Protect the Catalytic Converter on Your Mitsubishi Outlander

If you drive an Outlander in Minnesota and your catalytic converter hasn’t been stolen yet, we’re sorry to say that it’s probably a matter of time. Catalytic converter thefts skyrocketed by nearly 300% across the country last year, and the crime has gotten so bad in the Twin Cities area that a bill was proposed in an attempt to curb it.

Unfortunately, your Mitsubishi Outlander is an especially vulnerable target because of the catalytic converter’s makeup and placement. Let Mobile Installation Services help you avoid an expensive replacement and potential damage to your vehicle!

Recognizing an increasing need for catalytic converter protection, our security experts developed a custom system designed with Outlanders in mind. Contact us today to get a free quote!

Understanding Catalytic Converter Theft

There are three precious metals in a catalytic converter that can make this part worth thousands of dollars, depending on the vehicle manufacturer and model and the current mining market. The primary metal, platinum, was priced as high as $1,300 an ounce in 2021; On average, there are three to seven grams of platinum in a catalytic converter. Palladium, which is rarer, was worth more than double that at nearly $3,000 an ounce.

But it’s the byproduct of these two metals, rhodium, that’s worth way more than its weight in gold. The element was priced at more than $28,000 an ounce earlier this year. That’s about 15 times the price of gold!

A person who knows what they’re doing can remove your Outlander’s catalytic converter in less than two minutes! Thieves crawl under the vehicle and use a pipe cutter or reciprocating saw, drilling, grinding, or cutting the converter loose.

Although this crime started happening regularly in Minnesota about 15 years ago local mechanics and state officials say recent numbers for catalytic converter theft are “alarming,” with more than 300 catalytic converters stolen in St. Paul alone between Jan. 1 and Feb. 15, 2021.

What Happens Without a Catalytic Converter?

Your engine needs a catalytic converter to clean the vehicle’s emissions before they leave your exhaust system. If it’s stolen, you’ll notice right away: unusual smells, loss of engine power, and black smoke coming from the exhaust.

It’s bad for the environment (not to mention technically illegal) to drive without a catalytic converter because you’ll release harmful hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen oxides into the air. And if you do, it could also cause engine issues and damage to other components of your ride.

If that wasn’t bad enough news for victims of converter theft, it costs around $2,000 to replace one on a Mitsubishi Outlander. That is if you can even find a replacement! Mitsubishi Outlander catalytic converters are likely to be backordered at Minnesota dealerships.

Why Mitsubishi Outlander Catalytic Converters Are Targets

Hybrid vehicles like the Mitsubishi Outlander use the most of the precious metals in their catalytic converters.

To top it off, your Outlander has a higher clearance than a lot of other vehicles, making it that much easier to crawl underneath.

This combination has made the Mitsubishi Outlander a very hot target for catalytic converter theft in the Twin Cities. Mitsubishi even noticed how bad it is here, offering Minnesota victims of catalytic converter theft a $750 discount on any new Mitsubishi.

But a discount on a new vehicle isn’t going to protect your catalytic converter. That’s why our car security experts came up with a custom solution!

A Better Security Solution for Catalytic Converters

Even if you spray paint your catalytic converter, engrave it with your vehicle’s identification number, or otherwise permanently mark it so the part can be identified if removed, it’s easy to see that better protection is needed for one of the most expensive parts on your vehicle.

If you search for catalytic converter security, you’ll find several steel plate options. We’re here to help you to take that type of security up a notch or two, since thieves are learning how to get through popular solutions on the market.

Along with a high quality steel plate that’s custom-made for the Mitsubishi Outlander, we can install a VERY LOUD alarm that goes off the second the plate is tampered with.

Want even more protection? Let us add BRIGHT, flashing lights on top of the noise to make stealing your catalytic converter way too much hassle for even an experienced thief.

We’re ready to customize a security system according to your preferences, keeping installation affordable enough to be worth protecting the converter. For more information, call us at 612-986-3332, drop by the shop in Brooklyn Park, or connect with us online!