Technical > Automotive > Higher cost of car battery and theft of catalytic converters

Higher cost of car battery and theft of catalytic converters

reply to sailor
I can't say that I've heard of the catalytic converter thievery, although I can certainly see how it could be plausible.

With regards to the rising prices of parts, there are a number of factors at play: one, on the first of the month GM releases updated prices for all parts. They call it 'appreciation', but what it boils down to is adjustment for inflation and other market forces. Whether or not the reason for the rise in cost for your battery is due to lead shortages or whatever, they charged you full retail price for it.

I owned a LT1 Camaro for years and went through 4 or 5 of the exact battery you bought, there is absolutely nothing special about it. Might I suggest that next time you are looking to purchase a new one, check out www.optimabatteries.com
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The Ohio Senate has approved a new list of rules in an effort to reduce scrap metal theft throughout Ohio.
The Ohio Senate has approved a new list of rules for scrap dealers to enforce on those who try to sell everything from copper piping to catalytic converters.
Under the new regulations, citizens will have to show photo ID and proof of ownership for items like grave markers, utility wires and beer kegs.
In addition, scrap dealers will be required to keep inventory of all incoming purchases.

This was just passed a couple of days ago. Converter theft has hit the Akron, OH area pretty bad lately, bad enough through out the whole state I guess for the Senate pass new laws.

It seems every week there is a blurb in the local Police Blotter about a fleet of business vehicles having their cat. converters stolen. It's amazing the extremes thieves go to for a few bucks. I guesss it's just a sign of the times up here in the Cleveland area.

Your right, I don't think it's going to get better any time soon the way things are looking.

reply to sailor
How much money can there possibly be in a catalytic converter? I just had the cat replaced on my Jeep about a year ago for less than $100 including labor, IIRC.

Last time mine was replaces it was $350+... If thiefs can get a few bucks - they really don't care. Big car lots will be easier to get in and out of undetected.

reply to Mentat

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How long have you had cars? If you have a car for more than 5-7 years then you must be doing something special to not replace them (for a regular none jell battery that is)....

my current car is a 2000 Ford Taurus and it still has the original battery...it works just fine...i recently had my maintenance done at the dealership...also, i live in canada, where the temperature ranges from 100F in the summer to -5F in the winter.

Then you must be doing something special - I keep my cars for 10+ years (oldest 19) and have replaced several batteries. Batteries generally last 5-7 years.

reply to dirtyjeffer

I don't use Delco... All of the ones I have bought had a 5 year warranty on them. Only one to fail before the warranty was because the alternator died.

reply to gattaca

reply to CylonRed
I'm using Optimas now. Never had the slightest problem since I changed.

For the age of most of my cars - they are simply too much to pay for right now. Last battery I had to replace was 7 years old in a 17-18 year old car. Probably will not keep the car for 5 more years. Might consider it when the van needs a new battery but I won't replace the wagons battery with one especially since I may not have the car when it needs a new one...

I understand. My wife's Xterra will run off the factory battery for as long as possible, of course, but the other vehicles have Optimas in them.

The Camaro I was talking about earlier was a '95 that I owned for about 9 years. 5 batteries in 9 years sucks.

That is too many - should have only needed to replace it once. Any idea if there was an electrical problem with it - that is what I would suspect with that many batteries in that short amount of time.

reply to sailor

said by sailor:

The battery I bought is a A/C Delco 75-6YR and it cost $135.95 plus $11.73 tax for a total of $147.68. I believe Mentat works for GM parts so maybe he can chime in about rising prices.