Catalytic converters arrived, question about the repair being done at a mechanic shop?

After my catalytic converters were cut out and stolen, they finally arrived 5 months after the incident. Now I have a question about how the mechanic shop chose to handle my repairs and if my concerns are valid.
When the cats were stolen, the thief cut past the flange, down towards the muffler on the passenger side, meaning there was no flange on the muffler side of the exhaust pipe for the new cat to be bolted up to. I pointed this out to the shop doing the repairs 5 months ago, when it was dropped off for the adjuster to do the evaluation. After the new cats arrived, I dropped the truck off at the shop that progressive sent me to(Maaco), and they sent my truck to a "specialty exhaust shop" to have the repairs done there. (i was not notified)
Turns out, they cut the flange completely off the new passenger side catalytic converter, and welded a pipe straight to it to connect it to the rest of the exhaust. Why would they not do it correctly and replace the other damaged parts of the exhaust pipe downstream from my converter, instead of cutting the new converter and welding it? I understand they are probably trying to save money, but I should still be upset right? I would expect the truck to be returned to me in the stock condition like my cats had never been cut out in the first place, especially since I told the shop in the beginning that I did not want them to weld or fabricate anything and that I wanted the OEM replacement for anything that was damaged, as covered by my insurance (right?). Are my concerns justified here? Any advice is welcomed, it is friday and I wont hear from the progressive adjuster until after the weekend so I’m just looking for a discussion. Thanks everyone. Pics attached before repair and after (passenger side)

 

before repair photo

 

It's not going to impact anything functionally. It would be a pain if you want to change your exhaust later for whatever reason. It might actually be a good thing because it's one less exhaust gasket leak to worry about in the future.

Make sure you get cat plates now. So worth the peace of mind. I don't ever think about it anymore and it's good offroad protection.

 

yeah i know it wont really affect anything unless one of those welds is a little leaky cause they dont look the sharpest. but I’m concerned that they should have fixed it the right way, right? I mean my insurance is paying so its not like it costs them extra to do it correctly, right? I only had the truck for a month before the cats were stolen, and with how expensive these trucks are, am I wrong for thinking I should be getting the truck back as if the cats were never cut out? It just feels like they cut corners on me, and Id rather my truck be fixed right. Insurance will have the final say id assume but i just wanted some opinions/advice. thanks for responding

 

As an adjuster myself the adjuster and or shop who inspected your truck should have wrote to replace the entire exhaust and not just weld on the the new cat to the cut piping that leads to the rest of the exhaust

Were you provided with an estimate for the repairs?

 

yes this is what I was expecting to happen, and I assume my adjuster will see it the same way as well. I did receive an estimate that was between 4 and $5,000 in parts/repairs etc. The paper is around my house somewhere I believe.. will locate thank you for reminding me.

 

That piece of aluminized pipe isn’t going to last near as long as the rest of the SS OEM piping, and it’s pretty hard to DIY a bolt-on cat-back exhaust system to that.

 

You should have taken it to the dealer to get it fixed.
They would have given you a new muffler and had your insurance pay for it.
Ask me how I know..



My local muffler shops are hack artists...
They do work like this.
I ended up buying a new tailpipe after this bullshit....

 

I won't say you are wrong, but I've had so many terrible car repair experiences that I'd be glad of it's not throwing a code and it works lolol also the reason I try to do all work myself if possible.

 

This is why I take what the insurance company says with a grain of salt. I pay for insurance for a reason and that is, if anything happens I will be made whole again. Not 50% or 75%, 100% whole. I would have told progressive that I will take it to whatever shop I want to have it fixed right. Progressive is just looking out for its pockets and going with the cheapest bidder. And Maaco, really. That should have been your first red flag. I would reopen the claim and show them the garbage they did on a $5-6k part.

 

Thanks for advice everyone. Yeah I was just going where the insurance sent me because I assumed if they pick the location, they hold liability for how the shop chooses to repair the truck. My insurance adjuster has a tundra whose cats have been stolen as well so hopefully he will see it the same way we do and they will replace the damaged cat. Ill update monday/tuesday

 

The problem now is that you need a new muffler AND another cat pipe on that side to make it right..
Insurance needs to make the truck like it was OEM.
The only thing they didn't replace on mine was the tailpipe and tailpipe clamp.



I then had Keith @dirtydeeds fix my BAM..



Good luck..

 

I would not accept that OP

 

yeah i left it at the shop when i saw that and will be talking to insurance first thing monday morning

 

They're gonna make you wait if they choose to make it right. If they don't, you've gotta small claims suit.

 

I would accept it. But I would review the accounting. The muffler was damaged during theft and should have been replaced, it was instead salvaged, that savings goes to you not the shop. That muffler is $494 and that amount should go to you to offset your deductible.

If you paid your deductible and dropped it off that is BS. If you took a payout and then shopped around to see who could fix it for the payout price then that’s where your savings came from.

 

So the shop ended up replacing the muffler, welding the flange back onto the cat, and cut me a check for $500. I didnt pick up the truck or pay the deductible until I was satisfied. They also offered me a lifetime warranty on the welds incase there are any leaks. Ill attach a photo

 

Glad they helped you out a little, but I personally wouldn't except that welding job, warranty or not.

 

Nice, got paid and a new muffler.

Is that a Toyota OEM muffler? I bought my tuck brand new and the muffler is spot welded. Yours has a continuous bead around it. The one I bought to replace the one that was cut when my cats were stolen is also spot welded and was OEM from Toyota.

 

Have to agree with Tilly, as a welder I can tell you that crap looks like it was done by a high-school flunkie.