Best aftermarket theft deterrents?

Discussion in 'General Motoring' started by pbrinkleyrogers, Nov 22, 2004.

  1. Hi,
    I had my '98 Civic EX stolen thursday night. The cops told me, based on
    the number of Honda's stolen in my neighborhood in the past month, that
    I should expect to never see it again. OK, so I'm starting over,
    probably buying a similar late 90's Civic or Accord. I realize that if
    they really want it, they'll get it no matter what I do, but what are
    my best bets in terms of physical deterrents? I'm going to use some
    sort of a Club-like device to lock the steering wheel and brake pedal,
    but I am looking for another layer beyond that. I've heard about
    "engine immobilizers" but I'm not having much luck finding any
    aftermarket products of that type. I know I could do a kill switch but
    I've been told that these are easy bypassed and don't do much (if
    anything) to prevent hotwiring. Any advice is greatly appreciated. If
    it makes any difference, I am located in the S.F. Bay Area (in case you
    have specific vendor recommendations).

    Thanks.
     
    pbrinkleyrogers, Nov 22, 2004
    #1
  2. pbrinkleyrogers

    SoCalMike Guest

    seriously... get something no one would want to steal. not a POS, but
    just something that isnt easily riced out. like a late80s/early 90s
    civic wagovan 4 door hatch, or accord wagon. toyota echo? paseo?

    something you can just have basic liability on, so you can save your
    money until you can move into a better neighborhood.

    why keep beating yourself in the face with a 2x4?

    imleaning toward a scion xa, with a 1.5 ltr engine, factory alarm,
    factory stereo. who knows... that might be a good target, but since its
    based on the echo, i sure hope not. the xb is popular, the xa isnt.

    physical deterrent? keep it stock, with an alarm and a hidden kill
    switch for the fuel pump.
     
    SoCalMike, Nov 22, 2004
    #2
  3. pbrinkleyrogers

    john Guest

    get a silent alarm system that sends a signal to a beeper you keep on
    your person. You should have a good 10 minutes after the first beeper
    to grab the glock and do a head shot, but be sure the guy is IN the car.
    Good luck. It's called tough love. And sometimes these creeps just gotta
    pay a high price. Before you do the head shot, yell at him, I LOVE YOU!
    Check with the local cops, but I think it is all legal if he is in the
    car. Kill these creeps, then they can't operate any more. Is it any big
    loss? Hell no.
     
    john, Nov 22, 2004
    #3
  4. pbrinkleyrogers

    SoCalMike Guest


    agreed, but i think thats only legal in texas :)
     
    SoCalMike, Nov 23, 2004
    #4
  5. pbrinkleyrogers

    motsco_ _ Guest

    ==================

    Hey, John . . . Show some respect . . . Please put a CAPITAL 'G' on
    GLOCK, OK?

    Thanks,

    'Curly'
     
    motsco_ _, Nov 23, 2004
    #5
  6. Car stalls when switch fails. Instead, toggle switch ground (no more
    than 6-amp) to (-) coil primary.

    Rick
     
    Ricky Spartacus, Nov 23, 2004
    #6
  7. pbrinkleyrogers

    Sean Dinh Guest

    Get some attitude...5-7 sounds much better...
     
    Sean Dinh, Nov 23, 2004
    #7
  8. I haven't read the other posts here so maybe this was addressed already.
    First of all, I would hope that your not one of those people that likes to
    advertise everything that is in his/her car. ie, putting in a nice Alpine
    system and then putting a 4 foot wide ALPINE sticker on the window in bright
    colors. Also any loud ass big coffee can mufflers, cool wheels etc are just
    advertising to "STEAL ME FOR PARTS PLEASE." This doesn't mean you have to
    drive a POS car but keep it on the down-low for lack of a better 80's term.
    A combination of things is best for your car.

    The steering wheel club is a minor deterant. The steering wheel/brake lock
    is better. An alarm with ignition, starter and fuel pump circuit kill is a
    great idea. If the car is stolen by being towed, which some thiefs do, then
    the only thing that will save you is the LOJAK or LOJACK device which is
    about $700 installed and helps the cops locate your car after it is
    stolen....via signals given off by this hidden device.


