of catalytic converters. Today, I’ll explain what this important component does and why it’s a target of car thieves. Then, we’ll explore how to prevent yours from being taken from you.

Why And How They’re Stolen

In the 1970′s, a federal law was passed that required all vehicles to have a catalytic converter installed. The purpose was to protect the environment from a number of harmful pollutants, such as hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen oxides. These compounds are produced by cars, trucks, and SUVs during operation and escape into the environment through the exhaust. A catalytic converter prevents that from happening.

The reason why thieves steal them is because they’re built with a number of valuable metals, including platinum and gold. By ripping them out from under your car, they can sell them, often for as much as $200. The component is popular with thieves because they can be taken from your vehicle within 2 or 3 minutes. The only tool needed is a wrench.

Replacement Costs

If yours is stolen, plan to spend $1,000 to have it replaced. The part itself doesn’t cost much. The majority of the expense is due to labor fees to have a new one installed. But, it gets worse. Because of how the part is positioned under the hood, it’s relatively easy for a thief to accidentally damage the fuel line. If that happens, plan to spend a lot more money to have the damage repaired.

Preventing The Theft

If you ask your mechanic how to prevent your catalytic converter from being stolen, he’ll probably mention that you can shear off the bolt heads that keep it in place. That way, someone armed with a wrench won’t be able to get a grip on the bolts and therefore, won’t be able to remove the part. There are other options.

Because this component has become so popular with crooks, a few companies have designed products aimed at preventing its theft. Most of them were created to discourage thieves by making the component more difficult remove (for example, by placing a metal cage around it). The thought is that crooks will simply leave your car alone and move on to easier targets if it takes too long to remove the thing.

In the end, park in well-lit places and shave the bolt heads that keep your catalytic converter attached. If you take only those 2 steps, you’ll likely dissuade 90% of the crooks.

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What Is A CVT?

CVTs are “continuously variable transmissions.” It’s a relatively new type of system that uses pulleys instead of a traditional gearbox to shift gears. To understand how it works, we need to review the purpose of conventional transmissions. During acceleration, your car depends upon horsepower. The transmission’s job is to modify the speed of the engine based upon RPMs in order to maximize that horsepower. It does this through changing gears that interlock with each other.

As the engine’s RPMs climb to a certain level, the transmission shifts gears, reducing them. The problem is that horsepower is most efficient at approximately 5,500 RPMs. When you shift gears, they drop far below that level, effectively making the engine much less efficient.

System Advantages

The main difference about these transmissions is that they don’t use normal interlocking gears to modify the RPMs. Instead, pulleys are used. The benefit of using pulleys is that transmissions are no longer limited to only 4 or 5 gears. They can take advantage of an infinite number of them, delivering the power needed for various driving conditions. Instead of dropping the RPMs to levels at which the engine cannot produce power, a CVT allows your car to continually maintain the RPMs needed. Not only does that provide a smoother ride, but it also promotes better fuel efficiency and quicker acceleration.

Types Of CVTs

There are 3 main types of CVTs that are produced by manufacturers: pulleys, toroidals, and hydrostatics. The most common are those that operate from a pulley system. Though my description about how they work makes them sound complicated, they’re actually simple. Instead of a gearbox, clutch, and interlocking toothed wheels, a pulley-based system uses a belt and 2 pulleys (an input and an output).

Toroidals use discs and power rollers instead of pulleys. Though they look different, they operate under the same principle as pulleys. The third type is called a hydrostatic system, though it’s far less popular than the other 2 options.

Cars With CVTs

Years ago, CVTs were extremely expensive to produce. As a result, few cars had them installed and few people could afford the models that did have them. However, over the past few years, car manufacturers have taken a proactive approach to reducing their production costs. Today, many hybrid cars, such as the Toyota Camry and Nissan Altima, come equipped with them.

There’s little doubt that CVTs are going to eventually become the default transmission installed within most cars. Their inherent benefits are too important to ignore. As technology continues to advance and production costs decline, conventional transmissions will one day disappear.

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Reasons To Purchase A Certified Pre-Owned Car

Buying a used car can help you save a significant amount of money. In fact, some of the best bargains in cars can only be found in the garages of private owners. However, the main challenge is being confident that you’re not buying a lemon. After all, a used vehicle doesn’t come with a warranty. If something goes wrong and the car breaks down unexpectedly, you won’t have any recourse (except your checking account).

Buying a certified pre-owned car (CPO) can help you manage the risk. You’ll still save money because they’re less expensive than new models. Plus, they’re thoroughly inspected and come with a limited warranty. Below, I’ll give you 3 reasons why you may want to consider buying a CPO.

Reason #1: Inexpensive Car In Great Condition

A lot of people mistakenly think a low price makes a great deal when buying a used car. But, if that car leaves you stranded or experiences frequent mechanical problems, the costs of repairing it can transform it into a money pit. A CPO is nearly always in great condition. They’re usually a couple of years old and have low mileage on them. Plus, mechanics perform an exhaustive series of tests to make sure the CPO is consistent with the manufacturer’s specifications.

Reason #2: Depreciates Less After Purchase

When you buy a new car and drive it home, it loses thousands of dollars in value. The initial depreciation of a new car is significant during its first 2 years. That’s one of the reasons financial planners suggest buying a used car. A CPO helps you avoid paying for the initial depreciation.

Reason #3: Includes A Warranty

There are steps you can take when buying a used car to help prevent problems down the road. For example, you can invest in a vehicle history report and have a mechanic perform a diagnostic test. But, the used car still won’t come with a warranty. By contrast, a CPO usually has a limited warranty that covers specific parts. That eliminates a huge portion of the uncertainty. If something goes wrong with the parts that are covered, you’ll have recourse.

Even though certified pre-owned vehicles have been sold for many years, millions of people are either unaware of them or avoid them due to their higher prices. But, it’s important to remember that those prices reflect a higher level of confidence in the car’s safety and reliability. If you haven’t considered purchasing a CPO, visit a local dealer. You might be surprised by the deals you’ll find.

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