pr0ject TRUENO
08-19-2004, 09:47 PM
In the recent light of so many cars (mostly honda's) being stolen, I've decided to post up some theft prevention tips and tricks. Feel free to add your own.
Of course, the best possible way to deter thieves from your car is to not let them see it, so park in a garage. An alarm also works well, but my saying is, if a thief really wants your car, he'll find a way around it. Therefore this thread was created to make the potential thief's job harder...
KILL SWITCHES
Wire kill switches for the ignition or fuel pump. Hide this in a place not visible to someone attempting to jack your car. For ignition kill, wire the switch inbetween the signal from your ignition switch to the distibutor, or the coil positive wire. As for the fuel pump, the jacker might be able to get it to go a few feet before the car shuts off on him.
MECHANICAL/ELECTRICAL DEVICES
Mechanical theft prevention devices such as the Club or Autolock work pretty well, but it can be a bit cumbersome lugging this thing around and lock/unlocking it all the time. But I guess if you dont want your car jacked, this'll work well. In my experience, the Autolock works better than the club. Amateur thieves may pick the lock from the outside with another key, so the best way to eliminate this possibility is to either shave your door handles or change your key locks to Solex's (most newer cars can't use these). Like I said, if a thief really wants your car he'll get it either way, like breaking your window. That's why you invest in a good alarm. Most alarms have some sort of reset button so if you get into the car you can just push it and the alarm will turn off. Make sure its not in an obvious place (like most hondas where the button is either behind the hood latch or on the driver side kick panel. INVEST IN A GOOD ALARM is the bottom line. Get one with a Ni-CD backup battery so even if your battery is disconnected the alarm will still go off and if they try to start it even if the alarm was reset the car will not start (immobilizer)
GPS/LOJACK
Yeah, the initial cost may be a lot, but the theives wont know what hit them. Most companies guarantee the car found within 24 hours or you get a reward. Most police cars now have trackers than can track down your car as soon as you report it stolen. In actuality, your car will probably be found a couple hours or less after its reported stolen. The systems all utilize some sort of GPS sensor located around the car, almost impossible to locate if the theives dont know its there. Several sensors are installed in various areas of the car, ie dash, door panel, etc, running independent of the battery, so even if the battery is disconnected the sensors still work.
OTHER METHODS
I usually take out my battery so the theives can't boost my car. But then again, they can still get into your car and take stuff from it because your alarm wont work. For Honda owners, open up your steering column. There's a white circle in the back of your ignition switch goes. Its attached with two phillips screws on either side. Take them out, fill them up with epoxy or replace them with hex/torx screws. Usually thieves, after breaking the steering wheel lock, will take out the two aforementioned screws, and the white cover will pop off. They'll shove the phillips in the circle at the middle of the cap and start your car. Eliminate this possibility by making sure they dont get that cap off. Disconnect the stock hood latch and mount it somewhere else not as easily accessible. As a tip, make sure your windows are all the way rolled up when you leave the car. Just a little crack is more than enough for a theif to shove a screwdriver in and pop your window out. This is especially true for Hondas, where the door lacks a piece on top of the window (there is no extension to the door on top of the window) and therefore is how so many hondas are stolen. There are also systems that allow you to disconnect your steering wheel from the hub. It's a very good idea because theives cannot break the steering wheel lock by pulling the steering wheel, but they can still break the lock cylinder and release it that way. In that case, the missing steering wheel prevents the theives from driving away with the car.
Just my two cents. Hope no one got offended.
Of course, the best possible way to deter thieves from your car is to not let them see it, so park in a garage. An alarm also works well, but my saying is, if a thief really wants your car, he'll find a way around it. Therefore this thread was created to make the potential thief's job harder...
KILL SWITCHES
Wire kill switches for the ignition or fuel pump. Hide this in a place not visible to someone attempting to jack your car. For ignition kill, wire the switch inbetween the signal from your ignition switch to the distibutor, or the coil positive wire. As for the fuel pump, the jacker might be able to get it to go a few feet before the car shuts off on him.
MECHANICAL/ELECTRICAL DEVICES
Mechanical theft prevention devices such as the Club or Autolock work pretty well, but it can be a bit cumbersome lugging this thing around and lock/unlocking it all the time. But I guess if you dont want your car jacked, this'll work well. In my experience, the Autolock works better than the club. Amateur thieves may pick the lock from the outside with another key, so the best way to eliminate this possibility is to either shave your door handles or change your key locks to Solex's (most newer cars can't use these). Like I said, if a thief really wants your car he'll get it either way, like breaking your window. That's why you invest in a good alarm. Most alarms have some sort of reset button so if you get into the car you can just push it and the alarm will turn off. Make sure its not in an obvious place (like most hondas where the button is either behind the hood latch or on the driver side kick panel. INVEST IN A GOOD ALARM is the bottom line. Get one with a Ni-CD backup battery so even if your battery is disconnected the alarm will still go off and if they try to start it even if the alarm was reset the car will not start (immobilizer)
GPS/LOJACK
Yeah, the initial cost may be a lot, but the theives wont know what hit them. Most companies guarantee the car found within 24 hours or you get a reward. Most police cars now have trackers than can track down your car as soon as you report it stolen. In actuality, your car will probably be found a couple hours or less after its reported stolen. The systems all utilize some sort of GPS sensor located around the car, almost impossible to locate if the theives dont know its there. Several sensors are installed in various areas of the car, ie dash, door panel, etc, running independent of the battery, so even if the battery is disconnected the sensors still work.
OTHER METHODS
I usually take out my battery so the theives can't boost my car. But then again, they can still get into your car and take stuff from it because your alarm wont work. For Honda owners, open up your steering column. There's a white circle in the back of your ignition switch goes. Its attached with two phillips screws on either side. Take them out, fill them up with epoxy or replace them with hex/torx screws. Usually thieves, after breaking the steering wheel lock, will take out the two aforementioned screws, and the white cover will pop off. They'll shove the phillips in the circle at the middle of the cap and start your car. Eliminate this possibility by making sure they dont get that cap off. Disconnect the stock hood latch and mount it somewhere else not as easily accessible. As a tip, make sure your windows are all the way rolled up when you leave the car. Just a little crack is more than enough for a theif to shove a screwdriver in and pop your window out. This is especially true for Hondas, where the door lacks a piece on top of the window (there is no extension to the door on top of the window) and therefore is how so many hondas are stolen. There are also systems that allow you to disconnect your steering wheel from the hub. It's a very good idea because theives cannot break the steering wheel lock by pulling the steering wheel, but they can still break the lock cylinder and release it that way. In that case, the missing steering wheel prevents the theives from driving away with the car.
Just my two cents. Hope no one got offended.