Sabotage

[FutureBoy]

I know we recently had a thread about rats chewing electrical cabling....

Last night I had an issue with humans lifting my Prius onto a couple blocks of wood, reaching under clipping some electrical wires and then stealing the Oxygen sensor that is between the engine and the exhaust system. The engine still runs, but is VERY LOUD!!! now. Since this happened in the grocery store parking lot I had to move the car so it wouldn't get towed and will take it into the shop on Monday to get an estimate and fix.

I'm hoping that with Tesla vehicles having far fewer parts overall that there won't be many parts that are available to be stolen. And many of the parts would be behind the structural exoskeleton so it would be much harder to access them. Ultimately I want my vehicle to be sabotage proof. OK, someone will always be able to slash the tires. Perhaps even steal the wheels/tires if they are enterprising enough. But short of that I'm hoping it's an all-or-nothing proposition. And with the CT being as strong as it is perhaps the "nothing" option will most often win out.

In the meantime, I guess I have to go get the Prius fixed. Hopefully, the Prius parts are standardized and common enough that this repair doesn't cost a full arm and a leg.

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[MEDICALJMP]

I know we recently had a thread about rats chewing electrical cabling....

Last night I had an issue with humans lifting my Prius onto a couple blocks of wood, reaching under clipping some electrical wires and then stealing the Oxygen sensor that is between the engine and the exhaust system. The engine still runs, but is VERY LOUD!!! now. Since this happened in the grocery store parking lot I had to move the car so it wouldn't get towed and will take it into the shop on Monday to get an estimate and fix.

I'm hoping that with Tesla vehicles having far fewer parts overall that there won't be many parts that are available to be stolen. And many of the parts would be behind the structural exoskeleton so it would be much harder to access them. Ultimately I want my vehicle to be sabotage proof. OK, someone will always be able to slash the tires. Perhaps even steal the wheels/tires if they are enterprising enough. But short of that I'm hoping it's an all-or-nothing proposition. And with the CT being as strong as it is perhaps the "nothing" option will most often win out.

In the meantime, I guess I have to go get the Prius fixed. Hopefully, the Prius parts are standardized and common enough that this repair doesn't cost a full arm and a leg.

Reg:

Sorry to hear about that happening. Two legged rats are the worst. It must not have taken them long to do their nefarious deed since you were are the grocery store.

I do know of some Tesla badging being stolen in the past. Musk said Cybertruck would not have any (who could mistake that for anything else?). Aside from Tires/wheels it looks pretty secure.

 

[Frankenblob]

I know we recently had a thread about rats chewing electrical cabling....

Last night I had an issue with humans lifting my Prius onto a couple blocks of wood, reaching under clipping some electrical wires and then stealing the Oxygen sensor that is between the engine and the exhaust system. The engine still runs, but is VERY LOUD!!! now. Since this happened in the grocery store parking lot I had to move the car so it wouldn't get towed and will take it into the shop on Monday to get an estimate and fix.

I'm hoping that with Tesla vehicles having far fewer parts overall that there won't be many parts that are available to be stolen. And many of the parts would be behind the structural exoskeleton so it would be much harder to access them. Ultimately I want my vehicle to be sabotage proof. OK, someone will always be able to slash the tires. Perhaps even steal the wheels/tires if they are enterprising enough. But short of that I'm hoping it's an all-or-nothing proposition. And with the CT being as strong as it is perhaps the "nothing" option will most often win out.

In the meantime, I guess I have to go get the Prius fixed. Hopefully, the Prius parts are standardized and common enough that this repair doesn't cost a full arm and a leg.

As long as stainless steel doesnt become as expensive as gold then from what i have seen of the CT there isnt too much to steal, but then again....
Hope things work out for ya.

 

[Luke42]

In the meantime, I guess I have to go get the Prius fixed. Hopefully, the Prius parts are standardized and common enough that this repair doesn't cost a full arm and a leg.

