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Toyota RAV4 D-4D - Catalytic Converter - chesterfieldhouse

The cam belt schedule is up this month. 6 years, though mileage wise its certainly not done 60K since the last one. Bit of corrosion underneath, massively improved by the local mechanic putting in some elbow grease & spraying with his own oil concoction.

So what to do..............change to something else, have it done & keep it going for a few more years? Cheapest quote (including water pump) was £430 odd, though local independent specialist, who l've used before; was £470.

Decided in the end to have it done at the specialist & booked it in for today.

Half 8 this morning, started the car, bit of a rattle, obvious as soon as l moved something was wrong. Some !"£$%^&* had stolen the cat.

Toyota RAV4 D-4D - Catalytic Converter - Oli rag

I didn't know that diesels used a catalyst, I always thought it was a petrol only thing?

I know hybrid toyotas are a favourite for catalytic converter thefts, but this is a new one on me.

Toyota RAV4 D-4D - Catalytic Converter - Steveieb

As you know Chesterfield I have been looking for a RAV4 for some time.

But the last two I test drove, both had exhaust problems highlighted on the MOT checker.

The last car looked immaculate but the exhaust was completely shot and I had been patched unsuccessfully and the cheap straight bits changed. Perhaps that’s where yours has gone !

I know a new mid section on my Verso cost around £500 including a lambda sensor costing £155 from Toyota. So they seem quite expensive!

But having good ground clearance they are easy to get under and cut off.

I saw someone in the Main dealers changing his Toyota for another Toyota which is difficult to remove the Cat and they recommended an Avensis.

Toyota RAV4 D-4D - Catalytic Converter - thirts

Just over a month ago my daughter's 20 year old Yaris catalyst was sawn off whilst parked on a residential street during the day. She found out when she returned to her car very tired after a long hospital shift and then had to deal with a undriveable car.

According the mechanic, who services this car, he reckons they would have got no more than £20 for this type of cat. Fortunately, if that is the right word, they missed the sensors and to replace it was 'only' £180.

She is now looking for a replacement car but will avoid Toyotas (despite them being brilliantly reliable cars) as they seem more prone than others, with the exception of Honda, to this sort of theft as she can't avoid to subsidize the criminal community

Edited by thirts on 12/09/2021 at 11:33

Toyota RAV4 D-4D - Catalytic Converter - bathtub tom

Not all Toyotas are vulnerable to cat theft. My 2014, 1.3 petrol has the cat as part of the exhaust manifold, tucked up at the back of the engine in front of the bulkhead.

Toyota RAV4 D-4D - Catalytic Converter - Lee Power

C - HR & Corolla ( both TNGA based products ) use manicats plus the cat is smaller.

You need to open the bonnet to see the cat let alone get at it.

I've seen reports of a couple of 1.8 Corolla & a C-HR being targeted but all the thieves got was the petrol particulate filter - likely mistaken it for a cat.

Words got round quickly that it's pointless targeting these vehicles for the cat.

Toyota RAV4 D-4D - Catalytic Converter - Steveieb

How about my daughter in laws Yaris Y reg auto .

Thats going to be difficult to replace as it’s an excellent car.

Any idea where the cat is situated and is it easy to steal ?