jdm Ef-9

alarm it to a flame thrower....lol

BigZeke5

I can see it holding a little but not enough to where the thief would say, I cant take it. I already have an idea actually of what I'm going to do. When I complete this, I will post pictures for other Element owners so they dont have to go thru what I went thru.

BigZeke5

I thought about it but I cant because there is an O2 sensor right before the cat and one in the middle. So me being the one that I cant see a single light on my cluster, I could not deal with it........

LOL no pit bull!

I dont garage it because my hatch sleeps there....... Thats another issue itself.... lol

BigZeke5

Well, I appreciate that you dont do this anymore. Thieves are much hated here on HT and anywhere for that matter. Now, what would you do to block something like this considering that you used to do this? What would make you go on to another car and leave mine alone?


I'm getting an alarm installed next week. I'm gonna have them install a bull horn that I have right underneath since thiere is so much space and I'm gonna point it right at the cat so the bull horn can pierce the **** of the ears!

Flame thrower sounds good though! But then I might need a paint job thereafter!

EG_SINZ

put a aftermarket cat on they are only worth $5 for metal scrape so really not worth there time . compared to oem ones worth $80+

BigZeke5

I can tell your a noob....... No further comment.

EHondaJDM

Yea man young and dumb.
I've had things like that come around and bite me right back in the *** though

Honestly the person that took your cat is a very petty thief, im willin to guess it was a drug fiene or something along them lines.

Guys that do this "professionally" so to speak wouldn't even consider your cat, big money cats are in higher end cars like cadillacs, mercedes, etc.

You could go all out by putting a metal scrape plate on the bottom but if its a fiene like im assumming you can probly just get a real touchy alarm that'll scare the off

DCRB

i thought there were adapters to fool the o2 sensors into thinking you're still running a cat? i feel ya on the no dash lights though, ****'s embarrassing.

gutted-dx

iTrader: (1)

A couple years ago we head 10 Ridglines get there cats jacked right off the lot. They actually unbolted all of them. Funny part about it was the dealer got the replacements for a little over a $100 a pop.

BigZeke5

I actually work for Mercedes Benz, but we also have Honda as well. That cat alone cost $1500.00 so I'll say $900.00 employee pricing.
My dealer is getting about 7 to 10 elements/CR-v coming to the dealer every week. I wish I can say it was a fiene man, but we'll see if my time putting this block together and alarm will pay off. This Saturday I'll be messing with it at the dealer......

BigZeke5

There is I think, not sure.

On this cat, thier is two sensor. One being in the middle of the cat which is the secondary O2 sensor and an air/fuel sensor before the cat. Man, it never fails whenever you have a light on the dash and you have a passenger tell you, hey you have a light on the dash. It pisses me off cuz if they can see it from thier view, what makes you think I can't see it from my view. The freaken light hits directly at my eyes thats how annoying it is! LOL.

gutted-dx

iTrader: (1)

You work at a dealer, have you never seen the electrical tape trick haha.

BigZeke5

Yes, I have and I hate it. I rip em off everytime i see one on any of my buddies car's.

EHondaJDM

Well I know junkyards legally aren't suppose to sell cats (well at least here in RI that's how it is) but you could find a junkyard that has one and talk to the owner and flash him some cash, they probly get no more than 150 for those element cats so maybe flash him 250 and you get one much cheap

Liability waiver: I AM NOT SAY IT IS OK TO DO ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES
Lol

fc3srx729

I know, my suggestion is for after you replace your catalytic converter.

J_DC5

you can try one of this . http://catclamp.com/

hotcoldhero

In Chicago. Just had my SECOND one saw'd off today in less than a month. I rent and have to park on street. WTF? How come Elements are so popular for this low-rent crime?

BigZeke5

When I took my Element to my dealer, I pull in, the first thing the manager tells me is, your number two today and seven for the week. Its ridiculous man! I have a 2 flat, I have a garage but my Dad has his car there and I have my hatch there and there is no way my hatch is sleeping outside. I rather have a stolen cat then a stolen car!

Reason why Element are popular is because they sit high. It does not need to be lifted, and its very close to the right side of the car making even easier to steal and nothing is blocking the cat.

BigZeke5

Well, I made a block for my element. I used a stake and 16 guage sheet metal that was bendable. I welded the sheet metal to the stake, blocked the front part of the cat, bended the metal to the frame, welded it thier and called it a day. I didn't have time to post picture, next time I get the car in th air, I'll post pictures.

hotcoldhero

Filed a police report for the second stolen cat. Cops called me back today asking questions. Apparently there is a sudden surge in Chicago. He said 60 stolen in the last couple weeks. And that is only the ones they got reports filed on.

Thanks for all the info. Was helpful finding this thread.

hotcoldhero

Update:

- My mechanic laughed at the Catclamp when I showed it to him. Will install it this time. Maybe it will be just enough of a deterrent

- Need alarm recommendation?

BigZeke5

I think the cat clamp will be a great deterrent. It will not guarantee that the cat does not get stolen BUT if will make the majority of thieves move on to the next car and with an alarm, it will definately aide in the cat not being stolen.

Mid City Engineering does alarm install, located on milwaukee and Elston. They installed the alarm on my civic coupe.

Unless, someone can a recommend a reputable shop, then lets here it.........

B18C5-EH2

You said "that will void my warranty!!!" when someone suggested lowering the car, but you're willing to weld metal to the bottom of the vehicle as if that won't void the warranty?

???

Question:

Did the thieves cut your a-pipe and b-pipes when they cut the converter off? I know that's what I typically see at my shop when cars come in with missing converters...

Hanging Out

Well you have only been hit twice, I have been hit 3 times in like a month. Twice at Western and Hubbard by the Metra and Once in front of my house near Milwaukee and Wood. All in the last month Sept / Oct 2010.

First at Western they cut it but didn't get it away. So I just thought something broke. I took it to the dealer and they welded it back together. Then I was parked in front to my house in Wicker Park and was out of town for 2 days. I came back, and this time it was fully taken. It took like two weeks to find all the replacement parts. Then the same day I pick it up after that sescond repiar and drive it to the train station at Western, it is taken again. The insurance company didn't want to cover it.

I never filed a police report, since it is Chicago, but after reading your post I will file all three.

I am terrified to drive it to the train. The mechanic installed a cat clamp like device on it, but I am pissed they didn't install the cat clamp, which seems like a solid device.

B18C5-EH2

Regarding the Cat Clamp:

I don't think the Cat Clamp will keep someone from getting the converter at all, but it will be LESS LIKELY to be stolen due to the extra time, no matter how little, it will take to get a converter with a Cat Clamp on it.

I just see see a thief sliding under the car and saying "oh crap WTF is THIS thing?!" and simply going to the next guy's car that has nothing at all to impede his process for cutting the cat off.