Is There A Salvage Value For A Defective Catalytic Converter That Was Replaced?.....

[global1]

Does a dealer that services your car turn in the old one and make some money on it? If so - how much money?

[no_hypocrisy]

1. IDK but I do know that "older" CC's don't have the rare minerals that the newer ones do.

That's what makes them so valuable.

[hlthe2b]

3. Depends on how you define "old"... Toyota Prius 2003-2009 are the most sought after

because they contain the highest proportion of precious metals. A woman in Denver with whom I am vaguely acquainted has had her 2006 targeted and has had to replace her CC 4x now--to the point her insurance company is no longer willing to pay out. I have a 2007 and I do every damned thing I can to protect mine, but parking in any public spot--even in broad daylight puts you at risk.

[hlthe2b]

2. Yes. Those stealing them are not doing so for replacement market, but to remove the precious metals

So, a non-functional cc can certainly be a money-maker, though in many states (including CO) salvage lots are no longer allowed to resell even functional used CCs due to the problems. So extracting the metals is their only use.

[Chainfire]

4. They certainly have salvage value. Two of them were stolen from me for that purpose.

I believe that they bring between 50 and a hundred bucks, but that may be off.

[global1]

5. My Car Didn't Pass The Illinois Emissions Test....

My CC had to be replaced. On a 2014 Kia Soul. A very costly proposition. I was wondering if the car dealers service dept turns the old one in and gets some salvage dollar money back on it.

I'm thinking any salvage money should be mine. After all - its my old CC that they'd be working with.

[gibraltar72]

7. Most of them do keep them

And yes they get a good chunk of revenue off selling the parts they replace. Tell them you want the old parts that are taken off. At least in MI. customer has that right. Of course on some parts that are rebuilt there is a core charge, but CC don't think they can be rebuilt.

[MichMan]

10. It has nothing to do with whether or not it is rebuilt

Batteries have core charges and are not rebuilt.

[gibraltar72]

12. That is an environmental deal.

Power steering items, alternators, starters even engines. If rebuilt units are put on they want money or a rebuildable unit. And some batteries are renewed and resold. But that is beside the point.

[doc03]

6. I am sure they get money for them same as with a

battery, alternator or starter motor. I bought a new battery at Wal-Mart they gave me $12 for the old one they call a core.
I assume they get several hundred dollars for a CC. I had my alternator replaced a couple weeks ago they turn in the old one to be rebuilt.

[MichMan]

9. Right, but if you didn't turn in the old battery the new one would have cost $12 more.

[doc03]

11. Right.

[MichMan]

8. They are likely required to return them to the OEM as a "core"

I dont believe they would be required to return them to a customer

[Best_man23]

13. They're only required to return to the OEM if replaced under warranty.

And then, once the OEM has reimbursed the dealer for the cost, the parts department sells the catalytic converter to a scrap dealer.

[MichMan]

15. Do you work in the parts department at a dealership?

[Best_man23]

14. Yes they do have salvage value

The precious metals inside, plus the exterior metal, all have value. When I was a technician, we were able to sell some parts that we would remove on customer pay jobs to scrap dealers. This was a way for us to augment our income, which was tied to working on cars on flat rate.

In the early 90s (period when I was a tech), catalytic converters fetched around $25 from the scrap dealer. Alternators and starters that weren't physically damaged commanded anywhere from $5 to $30 (depending on the manufacturer).