    How you mount your stuff is important also if you do it yourself. For
    example I have by alarm module mounted to the floor with tamper proof screws
    from inside the box under my passenger seat. The wires then go out through
    flexible metal tubing secured to the floor, and other metal parts with
    tamper proof fasteners. The wires under the dash are somewhat protected by
    a metal plate underneath. The hood release on this 96 accord has been moved
    from the normal position and routed through the center of the car. It is
    accessible by removing the center cup holder and pulling the cable easily.
    This way if somebody decides to do the quick bash the window and reach in
    and release the hood to cut the alarm speaker wires they will be in for a
    little surprise. My Mustang GT convertible I bought years ago also had a
    hidden alarm module and 3/8 inch hardened steel chain holding down the front
    hood with a Masterlock. Not impervious just a little more of a pain in the
    butt for would be thieves.

    I also never advertise anything on my car. No stickers of ANY kind no
    matter what. This keeps people from taking revenge on my car if they don't
    like something that I do.
     
    computernewby, Nov 23, 2004
    #8
  9. I've heard hacksaws theives drive or start without need for brakes.
    How would you prevent stalling while cruising?
     
    Burt Squareman, Nov 24, 2004
    #9
  10. pbrinkleyrogers

    Terry Guest

    By not using radio trash parts!
    A good toggle switch not likely to fail.
    I have Cutlet-Hammer switches that are at least 30 years old.
    And I have never had a good quality toggle switch fail.
    No the microfancy swithces, with the flattened paddle shapped
    levers are junk.
    Good quality alarm switches, like those sold by Ademco, get turned
    off and on once a day, 5 or 6 days a week for decades with no problems.
    I used to do allamrs on the side, and most of the 50+ systems that I
    installed 3 years ago are still going strong. I have updated many of the
    controllers, door switches(magnetic switches seem to be designed to fail)
    but the only lock I replaced was due to thhe owner lossing some keys.
    And I have 2 friends that are in the alarm business full time.
    While many newwer systems are going keypad, they are much less reliable
    then key switches. I have wokred in the electronic field for 35 years,
    and replaced many defective parts. And inspite of the large number of devices
    that use toggle switches, the only ones I have had to replace are the mini
    style. Go to an reputable industriel sparts outlet. By a good quality DPDT
    switch and wire it so both internal switches are in parallel. And be prepared
    to keep moving it to each new car/truck you buy for as long as you plan to drive.
    Full sized switches are very good.
    Mini/micro sized switches will fail. Soon.
    Don't use relays. While good ones will work fine, you will be adding
    more "things" to fail. The simpler a circuit, the more less there is to fail.

    As to shorting out the primary of the ignition coil, BAD idea.
    Honda OEM ignitors and coils are too delicate and expensive.
    A you stand a very good chance of frying the ignition coil.
    Terry
     
    Terry, Nov 24, 2004
    #10
  11. pbrinkleyrogers

    SoCalMike Guest

    i like the negative ground to coil idea. is it really just *that* easy?
    wire from negative side of coil, to ground, with a switch in there? it
    wont set off a MIL if the engine is started mistakenly?
     
    SoCalMike, Nov 24, 2004
    #11
  12. pbrinkleyrogers

    Terry Guest

    I would never short anything to ground in a car I liked.
    I would consider putting a switch in series with either
    the ignition coil)or more correctly find the fuse that
    supplies power to the ignitor and put switch in series
    with that fuse), or in series with the fuel pump, my choice.
    Or to be a real hardass, put a 4PST (4PDT but only use the same
    side!) with one set in series with the fuel pump, one in series
    with the ignition and one in series with the AT/Clutch interlock.

    But even with all the defeats you can come up with, they can
    still hoist the car onto a flat bed and haul her away. I have seen
    several cars on flat beds in Lexington KY with lights flashing,
    horns beeping, and in one case a voice system shouting "help I am
    being stolen" with no one paying the slightest attention.

