2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission $3.00 switch saved my Truck

[TOWGUY]

I had to go to Tucson, AZ this week for hip replacement surgery. My surgery was scheduled for Monday morning, so my wife and I headed down from Colorado Sunday. Our motel was in a pretty nice area, but being so close to the border, I decided to show my wife the disconnect switch that I had installed several years ago. My truck is an automatic, so I just spliced into the clutch wire and mounted the toggle down by the hood release handle where it is out of site but easy to reach. All went well with the surgery and my wife and sister had just had dinner and settled into the room. She had found a good well lit parking spot and locked the truck up. Something came up and she had to walk over to the office, walked right past the truck and all was fine. When she got to the office, there was a young couple at the counter asking alot of questions about the motel, things to do, location etc. My wife was finally able to talk to the clerk and as she headed back to the room, she notices that the dome light is on. Then she sees the guy sitting behind the wheel, he had shoved a screw driver under the drivers door handle and opened the door, had already popped my ignition with a pair of vice grips and was attempting to start the truck with the screwdriver, the key switch was on and he knew enough that when it didn't crank, he was fumbling under the dash, looking for my switch. As she is screaming at him, she also notices the second guy parked in a car directly in front of my truck. The guy in my truck gets out, grins at her and kind of shrugs his shoulders and walks to the car. She knows she is in a bad situation but manages to get a plate and description of the car and runs to the desk to call the police. The police arrive and do manage to get a couple of good prints and take a report. They told her that the lisc. plate is a good number and registered in the area. They seemed to have an idea of who the guy might be. The next day my truck is towed to the closest Dodge dealer, Jim Click, and they had the parts and were able to get my truck put together for the trip home. $500. 00 seemed a little steep for the new switch and install, but what am I going to do, I'm over 500 miles from home, its 111 degrees outside and I am in no condition to try and work on my truck. So after all is said and done and we are safely home, I think the young couple was there to distract the clerk, I'm thankful that my wonderful, brave wife is OK, (I love my truck, but it is only a truck), I do still have my truck, with a few issues for the insurance company to deal with, and I am now trying to decide what to add to my truck for additional security. I know if they want it bad enough, they will have it. I'm sure with a few more seconds, he would have found my switch and my truck would be parted out or now learning how to speak spanish. Watch Out, they want our trucks!!!!

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Neat story - glad for you and the relatively happy ending - as well as the lesson to be learned...

 

[Joe G.]

You might rig another switch that kills the injection pump. That way if they find your other switch and get it to crank it won't start.

 

[Will24]

Glad to hear everything worked out! One more reason to encourage CCW also...





-Will

 

[jandtjil]

Heres to a speedy recuperation, glad the Mrs and truck (Amber) are okay!

Sounds like your Mrs is quite a firecracker, not many folks react as calmly.

JJ

 

[BILLYGEE]

whatever happened to the old days?

Grandpappy called it a set gun... take the fine shot out and pack 'em w/rock salt. Probably wouldn't kill 'em but change their ways... probably...

 

[Joe Mc]

Glad to hear your wife is fine, hope your recovery is speedy and goes well. I agree with the second switch on the pump. I have got to get a switch on mine . . . I'm going with a push button that you have to "hold" while cranking to start and a toggle for the pump. When I finally get to it . . . . hope I get to it before someone else decides they like my truck more than I do. Best wishes to you for a speedy recovery.

 

[Allnew2Me]

I agree that the disconnect switch is a good thing as proved by your experience. Anoher cheap insurance thing you can do regardless of what other things you have done is this. If you are in an area that is questionable you can just open the PDC under the hood and pull the fuel system relay, the ignition run fuse, the starter solenoid relay, or any number of fuses and relays that will keep it fro starting. Evenif they find that you removed them they still have to have them to get it to start and the chance of that is slim at best. It is a pain to have to do this but compared to losing our turck it is not all that inconvenient.

 

[Stranger]

Pulling the relays is what I do. Even when I leave the truck in front of the house when we take the other one. The bad guys will most probably not have a $20 relay or if you pull 3 they definitely won't have 3 of them.

 

[MAX A/C]

One more reason to encourage CCW also... -Will

Which would have been illegal to deploy in this case. In AZ, you can't threaten the use of deadly force to protect personal property.

Scott

 

[Will24]

While it would have been illegal to protect the truck with the weapon, it would not have been illegal for TowGuy's wife to protect herself had the criminal not just ignored her.





-Will

 

[RandyHamilton]

While it would have been illegal to protect the truck with the weapon, it would not have been illegal for TowGuy's wife to protect herself had the criminal not just ignored her.





-Will

CCW,, the most effective life insurance available. Ya hope to never have to use it, but man is it comforting to know it is there if you need it.

 

[TOWGUY]

I have a CCW and carry religiously. Of course laying in the hospital bed with a gown and no pants, I wasn't the poster boy for self defense. Things might have been different had they happened 24 hours prior. While I would not shoot someone just to protect my personal property, had he come up with anything that appeared to be a weapon, I would not hesitate to defend myself or any innocent bystanders. I believe the magic words are, "I was in fear for my life". I hope I never have to make that call, but if the time comes, I will do what I must. Thanks for all the well wishes and yes, she is quite a "firecracker". Jay

 

[pgleavitt]

Bye the way, your going to love the new hip. No more pain and your mobility back. I just had mine replaced 7 weeks ago.

 

[MLee]

TOWGUY;

Sent you a PM on what I did on mine.

Marv.

 

[SHobbs]

Best wishes to your wife on her recovery. Glad they didn't try to hurt her. Too bad you are not in Texas, it's legal to shoot these idiots at night. Only at night can you do this being that you have no clue if they are armed or not. I would rather be judged by 12 than carried by 6.

 

[WyattEarp]

TowGuy im glad your doing okay and that the mrs's wasn't harmed and the truck was fixed back.

To tell you the truth just my opinion and i have been a member here for several years now, i know we all like to talk about our mods and stuff but has anyone thought about how many of these hoodlums are lurking on this site just sitting waiting for one of us to spill the beans on our little tricks of the trade with bypass's and switches.

As for defending my stuff, I will defend my property as quickly as i will myself, I and others work to hard for someone to take what we have, defend you bet, guess im old fashioned when it comes to things like that but i make no joke about it.

Hope the new hip does you good also...

 

[DBrickel]

I'm glad to see it all worked out for you and hope the hip goes well also.



I just got mine back from being stolen. I had to take it into the body shop for about $5000. worth of repairs plus I lost about $7000. worth of tools. Ins. is paying for repairs but only $250. for tools. I was told I need a comercial policy to cover work related tools. I am going to install kill switch and am going to look into getting Lojack as well. Again hope you heal well

 

[CEdwards]

In oklahoma you can shoot day or night, armed or not. all they have to do is not leave fast enough when you tell them to.

 

[TOWGUY]

WyattEarp,

I have to agree with you. What better place to learn about our trucks than from the guys that are trying to protect their trucks. I have no doubt that the guy trying to take my truck was looking for my switch, he had everything ready and it was not starting, he was still looking, this was not his first rodeo. The fact that this guy was willing to steal the things that I have worked so hard for really pisses me off, the thought that he could have been the type to harm my wife as part of his "job", makes me want to end his career in the most violent of ways.

We are all doing pretty well. My wife is still a little shook-up over the deal, my hip is getting better every day and my truck goes in the shop on Thursday. Thanks all for your concern. Jay