Our Japanese Auto Repair Blog
Catalytic converter thefts are on the rise, but Greg’s has you covered.
October 15, 2020. Posted in Blog, Maintenance, News, Tips
The last few months have been hard for everyone, especially with the COVID global shutdown making it difficult to work and go on with everyday life, that’s why it was disappointing to see an increasing number of Prius owners coming in needing a Catalytic Converter. Unfortunately, all these customers had one thing in common, each had their vehicle’s Catalytic Converter cut off and stolen right where their car was parked!
Today most people in the Automotive industry know that Catalytic Converter theft is a wide-spread problem. It’s a billion-dollar black-market industry that’s destroying the environment and the lives of so many Prius owners.
Now, Catalytic Converter theft is not partial to Prius only; it’s a problem with many vehicles on the road today, but Prius has been at the forefront of this issue. On top of that, dealers in many instances are on a national backorder of replacement Catalytic Converters and because of this, repairs are taking much longer.
Although precious metal prices dropped in March/April, they have once again started climbing. One of these precious metals, palladium, is already worth $2426 per ounce at the time of this article. The thieves who are stealing these Catalytic Converters aren’t stupid, they know how to be in and out within 3 minutes or less. You could walk into a friend’s house and come back a few minutes later and be wholly blindsided with a repair cost of your Prius from $2500 to $5000.
Just in the past two months, Seattle has seen a huge increase in these thefts. Already the Seattle Police Department has issued a warning to people in the area to be sure everyone was made aware. A good place to check to see if your area has seen an increase is to check your local crime watch sites/organizations.
There are a few ways to keep your Toyota Prius safe from these cat burglars. First, park in a well-lit area and somewhere near possible theft deterrents like security cameras. Second, if you can, park in a garage where potential thieves can’t even see the Prius. Although even with both these suggestions, we’ve still had customers tell us how their Prius was in a secured parking garage and the thieves were still able to cut the catalytic converters off and get away.
That’s why Greg’s is now offering a new security plate that can cover the underbody of the car protecting the Catalytic Converter, installed with rivets and security screws making your Catalytic Converter not only hard to get to but extremely hard to cut off.
Conclusion
Catalytic Converter theft continues to increase. The sheer demand from these thefts has made it harder for dealers to get replacement converters in a timely fashion for our cars, and hundreds of Prius each week are sitting on dealer lots or garages waiting for repair.
Your Prius could be next, and so could mine. I’ve already scheduled to install a Cat Security plate on my personal Prius, especially since I live in an area where I park out in the open. Save the time, the towing, and the inconvenience of losing your Prius for any extended amount of time. Take some SERIOUS consideration to protect it with the best protective shield on the market through Greg’s Japanese Auto.
Think about it this way, for less than a few hundred dollars you can avoid $2500-$5000 in unnecessary repairs. Call your local Greg’s Japanese Auto today for more information and to schedule your appointment.
Keeping It Local
As most of you know the economy has been taking a nose dive. We have seen more and more small mom and pop shops close up as more and more people start shopping at chain stores. But, talking to a lot of people in the Kent and Auburn areas, I think we all are trying to keep our money right here in Washington! We all work hard and we do so. Everything is done in-house, from the marketing and accounting to a full parts warehouse. Nothing is hired out.
So for my first blog post, I thought you all should know how great both Greg and David Huntley are and what all they have done to give back to the community. Last year, when the horrible earthquake shook Haiti, Greg and David both said, “We need to help!” We held a “Week of Relief” where they donated all the money from every oil change to the Friends of the Orphans. We also held a shoe drive at the same time and the response was so overwhelming! You see, I think most people do want to help. They just don’t know how. Greg’s Japanese Auto gave them that opportunity. We donated over 1,200 pairs of shoes in honor of Molly Hightower who was fatally injured during the earthquake. But yet, Greg and David still wanted to give more. Working with the Friends of the Orphans and Mike Hightower, we are still working on getting Greg and some of our technicians over to Haiti to get service vehicles up and running again. Other charities include the National MS Society, Susan G. Komen Race for a Cure; several Little League foundations around all of Western Washington, and high school sports!
If you are asking yourself why should I go to Greg’s Japanese Auto over the dealer?, to me this question answers itself. Greg’s prides itself on customer satisfaction and quality. We use the same OEM parts and our technicians are highly trained ASE certified techs. We are not trying to sell you a car; we just want to keep your running right! None of us works on commission because we do not have selling quotas to meet at the end of the day! We are here for you and your car! Even our warranty is better than any dealer is going to offer you at 15 month or 15,000 miles!
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Tips for Driving in the Rain in Washington
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Signs Your Car’s Oil Needs Changing
Most car owners know when to perform routine maintenance tasks, such as having your tires rotated and your brakes inspected. When it comes to fluids, however, many have the same question: when should you get an oil change? While many manufacturers recommend specific intervals, everything from the environment to the type of traffic you typically endure can mean you need your oil changed much sooner. Being familiar with the signs you need an oil change is a crucial part of car ownership
How Often Should You Get Your Brakes Checked?
Your vehicle’s brakes are its most important safety feature, designed to keep you and everyone else on the road safe. The entire braking system is deceptively complex, involving many parts that need to be checked and replaced often. Not many people know with absolute certainty when their systems are failing, or when an inspection is required. Keeping the following guidelines in mind lets know exactly when to bring your car in for a brake check.
7 Affordable & Fun Family Road Trips
Taking fun family road trips is a great way to stay connected with your family, especially if school and work stress have interfered with other family time. Living in Seattle presents numerous options for destinations. Consider taking one of these best family road trips today.