keeping your car... anti theft devices?

Since my Galaxie is my daily, I've been getting paranoid as cars have been getting ripped off in the parking lot of where I work. Other then actually not driving it, what sort of anti-theft devices do you guys use? I'd like to learn how to set up a kill switch, but I was wondering what other things you've seen work well? Clubs? Locks?

 

Watched a video on The Club. Took the guy about 10 seconds to byp*** it with a pair of bolt cutters. Just cut the rim of the steering wheel and removed it.

 

A buddy of mine alway pulls the coil. You could also use a hollow coil wire.

 

I pull a relay out of my fuse block that kills the whole shebang

 

I have two kill switches. One grounds the coil and I have a big Flaming River switch that kills all the power in the car.

-Duck

 

I run an electric fuel pump on a relay. Ran the ground wire for the relay to the 'hot' pole on the cigarette lighter. Push in the lighter, fuel pump runs. Pull it out 'off', no fuel but the car will go about a block before the carb bowl runs out.

I've heard that running a wire from the back of the ciggy lighter to the coil negative will ground the coil and prevent starting when pushed in. pull the lighter out and it runs.

 

The problem with a kill switch on a daily is that you loose all of your station pre-sets and clock on your radio if you have a modern CD/ radio. If not,then that'll help.I also hid a switch for my electric fuel pump in my ash tray,but I like the cigarette lighter idea a lot. I gotta remember that one.

 

Park the Ford at home under lock and no key, buy a used Yugo, Drive it for work.
Who would steal a Yugo?

 

CruZer, you don't use the kill switch to kill your entire electrical system! Just some part of the ignition (like the coil) or the wire to the starter relay, or the fuel pump.

 

There was an article in R&C forever ago after someone stole their project Biscayne, it was a battery and a little remote came with it. It would cut off most all of the power, but let enough through so you wouldn't lose your radio presets or clock or anything, but not enough to start the car. And if someone tried to start it more that 3 times or something it would cut off all power. you'd just push the other ****on when you get there to disarm it. Oh, and if there was a big drain on power like leaving your lights on or something when you arm it, it would cut off all power too. too bad I forgot what it was called

 

Remove the rotor in the dizzy.

 

I had a freind that always hooked up a new ign switch in a weird place, like under seat, or hidden behind something. (like a hinged speaker grill.) Twice he got in the car to find the original switch dangling with wires cut. He had always left the stocker, just made the wires end somewhere under the dash. Imagine someone breaking in, trying to wire it, and not being able to figure out what the hell he was doing wrong!

 

Just drive a Hokey *** **** ugly old truck without a single "right part" on it that someone might want to part out off it and you won't have to worry about it. ( Knock on 28 coats worth of varnished hardwood flatbed wood..) Just be fairly aware of your hood and park responsively and just drive it!
A sign on the dash saying "this vehicle will self destruct if proper code is not entered before starting" would help... Don't need a code, just the sign.

 

I use a magnetic interlock switch. I came accross them in my Hot Tub repair work. I hide the switch behind the drivers door front doorjam. When I open the door I just stick the magnet in the correct spot and the car will run. My high school auto shop teacher also had good idea. He used a fake interior light activator in door jam as a starter ****on. Ya gotta start it with the door open though. Just my .01 cent(im saving)

 

Best deterant I've ever used is placing a couple used 12 Ga. 00 Buck shotgun shells, a 357 speedloader and a worn Guns & Ammo magazine on the dash. You can leave the windows down and not worry just about anywhere. I actually watched out a window as a couple punks got in my car and jumped right back out again a few years ago. Funny watching them trying to look cool & innocent as they bugged out of that hotel parking lot with their heads whipping around trying to look everywhere at once. They left me a free screwdriver & short crowbar too...

 

[ QUOTE ]
My high school auto shop teacher also had good idea. He used a fake interior light activator in door jam as a starter ****on. Ya gotta start it with the door open though

[/ QUOTE ]

how did he keep from engaging the starter when he shut the door? Or maybe im missing something really simple?

