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Story spotlight
- Catalytic converter thefts are rising in Lagos, inflicting vital inconvenience and expense for automobile homeowners.
- Consultants advocate understanding automobile fundamentals, monitoring the examine engine gentle, and utilizing diagnostic instruments to forestall theft.
- Reliable mechanics, discovered by referrals, will help guarantee the security of catalytic converters.
Israel Ola, a driver transporting kegs of palm oil throughout Lagos markets, skilled a troubling incident illustrating the rise in catalytic converter thefts.
When his truck broke down at Iyana Oba, removed from his Ikorodu dwelling, he left it at a close-by mechanic store for nearly 24 hours. After retrieving his truck, he quickly observed a loud noise at excessive speeds.
Involved, Ola took his truck to his normal mechanic in Ikorodu, who found the catalytic converter was lacking.
This theft, which possible occurred whereas the truck was on the unfamiliar store, highlights the rising drawback of catalytic converter thefts at Lagos mechanic retailers, inflicting vital inconvenience and expense to automobile homeowners.
What are catalytic converters?
Catalytic converters are important elements of autos, usually situated immediately after the exhaust manifold or additional down the exhaust system in bigger autos.
Relying on the make of the automobile, a automobile might have one or two catalytic converters. These components include treasured metals like platinum, palladium, and rhodium, which facilitate chemical reactions that convert poisonous gases into much less dangerous ones.
By lowering exhaust backpressure, catalytic converters enhance engine effectivity, main to raised gas financial system and decrease gas consumption. Additionally they remodel pollution corresponding to carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and nitrogen oxides into safer compounds, thereby lowering automobile emissions.
Are mechanics the primary culprits behind catalytic converter thefts in Lagos?
Whereas Ola, the driving force, was assured that his truck’s catalytic converter was stolen on the mechanic workshop, Nairametrics sought opinions on whether or not solely mechanics are liable for such thefts, given the technical experience required to take away the half.
Mr. Olatunde, a part-time mechanic in Lagos, admitted that some mechanics do steal components from unsuspecting purchasers however emphasised that almost all don’t have interaction in such practices. He defined that unscrupulous mechanics, motivated by greed, take away catalytic converters to promote them to automobile half sellers at decrease costs.
Dennis Emmanuel, one other mechanic, famous that theft is much less possible in well-organized auto retailers with thorough vetting processes. He identified that automobile half theft is extra frequent in workshops missing correct employees vetting.
Barrister Sunday MacNathan, a non-public automobile proprietor in Lagos, shared his expertise together with his Mazda CX-9, which he purchased used (“Tokunbo”) from the US two years in the past. After a 12 months of use, he observed elevated gas consumption and a louder engine noise. His trusted mechanic found that the catalytic converter was lacking and advised it had possible been changed with an iron sponge by the automobile’s importer, as some importers do that to chop prices.
“Earlier this 12 months, I observed my two-year-old Mazda CX-9, purchased as a US tokunbo, had growing gas consumption and a louder engine. My mechanic found the catalytic converter was lacking, possible changed with an iron sponge by the importer, which has since burnt out,” MacNathan defined.
To analyze whether or not automobile sellers contribute to the issue of lacking catalytic converters in used automobiles, generally known as “Tokunbo” automobiles, Nairametrics interviewed Ayuba Idris, a good automobile vendor.
Idris acknowledged, “The allegation that automobile sellers are eradicating catalytic converters is kind of uncommon. Eradicating such important components considerably reduces the automobile’s worth. Lacking components just like the catalytic converter could cause the automobile’s worth to drop significantly.”
He additional defined, “Some imported ‘Tokunbo’ automobiles arrive with out catalytic converters. Consumers have the precise to carry a mechanic to examine the automobile totally earlier than finalizing the acquisition. If the mechanic discovers that the catalytic converter or some other half is lacking, the customer can both choose out of the acquisition or negotiate a worth discount to compensate for the lacking components.”
Moreover, Idris identified that situations the place catalytic converters are eliminated after buy are primarily as a result of actions of the consumers’ mechanics. These mechanics, motivated by monetary constraints or greed, are sometimes liable for the theft of catalytic converters from newly acquired autos.
Drawing from the Nairametrics survey and interviews, many imagine mechanics are primarily liable for the rise in catalytic converter thefts. Whereas thefts happen in unsafe areas and a few sellers are concerned, mechanics are continuously seen as the primary culprits.