Former Prius owner/enthusiast here.

You can find out everything you need to know about the oxygen sensor replacement in the following places:

• Owner/enthusiast/hacker forum: https://priuschat.com/forum/
• Service manuals (used by dealer technicians): https://www.alldata.com/diy/en
• Random dealer which had a really good online parts info/sales site (including blowup diagrams from the parts catalog) a few years ago when I last needed OEM Prius parts: https://parts.olathetoyota.com/

The loud noise is likely due to a hole in your exhaust pipe (where the oxygen sensor used to be bolted), upstream of the muffler. I would minimize the runtime to prevent heat damage from the flaming hot gasses shooting out of your exhaust pipe.

Also, the last time a car I helped maintain had an oxygen sensor problem, there were actually two of them -- one up by the exhaust manifold, and one down under the car. The blowup diagrams can really help figure out that sort of thing.

Your car will likely need a new connector for the oxygen sensor, as well. That's probably a soldering job with aspects of weather-proofing.

Exhaust leaks (which your car most certainly has) are a safety problem. I've experienced carbon monoxide poisoning due to exhaust leaks on more than one occasion (cracked exhaust manifold in one case), and getting sleepy-for-no-reason while you drive is a serious safety problem. Consider driving with the windows open, if you must drive it.

The oxygen sensor is likely a standard-ish Toyota part, though.

The sites above can help you figure that out.

A couple of hours worth of online detective work can help you choose whether to pursue a DIY fix, an independent mechanic, or a dealer. Also, if you choose to have someone else do the work, you'll be able to tell if your mechanic/dealer is bullshitting you.

P.S. If you're already as deep into the Prius community as your are into the Tesla community, then I've probably told you something you already know. My apologies! If so, hopefully someone else will find this useful. The Prius is a fairly approachable car, mechanically speaking, and it's designed to be serviced the same way other Toyotas are. It does, however, have a learning curve -- and not everyone who likes cars enjoys learning and change, so some mechanics just won't work on it.

 

[Jhodgesatmb]

What a violation. Let’s hope that the CT is invincible enough that thieves seek easier pickings.

 

[Luke42]

What a violation. Let’s hope that the CT is invincible enough that thieves seek easier pickings.

EVs don't have oxygen sensors (or any other emissions equipment), so there's one less (easy) thing to steal in the BOM.

 

[Diehard]

Last night I had an issue with humans lifting my Prius onto a couple blocks of wood, reaching under clipping some electrical wires and then stealing the Oxygen sensor that is between the engine and the exhaust system.

some parking lots have security camera. If you were in a well lit area specially closer to the store. There may be a record. Or if you saw a Tesla parked close to you, you may try to look for them next time you shop to get their footage. I hate it when rats get away with crap and a lot of them do these days.

 

[FutureBoy]

Former Prius owner/enthusiast here.

You can find out everything you need to know about the oxygen sensor replacement in the following places:

• Owner/enthusiast/hacker forum: https://priuschat.com/forum/
• Service manuals (used by dealer technicians): https://www.alldata.com/diy/en
• Random dealer which had a really good online parts info/sales site (including blowup diagrams from the parts catalog) a few years ago when I last needed OEM Prius parts: https://parts.olathetoyota.com/

The loud noise is likely due to a hole in your exhaust pipe (where the oxygen sensor used to be bolted), upstream of the muffler. I would minimize the runtime to prevent heat damage from the flaming hot gasses shooting out of your exhaust pipe.

Also, the last time a car I helped maintain had an oxygen sensor problem, there were actually two of them -- one up by the exhaust manifold, and one down under the car. The blowup diagrams can really help figure out that sort of thing.

Your car will likely need a new connector for the oxygen sensor, as well. That's probably a soldering job with aspects of weather-proofing.

Exhaust leaks (which your car most certainly has) are a safety problem. I've experienced carbon monoxide poisoning due to exhaust leaks on more than one occasion (cracked exhaust manifold in one case), and getting sleepy-for-no-reason while you drive is a serious safety problem. Consider driving with the windows open, if you must drive it.

