The Unstealable Truck

[kubben]

As I put more time and mods into my truck I feel the need for a good alarm system. However I really don't want a little beep beep beep beep alarm because the factory gave me one. I want something that makes the truck UNSTEALABLE.

I saw a thing Performance Products had that you hooked to your battery and then unscrew it and the car won't start. Perfect idea! But what if they just rip it off and touch the wires and get it started?

I want something full proof. Any ideas?
I was thinking about wiring some sort of lock to perhaps the starter wires in the engine comparement were it would be HARD to find. Then when locked the car wouldn't start.

Do I sound like a retard? Probably so! hehe

Any ideas? I hope to keep my truck for awhile and my city is getting more and more car theft's.

 

[RFR2212]

Get keys that use a laser sending unit to unlock the car? I dunno...I'm thinkin of the Mercedes in "Gone in 60 Seconds" definately a totally sweet movie....Other than that I've got nothin really to tell ya...Pete

 

[mattadams]

Ryan Penner (rpenner54)'s folks have an Isuzu Trooper with a removable "key" that basically completes a circuit. Wouldn't be impossible to wire in with some knowledge of wiring. You remove the key, you can't start the car. It's possibly to get around like everything but it would certainly make it harder. The alarm mine came with has a starter kill option, which means no matter what, if the alarm has gone off, even if it has stopped beeping, you won't be able to start the car, even with a key. You can get it around it too though, just like everything. If someone really wants it they'll drive up with a flatbed and haul it off with the alarm blaring.

 

[kubben]

What type of alarm do you have Matt and how much?

 

[RangerX]

I have a removable "key" too. It may be the same as Ryan's folks, or not, but it's called the Immobiliser, by Quorum. It's a wafer chip type key that I keep hanging on my keyring. When it's plugged in, it completes 6 or 7 circuits running all over under the dash. Sure, someone with enough time, patience, knowledge and desire could disable or bypass it, but like Matt said, if somebody REALLY wants it, they will find a way.

How about a basic on/off kill switch, and a Club? Cheap and effective.

I hate alarms. When I hear an alarm going off, I pray someone is actually stealing the vehicle, that way, the noise will stop!

 

[kubben]

Me too.
Where did you get it at? The wafer thing.

 

[Diff Whack Daddy]

I agree. The only full froof method is a personalized kill switch. This way only you know where you installed it and without it, the ignition circuits won't work. For long term, nothing works better than removing the battery. I know theives carry tools w/ them, but I have never heard of them carrying a battery.

 

[Kyle K.]

STolen cars

I recently watched a show about car thefts and there was a consultant on there that used to run a car theft ring, he uses in hi own car a regular alarm, and the autolock, which is the clubtype thing for the brake pedal, in most instances you can't shift gears if you can't push the brake and even if you could you won't get far with out brakes, also use a kill switch with the wires and switch hidden well, wire them into the wire that goes to either the ignition or the starter solenoid, i have one and i asked a couple friends to try their best and none of them could do it short of ripping apart and hot wiring. if all else fails take the ignition coil wire with you everytime you park. it sounds silly to open the hood every time you go out but, a lot of folks do that everynight to take off headlight covers right...

hope this helps

 

[mattadams]

I don't know what kind of alarm I have, it came with the vehicle, the previous owner had installed it. Almost all alarms nowadays come with the starter kill option though. Good points everyone but still, if someone REALLY wants your vehicle, they'll just stick it on a flatbed, take it back to some warehouse and take apart all the parts, which would probably happen when someonesteals your car anyway.

 

[mike91]

Nothing is flatbed proof as everyone has already said...

But if you are really desperate, just lift the hood up each time and remove one or two spark plug wires.

Don't try that autolock thing - I know of a couple people that have tried this and they mentioned that it is really hard on the pedal and can cause damage in the long run.

 

[brianb9]

Alarms, Kill switches and electronic keys

As for alarms Clifford makes an excellent one that is very progammable in terms of preventing false alarms. It uses the resonance of your trucks body to tune the sensors so only real break ins will set it off. It also has many options such as electric window actuators etc. Starter kills are virtually worthless with a manual tranny as the car can still be jump started, an ignition kill is much more effective. The club is also pretty worthless as the steering wheel can be cut in a matter of seconds but it is somewhat of a deterrent. The brake or clutch lock mentioned earlier is much more effective. Hidden kill switches are often found (My father had two cars stolen both with very well hidden switches and both were found and deactivated.) The electronic wafer key from Quorum is very effective and all the leads are run with black wire so it is almost impossible to circumvent in any reasonable amount of time if at all.