 

here's an easy one. get a 30A bosch spdt relay from your local car audio shop.
next, locate your starter wire at the ign. switch. cut the starter wire and add a bit of length to it. take the key side of the wire and attatch it to pin 87a. now, take the starter side and attatch it to pin 30.
now, ground pin 85. locate a wire that goes hot with your parking light/headlight. attatch it to pin 86. now cap off pin 87.
now, hit the key.....no start. turn on the headlight...hit the key...start.
simple enough, and cheap to boot!! if'n you don't wanna hit the lights each time, then a switch wired to 12volts attatched to pin 86 will work as well. i've also done them so that when you try to start without the lights on, it will blast the horn when the ign. cylinder is turned over.
it's a much more complicated diagram. mabye the next tech. week

 

for something a whole bunch more lowtech, buy a baby monitor and a shotgun. Stick a baby monitor in your car and one by your bed. If someone tries to break in you'll hear it and come out with the shotgun.
Just an idea.

 

I set the car on the frame,Hide the Switchbox and kill the 12v. to the switchbox via a HIDDEN toggle switch.If you cant lift it,It wont move!

 

[ QUOTE ]
a battery and a little remote came with it. It would cut off most all of the power, but let enough through so you wouldn't lose your radio presets or clock or anything,

[/ QUOTE ]

That is a battery made by "Globe Union" for Sears, Exide, Interstate, etc...! (Also available at "Batteries Plus").

Next you'd want to keep the car in park or in reverse gear by installing a hasp or a loop on the floor..., this way you can padalock the shifter in place.

But if they really want it..., they'll get it...!

 

.

 

A lot of vehicles that are stolen are flatbedded away. Which means you can have any system you want on it and it's still going to end up a stolen car. They'll drag it if they have to. Park it and angle it in area's where a flatbed or tow will have difficulty getting to it. On another note,I live in the hood here in the scariest neighborhood in Philly, Gray's Ferry. A lot of guys take the battery out of their cars at night, and if the car is parked on the street, it's never the last in the row on "onstreet" parking . If your car is last all a tow truck has to do is back up, lift it and drag it a block where it's quickly secured and off they go.

 

I've worked in some bad districts, where I'd usually recoved one or two stolen vehicles a day. I noticed that the point of entry is usually they go under the door lock with a pick or kitchen knife,and pop the door,or else they just pull out the door a little at the top and reach down and pop the door. It was rare when I'd see a window smashed out to gain access to the car. I guess the bad guys figured that would bring too much attention from cops if they drive around with a smashed out window. I've seen convi****ed video's where guy's film themselves stealing cars while their friends time them. Average time from start to finish, with a club on it is about 15 seconds.

 

Tman, are you saying Kojack didn't square up with you on some parts?
The Wizzard

 

add 2 more doors .....it will be safe ....

 

LOL well, I fixed that problem... which is why I might have a new one.

thanks for all the ideas, guys... nice to get a few views on it. Surprised... I thought the club and all that was more popular, but it seems switches seem to be the most effective or at least used method. I'm gonna look into the lighter trick... I don't smoke, so that would be perfect.

 

hey I resemble that remark . . .

 

Nope, I dont have a prob with Kojack.

 

[ QUOTE ]
I would be paranoid to if I had peoples money AND the parts I sold em.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thats what I like about you Tman, you dont hold anything back!!

 

hahahaha.....glad you guys got the joke and weren't offended .....most who know me know. i don't have a problem with a cool more door .....

nah man if they want it . they will get it ....i hate thieves .....one dude had his impala stolen OUT OF A LOCKED GARAGE !!!!!! the ****ers cut out the garage door and took it....that is some balls !!!!!!!.......****s that you have to worry about that ****...i was a bit freaked one day when i went to a doctors appt. and a homie started askin how much my car was worth ....i was stoked when i walked out later and it was still there untouched ....