The oxygen sensor is likely a standard-ish Toyota part, though.

The sites above can help you figure that out.

A couple of hours worth of online detective work can help you choose whether to pursue a DIY fix, an independent mechanic, or a dealer. Also, if you choose to have someone else do the work, you'll be able to tell if your mechanic/dealer is bullshitting you.

P.S. If you're already as deep into the Prius community as your are into the Tesla community, then I've probably told you something you already know. My apologies! If so, hopefully someone else will find this useful. The Prius is a fairly approachable car, mechanically speaking, and it's designed to be serviced the same way other Toyotas are. It does, however, have a learning curve -- and not everyone who likes cars enjoys learning and change, so some mechanics just won't work on it.

Hey Luke, thanks for the great info. I'll take a look. Generally for me at the moment time is more valuable than money so I tend to hire out for stuff like this. I used to do most of my own work. I've replaced carburetors, spark plugs, etc. But it has been a long time. Back in the day, I used to always buy the service manual (when it was available) whenever I bought a car.

But then I started buying brand new cars. I tend to buy new and drive them till the bitter end. The Prius I've had since 2006. So far it has needed minimal work. Well, there was a warranty issue just before the warranty ran out but other than that the only repairs needed have been general wear and tear. Then this happened. I'll live. It's just frustrating. And I'm pretty sure the person had the plan in place because they brought their own 4x4 boards to prop up the car with. Each board about 1 ft long.

It will get fixed. Everything else about the car is running perfectly with no need for extra work. It's at something like 160k miles now. Maybe even higher. Haven't looked in a while.

 

[FutureBoy]

some parking lots have security camera. If you were in a well lit area specially closer to the store. There may be a record. Or if you saw a Tesla parked close to you, you may try to look for them next time you shop to get their footage. I hate it when rats get away with crap and a lot of them do these days.

This grocery store has a patrol security guy walking around but apparently, it wasn't very suspicious that someone was jacking a car up on blocks for a while. Curiously once the issue was discovered, the police were driving by and stopped to ask what was going on. Wish they had stopped by a little earlier when the problem people were acting suspiciously.

 

[Newton]

we had some dude steal the catalytic converter in my old toyota pickup, new 1 is welded in.

I heard the prius's were having people steal them too. I would doubt the oxygen sensors is worth enough for that kinda work/risk.

I always find it funny when i have to use a coat hanger type thing to get keys out of someones car, im sure I look super sus, but nobody says anything. Maybe becuase i look like a normal guy, or they just think the best of people, dont wanna get evolved? who knows.

 

[Joe Maw]

Hi Mate
Done a bit of research on the part,ebay has got them for under $100.
The life span of the exhaust sensors are between 60000 to 100000 miles.
If it makes you feel better it was well past its use by date.
Karmah will catch up with those theives,hope they skin their knuckles and strip the thread putting it in only to have it fail.
Cheers
Joe

 

[Diehard]

Hi Mate
Done a bit of research on the part,ebay has got them for under $100.
The life span of the exhaust sensors are between 60000 to 100000 miles.
If it makes you feel better it was well past its use by date.
Karmah will catch up with those theives,hope they skin their knuckles and strip the thread putting it in only to have it fail.
Cheers
Joe

Future boy, Just make sure you don’t pay new part price for the same old part to be put back on your car. My uncle had two of his hub caps stolen and they tried to sell the same two back to him.

 

[Cyber]

Sentry mode will certainly help.

 

[Adamtbest]

Sometimes people are worse than rats.

 

[Ehninger1212]

Whats more stupid is your are almost never supposed to splice those sensors. So it most likely wont work right for them anyways.

If they had stolen your Catalytic converter that would have made more sense to me.. those are at least worth something as scrap for the precious metals inside.

What a bunch of losers.