    If I had a car I really liked I would cob a system with a GPS,
    a cellphone (or a ham radio) link so the car could tell me where
    she is. But even that would fail if they put the car inside a trailer.

    If someone really wants my 1991 Civic hatchback, they can steal her.
    I will not be happy and if I catch them it will likely get ugly.
    I got rid of the rice boy rims and tires, have nothing that makes
    her stand out. She is in good shape, but hardly something for a
    thief to get excited over.

    I think of cars as "she" because if you ignore them, they will go away.

    Terry
     
    Terry, Nov 25, 2004
    #12
  13. "SoCalMike" wrote in message
    TYPE 1: Run 4-feet of plug wire from coil (secondary,) to switch
    (spst) then ground with normal wire.
    TYPE 2: Wire from negative side of coil (primary,) to ground,
    with a suitable switch and a *resistor* (2-3-Ohms) in there. YOU
    MUST include the resistor or you'll overheat and damage the coil.

    Yes, these kill switches are *that* easy with minimal stock
    alterations. Removing them simply means ripping the wires out.
    There should be no MIL/CEL since ECU doesn't detect
    spark. Example: R = V / A. 14.4-Volts divided by 6-Amps
    is 2.4-Ohms at 86.4-Watts. Find a suitable resistor. Notice
    that modern coils handle up to 8-Amps.
     
    Ricky Spartacus, Nov 25, 2004
    #13
  14. pbrinkleyrogers

    KWW Guest

    How about a count down timer so that, if the driver has not entered a
    specific code into a keypad (turning a light green) then 12 VDC gets sent to
    a reproduction Model A coil which is wired to a wide-mesh screen under the
    driver's seat pad. This sends a high voltage, very low amp shock. That
    way, IF the guy doesn't wreck the car (so you get a replacement), he will at
    least get out fast.
    I used to have such a setup on a chair for parties. Harmless but fun.
     
    KWW, Nov 25, 2004
    #14
  15. pbrinkleyrogers

    Terry Guest

    While I like the sound of it, ZAP-OUCH!,I would be afraid of
    either having it false and go off on me, or to work as planned,
    but kill the theif in which case you will go to jail for a long
    time, and his family will get all of your money.
    Terry
     
    Terry, Nov 25, 2004
    #15
  16. Can't go wrong with the trunk monkey:
    http://www.milkandcookies.com/links/13212/

    RAT
     
    Rattus the RAT, Nov 26, 2004
    #16
  17. pbrinkleyrogers

    Keith J Guest

    Old story but true (as far as CNN can report) from 12/111998:
    <http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/africa/9812/11/flame.thrower.car/>

    Go ahead, steal these cars!
     
    Keith J, Nov 27, 2004
    #17
  18. pbrinkleyrogers

    slim Guest

    Multilock transmission lock.

    I had one break internally and it took a locksmith 15 minutes to cut it off.

    --

    http://www.bushflash.com/thanks.html
    "Bubba got a BJ, BU$H screwed us all!" - Slim
    http://www.worldmessenger.20m.com/weapons.html#wms
    George "The AWOL President" Bush: http://www.awolbush.com/
    WHY IRAQ?: http://www.angelfire.com/creep/gwbush/remindus.html
    http://www.toostupidtobepresident.com/shockwave/chickenhawks.htm
     
    slim, Nov 27, 2004
    #18
  19. pbrinkleyrogers

    TomP Guest

    One word: Rottweiler

    --
    Tp,

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    TomP, Dec 4, 2004
    #19
  20. pbrinkleyrogers

    TomP Guest

    A better neighborhood? No such thing anymore. Many thanks to the
    A.C.L.U. for their efforts to severely limit or stop the police from using
    the one tool that worked... "profiling."

    A few years ago thieves stole a '95 Accord parked less than 15 feet from
    my bedroom. My "better" neighborhood didn't mean a thing. Oh yea, they
    found the car a few days later. Parked in a "bad" neighborhood, completely
    stripped. If Honda was still building that car, I could have shipped the
    white body back to Ohio for remanufacture, that's how stripped it was.

    --
    Tp,

    -------- __o
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    TomP, Dec 4, 2004
    #20
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