Been a long time since I've posted. Anyway......catalytic converter thieves got mine but also cut into the heat shield to get the O2 sensor.

Will get some pics as soon as I can and take over to the Honda Shop for an accurate estimate. Hopefully they didn't jack my car up too badly.

On the plus side they were caught and are in jail. Their truck was impounded and police will go through it this week once warrant executed.

They might even find my parts!

Still getting over the thought of scumbags on my property having their way with my stuff.

 

I'm glad they got caught. That is always painful to think of those scum coming after your property that you worked hard to get.

I hope they didn't do too much damage to the chassis/ nd the o2 sensors.

If you get back your cat you are lucky, can just weld it back on.

If not are you in a state that does emissions testing? If not, you can consider switching to a resonated and or muffled test pipe (note resonated, it can get loud without the resonator and/or muffler.

 

Thanks man, BUT........got under there yesterday and took a lot of pics.

Good:

What looked like a cut heat shield is actually a factory cut. No damage to the heat shield.

Bad:

O2 sensor gone, flanges on either side of converter gone, bracket to flex pipe partially cut away, I man even need a (whatever it's called) "head pipe?" off the engine. Parts estimate from local Honda shop came to $2936.38 if using OEM parts.

No stamped numbers on any part so no way to prove it's my part.....however I'll do my level best to get my parts back.

Local church also hit but their cameras did not cover my place.

Cuts to my parts are shiny, the theft was recent.

Did speak with the Honda tech, apparently "straight piping" would confuse the computer causing the engine's mix to be off (either too lean or too rich). There goes that option (although I know a shop that never checks anything, just takes the tax payment and slaps on the sticker).

So I will need some advice! Can I get by with aftermarket parts? If I can find a '99 - '02 Accord in a junkyard I expect I can get the bracket and head pipe and flex pipe I need.

Here are the pics.


2002 Honda Accord SE which was already up on blocks before they came.

View of theft from directly below.

Cut aft of the converter.

View forward of converter. Note partially cut bracket on right side of flex pipe.

Cut O2 sensor.

View from under driver side door.

 

I'm inclined to think a resonated test pipe should be fine for you. I don't think the computer would be "confused" but someone woith your specific model should know.

I definitelt don't think you need a new header as well, since the exhaust still reaches down below.

My take, since you still have flex pipe, you may not even need flanges. I would take the budget option which might be to buy a resonated test pipe with a predrilled o2 sensor bung, and weld it directly in. You would need to match the piping to the existing diameters on either side,

$3000 on such an old behicle is madness, and I wpouldn't even consider that route unless insurance is covering 100% of it..

 

Just wanted to say that I got $225 recycling the cat from my son's 1998 Acura. Just fyi.

We used to hang horse thieves.