Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2021 November 7

= November 7 =

catalytic converter expense
mentions catalytic converters getting stolen a lot because of expensive metals in them, and that it cost $5000 (at a shop) to replace one. If the stuff inside them is that valuable, does that also affect the value of old cars that have them, since the converter might be worth more than the rest of the car? I haven't followed such things. I do know that old cars are in high demand now because of various bottlenecks in manufacturing new ones, but this is a separate issue. Thanks. 2602:24A:DE47:B8E0:1B43:29FD:A863:33CA (talk) 20:01, 7 November 2021 (UTC)
 * Here's a list of current catalytic converter scrap prices: . --2603:6081:1C00:1187:4408:191C:CDE5:9ADF (talk) 22:06, 7 November 2021 (UTC)
 * Thanks. I wonder why replacement is that expensive then. 2602:24A:DE47:B8E0:1B43:29FD:A863:33CA (talk) 19:44, 8 November 2021 (UTC)
 * Per Catalytic converter § Construction: Precious metals inside the converter include platinum, palladium, and rhodium. See also, 'Theft' section of that article. Also, one reason why new ones are so expensive is the complex means of construction and alloys used. --2603:6081:1C00:1187:6851:46A5:1FA4:F58 (talk) 23:11, 8 November 2021 (UTC)


 * The $5000 number is nonsense. A random UK parts dealer will sell me a catalytic for (approximately) that Honda for £175. Installation is fairly trivial - after all, if it's accessible enough to quickly steal then it's accessible enough to quickly replace. Depending on the model (which alters how accessible the cat is, and what hoses or sensors might need to be moved) it's 30 minutes work. This video has a guy replacing the cat on a 2002 Accord, and it's under the car (which is why it was easier to steal than one in the engine bay). There is a tiny amount of precious metals in a catalytic converter (this says 3-7 grammes). Platinum sells for about £25/gram. So maybe half the cost of the cat is the small amount of precious metals in it, the rest steel. -- Finlay McWalter··–·Talk 15:40, 9 November 2021 (UTC)
 * Unless you own a Ferrari F430, in which case a full replacement would run car owners $7,540 before labor costs. --107.15.157.44 (talk) 17:06, 9 November 2021 (UTC)


 * Finlay, I've heard other anecdata lately that estimate a wide range of prices depending on the car, many high. Some converter prices being high, I'd think the best profit for the thief would be to just sell it intact as a used one. Temerarius (talk) 18:48, 9 November 2021 (UTC)