BEWARE - stolen cat!
 

Hi,

Came home from a night's babysitting in Essex last night to find the cat has been removed from my '97, 940 LPT. A neighbor has it on video - took about 2 mins.

The low-life made a right mess of it too, just clean cut through the pipe either side of cat and pulled the front off the mid box. They also lifted the car with some kind of long ratchet jack under the front wing and dented that. If only I had been home - parked on the drive right in front of our front room window, couldn't have been nearer the house.

I never imagined the old bus would be a target. So, a warning to you all - please watch out for your cars. I would hate it to happen to anyone else especially another classic.

I'm too hacked off at the moment to think about if this is repairable and what I might need but would welcome suggestions on the way forward. Suspect this will be the end of a decent car.

Don't even know if cats are available and if I would need a new downpipe from the manifold / turbo to connect a new cat into the system? What is left of the downpipe is just a clean cut pipe. Need the rest of the exhaust system now too.

Would the cat have had a lambda sensor? Can't see any trace of one on what is left.

Amazingly the car still starts (sounds pretty throaty!) and with no warning lights too.

Where do I go now?

Cheers,
LeeP

I'm sorry to hear that the scum have damaged your car and especially in such a shoddy manner!!!

Aftermarket cats are available online, Mark (Griston64) just removed one from his and fitted a different cat so his old one might be available. If not he might be able to post a link for you as to which one you need.

As for the downpipe you can still buy those new

https://www.cats2u.co.uk/volvo/2596-...e-bm70227.html

The lambda sensor is right up by the turbo on the underside of the downpipe so atleast there is some good news.

The mid box rwdKev might be able to help with that and if he can then I'm heading over your way soon so I could drop it off for you.

Unfortunately you're about the 6th person I know of where the cat has been stolen off a 900 series.

Sorry to hear what happened.

There is only one lambda sensor in these and it is in the front pipe near the turbo so won’t have been affected.

A genuine Volvo cat will be expensive. I paid over £400 for one in 2014 and it only lasted until earlier this year. Part number 8602955.

Genuine Volvo exhaust parts are not overly expensive. Maybe pair with a suitable non-OEM cat for a lower cost repair that will also be less attractive to thieves.

There’s a lot of this sort of theft taking place at the moment all over the country. So far I have found a sloping gravel driveway with a PIR floodlight and CCTV sufficient deterrent. Even in my quiet cul-de-sac in rural Gloucestershire neighbours have experienced both fuel and cat thefts. It’s a pity the British police are so dysfunctional. Maybe if the criminals were vulnerable, exploitable and could be served on-the-spot fines they might take more interest.

Very sorry to hear about that theft Lee.

Bob.

Cat theft is a right problem. Hope you get sorted soon.

If yours was original they have a higher precious metals content.

I have a 1996 940 and I have an aftermarket cat think it's made by BM cats. Cheap at £55 5 years ago. Non type approved though, but not needed until 2001/2. Annoying as gave the cat to garage who fitted new exhaust as rotten. Check if fits your vehicle.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/234191826...Cclp%3A2334524

You would need a new downpipe or join/weld/clamp on another piece of pipe then cat then mid box.

Alternatively buy new Volvo system, plus aftermarket downpipe bar Cat.

I have a 2015 Toyota Auris Hybrid and that car is a right target for cat theft. I have had a cat theft steel cover fitted to help prevent theft. Cost me £75 in total from Ebay, additional 16mm steel bars welded on and fitting. Aftermarket cat £750. Genuine dealer part and sensor £1200!

James.

I've asked Kev and he does have the middle box still if you need it

What an absolute bummer Lee! Sorry to hear about that!

As has already been said, you can get aftermarket downpipes and cats fairly easily/cheaply although that's hardly the point, it shouldn't be necessary. As for the damage to the wing, i wonder of one of the paintless dent removal (PDR) companies could help fairly economically?

You could i suppose try claiming on your insurance but insurance companies are getting to the point where they make you jump through even more hops than normal before they pay out because of the sheer quantity of cat thefts. Also your premium would be likely to go up as a result so it may be better to repair it as economically as you can and swallow that than the cost of your excess and increased premiums.

For now, you could probably get away with a straight bit of pipe and a service joint or two to connect it in to get you mobile again. You'll find it's a bit livelier and more economical like that but it won't pass the MoT unless you convert it to LPG as well. That said, if your MoT isn't due for a while, doing a semi-permanent repair with a bit of straight pipe would buy you some time to investigate your options as far as replacement goes and time to gather the bits piecemeal if you go down the aftermarket and/or used route.

Luckily with it being pre-2001 you don't have to pay for a Type Approved cat, just one that will do the job. From what i've seen, Type Approved cats tend to be about 10 times the price of the equivalent aftermarket for non-TA cats! :err:

That could make a big difference for you! Good luck getting it sorted and keep us all posted! :thumbs_up:

The original volvo ones are worth about £150 the last time I sold one (actually 2), so you won't get one scrap for much less unless someone doesn't know the value.

An aftermarket cat can be welded in for <£100 by someone like a long life exhaust specialist.

Folks,

A big collective thank you for all the good wishes and practical suggestions especially links to parts. I'll do some research today and drop a few PMs.

To be honest still not sure which way to go as the car is now my second car (there are two other classics in the stable) and it only has an MoT until December. In fact I drafted an advert a few months back to put on here but have been putting it off as I still enjoy driving it. I'm also concerned that if I do all this work what is to stop the swine returning and nabbing the new cat?

Some serious thinking over the next few days!

Cheers all,
LeeP

Thanks Forrest.

We have security lights (but no camera) although some of the action was captured on a near neighbour's camera.

Another neighbour with security lights had the cat from their MX5 stolen at the same time. It was on their drive, right outside their front window and they saw it happening. When they tried to open their front door the thieves prevented them opening it by holding a crow bar on the door handle. By the time they got through the house and out the garden gate the deed was done and the guys were calmly walking down the street to the getaway car. These people seem to have no fear about being seen or being challenged at all.

I always thought this sort of thing happened at dead of night but this was just before 7 PM. Seems we are not safe at any time.

Cheers,
LeeP