 

[zensius]

Just to ruin everyone's good night of sleep. Those wafer keys, just like all keys have master or 'skeleton' keys that will open any lock. Sorry.

 

[flyguy]

Yeah, Im sure they have a master.. plus, Ive heard by installing those.. it acually makes it easier... something about bringing all the wires needed for the theif... right up front. Oh well... I just got a pretty sweet alarm on mine though... Assuming Im in range... When my alarm is tripped, my remote beeps at me and shows me what the hell is up. I get diffrent symbols for breakglass, open door... all that... Its kinda neat. Of course if they knew thats what kind of alarm I had... they could do something about that... hehe

nick

 

[Mat R]

Jacobs Electronics has a device out that you activate by a button, and if the vehicle is started while on, the vehicles engine will be diables after about 100 yards.

Sound dumb right..? It isn't

If your vehicle is broken into, and someone tries to hotwire it, but say can't because you disabled it in whatever fashion you chose, your insurance company will only cover it a "vandelism" and won't cover as much of the damage.

If the car moves, then it can be classified as theft, you still ahve your truck, but now your insurance company covers more.

I figure if you have to deal with theft, you might as well get any advantage possible, right?

Mat

 

[bluescat]

New Battery?

Someone's making a new battery that has a remote, I forget which manufacturer it is, but it's at some of the chain websites and in the mags under new gear. You have to be careful with a cutout switch, some of the ignition systems in later models will sense tampering and disable the ignition completely. I used to have a van with a battery disconnect and an engine hood lock. It was a pain to go through the procedure but it never got stolen though many tried to take it and my gear when I lived in N. Hollywood on La Brea, a real bad section. BTW, Consumer Reports reviewed batteries this month and they had some interesting info on who really makes what, eg. Johnson Controls makes Motorcraft.

 

[The Godfather]

The maker of the remote battery shut off is DieHard. Of course with that whole thing with Sears selling old/returned batteries, check it out before you buy one.

 

[RangerX]

I forgot to mention, along with the Quorum chip, I also have dents and scrapes in all body panels, and olive drab paint on top of it all. VEEEERRRRRRYYYYY effective!!!!

 

[leebo]

heck add in some rust in it sounds like a truck for the stealing. You may also get more money if somebody moves your car and makes it fall under the "theft" part of your insurance, but you also then have more paperwork and hassle to go through. So far the best way that I've heard of is to just take a sparkplug or undo a wire when you leave. It can still be taken but I doubt anybody would start up a Kick butt suv and drive it while missing that badly too far.

 

[rpenner54]

Originally posted by RangerX
I forgot to mention, along with the Quorum chip, I also have dents and scrapes in all body panels, and olive drab paint on top of it all. VEEEERRRRRRYYYYY effective!!!!

Bill I like this dents and scape meathod. Could you tell me how you achieved that? LOL Kidding... I too have dents and scrapes so I don't know WHY anyone would want my Truck. Its ugly! LOL Plus I have used the sawzall. I am still surprised when I walk by nice vehicles whos doors are unlocked. Or when you see a set of keys sitting in the car. Um? I just recently got my monthly brochure from my insurance place and they accually had proof in there that the majority of cars stolen are the ones whos owners leave them running to go inside for a few seconds to get something or go into the store real quick like ect... I thought that was intresting.

 

[mattadams]

I see it all the time, I've even seen it at grocery stores and stuff. That's just stupid. Of course cops do that to bust people often to, just leave a car running unlocked, wait for someone to come along and steal it then nab them. But really, if you are going to leave your car running with the doors unlocked in a public place, or even in your driveway, you deserve to have your car stolen. Occasionally in the winter I'll leave the car running to warm it up but I will always lock the doors, AFTER making certain I have my spare key with me. Then I just go out, unlock the doors, get in, and its nice n cozy warm. True if someone wanted to steal it they'd just have to bust a window, but it's not like I walk 1/4 mile away while letting it warm up, usually just run inside where I can see it and so forth.