Influence of the catalytic converter theft on automobile homeowners
As highlighted within the instances of Ola and Barrister MacNathan, one main consequence of a lacking catalytic converter is the loud noise produced by the automobile whereas driving. Mechanics clarify that this noise happens as a result of the exhaust gases exit extra immediately with out the catalytic converter, bypassing the standard noise-dampening course of.
One other main affect is elevated gas consumption. In MacNathan’s case, he famous a major rise in gas utilization. Nevertheless, some, like Ola, expertise solely a slight improve in gas consumption when the catalytic converter is eliminated.
Financially, lacking catalytic converters result in elevated bills as a result of larger gas consumption and the price of substitute. Some automobile homeowners might must buy a number of converters to discover a excellent match, doubtlessly as much as 4 occasions.
Moreover, the absence of a catalytic converter leads to larger emissions of dangerous gases. With out the converter, which transforms pollution like carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and nitrogen oxides into safer compounds, the engine produces extra dangerous emissions.
Price of changing a catalytic converter in Lagos
The price of catalytic converters for sedans usually ranges from N40,000 to N60,000, in keeping with a number of sources, together with on-line marketplaces, insights from automobile sellers, and automobile homeowners who’ve not too long ago changed theirs. For SUVs, the worth will be as excessive as N100,000 or extra. When the catalytic converter is bought together with a part of the exhaust system, the price will be considerably larger.
Given the challenges of utilizing a automobile with no catalytic converter, automobile homeowners want to switch it for optimum efficiency. The price of changing a catalytic converter varies extensively relying on a number of components, together with the automobile mannequin, 12 months of manufacturing, and whether or not the converter is a brand-new Authentic Tools Producer (OEM), China-made, or a used one.
Barrister MacNathan, who owns a Mazda CX-9 SUV, reported paying N125,000 for a used (“tokunbo”) catalytic converter earlier this 12 months, whereas a automobile half vendor talked about {that a} catalytic converter for a 2004 Honda Accord (4-cylinder) prices round N45,000.
Based mostly on Nairametrics’ analysis and on-line investigations, the price of catalytic converters varies extensively, usually starting from N40,000 to over N100,000, relying on the automobile’s particular wants and specs.
In instances the place drivers can not afford to switch a stolen or broken catalytic converter, some resort to utilizing an ‘iron sponge’ as a brief repair, making an attempt to duplicate the catalytic converter’s operate.
Suggestion on stopping catalyst converter theft in Lagos
With the surge in catalytic converter thefts in Lagos mechanic retailers, Nairametrics gathered skilled suggestions from mechanics and automobile homeowners. Mr. Olatunde shared a number of helpful insights to assist automobile homeowners defend their catalytic converters and guarantee general automobile safety.
He emphasised the significance of automobile homeowners understanding the fundamentals of their autos, corresponding to gas consumption.
“A sudden improve in gas utilization may point out that the catalytic converter is lacking,” he famous.
He additionally suggested automobile homeowners to concentrate to their examine engine gentle, which serves as an early warning system. If the examine engine gentle comes on, it might probably sign points, together with a lacking or malfunctioning catalytic converter, and shouldn’t be ignored.
Moreover, Olatunde really helpful that automobile homeowners put money into a mini diagnostic software, costing round N35,000 to N40,000. These instruments can confirm the presence of a catalytic converter and supply diagnostic bother codes (DTCs). Automotive homeowners can lookup these codes on-line to determine points, enabling them to watch hard-to-reach components like catalytic converters successfully.
He mentioned: “Automotive homeowners ought to put money into a mini diagnostic software, costing round N35,000 to N40,000. These instruments can confirm the presence of a catalytic converter and supply diagnostic bother codes (DTCs). By wanting up these codes on-line, automobile homeowners can determine points and successfully monitor hard-to-reach components like catalytic converters.”
Ola, the truck driver, supplied an important tip to keep away from such points: discover dependable mechanics by referrals. He suggested automobile homeowners to hunt suggestions from pals, household, or colleagues. He famous that reliable mechanics, really helpful by these , are much less prone to exploit prospects and supply higher service, guaranteeing the security of helpful elements like catalytic converters.
Conclusion
The rise in catalytic converter thefts in Lagos mechanic retailers is inflicting vital inconvenience and expense for automobile homeowners. Automotive homeowners needs to be conscious that indicators of a lacking catalytic converter, corresponding to loud noise whereas driving and elevated gas consumption, may additionally point out a defective converter relatively than theft. Understanding automobile fundamentals, utilizing diagnostic instruments, and discovering dependable mechanics by referrals are important steps to guard catalytic converters and guarantee general automobile safety.
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