2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Ram's easy to steal?

[cmckinney]

This past weekend I had my truck almost stolen.



I was coming out with a friend after seeing a movie and heard an alarm going off, hey it's mine. I saw a guy standing near my truck and I started to jog over to my truck. The guy bolted to his car and took off.



Well I opened my door and saw the wires hanging from underneath my dash. The guy was trying to hot wire my truck. Nothing in my truck was taken so I am assuming he was in there to take my whole truck and not just a radio or cd's.



I couldn't figure out how he got in my truck b/c there was no broken glass and I didn't see any smudges on my glass where they would try to jimmy the lock.



On Sunday after church I noticed a pen size hole near my outer door handle. The thief got in my truck by prying the sheet metal back and used some instrument to unlock my door.



I was surprised at how vulnerable these trucks are to crooks. What a crappy feeling to have.



-CM

 

[Ncostello]

You'd be surprised how easy it is to get into alot of vehicles. Saw something on 60 Minutes once about this. These guys were "retired" crooks who were telling how easy it is to open just about anything they want.



The best defense for a Cummins Dodge is to park it and drain the fuel cannister. Unless you know how to prime it... it aint gonna start with air in the injectors. Heck... sometimes I cant get my own truck started after a filter change!!

 

[gonehuntingagain]

I know that with a slim jim, it only takes less than 20 seconds for me to open my truck, and I am not a locksmith... . someone with experience could do it in 5-10 seconds.



A friend of mine is a locksmith and he said to take a small piece of pvc pipe and put it on the bar that activates the door lock (the thing that pops up when you unlock the door). The pipe will just spin around the linkage rod making it almost impossible to use a slim jim. The same thing is used on Toyota trucks.



I know this won't prevent the type of entry that was used on your truck.



Maybe DC needs to start using the transponder keys with their trucks. The computer must receive a signal that it knows from the key before it will even start. These keys are very expensive too.



Of course if someone wants it bad enough, they will get it.



Criminals suck

 

[Sregorb]

I assume you reported it... ...



Did you get the license/make/model of the "attempted" thief and turn it over?

I agree, criminals suck, making the justice system do something about it is the challenge. Make things easier and just eliminate the problem for them. Isn't TX a "make-my-day" state?



Brian

 

[Sregorb]

Also,

CM do you have a kill switch installed? That might be a good day-project for ya. Might help the piece of mind a bit knowing there's additional problems/roadblocks for the bad guys preventing them from gaining your property... ...



Brian

 

[SOOT]

Atleast you cought him in time.



The 03 Rams have the chipped key as an option. When ever we (DC Dealer) reprogram a computer if it has the chipped key we have to call DC and get a code to reprogram the key to the truck.

 

[cmckinney]

The alarrm I have installed in my truck has the automatic kill switch feature. So even if he tried to bust the column the truck doesn't start however I don't want to depend on such a feature ever again.



I'm just lucky that I caught the guy right when he was in the process off trying to kill the alarm.



God humbled me that evening reminding me that my life can easily be turned upside down.



-CM

 

[Chipstien]

Shhhhhhhhh, don't let everyone know. I would like to keep my truck.

 

[scbrown]

One of the guys at work drives a 1500, and is truck was broken into the same way as you describe.

Next to the door handle they pryed the plastic back and bent the sheet metal a little.

They took his radio and CD's.



I'm not sure what can be done to prevent this?

 

[BIGDIG]

Forget who makes it but I have a portable electric fence system for my horses I use when we loose power or to run temp fences. runs on 6vt bat ... ... GOOD ZIP TO IT... that'l teach em!!!:-laf

 

[K_Arts]

Here's some food for thought.



Your question is, are our trucks easy to steal? Ohh Yes. Not only is the locking system very easy to bypass, but no matter what type of alarm system or kill switch you have. Our trucks can be started with a set of jumper cables!!!!



If you have a car parked close, use a set of jumper cables to supply power to the starter and whoola. The truck is started. I personally saw this done on my truck when I got stranded one day. I was just amazed.



The only way and I repeat... THE ONLY WAY to prevent these trucks from starting is to shut off the fuel supply!!!!



Kev

 

[BIGDIG]

Originally posted by K_Arts

Here's some food for thought.



Your question is, are our trucks easy to steal? Ohh Yes. Not only is the locking system very easy to bypass, but no matter what type of alarm system or kill switch you have. Our trucks can be started with a set of jumper cables!!!!



If you have a car parked close, use a set of jumper cables to supply power to the starter and whoola. The truck is started. I personally saw this done on my truck when I got stranded one day. I was just amazed.



The only way and I repeat... THE ONLY WAY to prevent these trucks from starting is to shut off the fuel supply!!!!



Kev

:--)

HOW CAN YOU SHUT OFF THE FUEL SUPPLY????

 

[Pit Bull]

Originally posted by cmckinney





God humbled me that evening reminding me that my life can easily be turned upside down.



-CM

CM. if this is the worst that happens to you in your life consider yourself lucky. All vehicles are easy to steal. That's why you have insurance



PS what did the cops say when you told them God tried to steal your truck :-laf

 

[Sticks]

Originally posted by BIGDIG

:--)

HOW CAN YOU SHUT OFF THE FUEL SUPPLY????

Pluck the fuse. I personally pull the main fuse in the PDC anytime I leave my vehicle in a "questionable" area. There are various other ways to impede the thieves.



You can't stop the pros' that do good scouting before they snatch. But the ones that do it by chance you can slow them way down, or prevent it all together.



Another thing with my truck, reverse is a little touchy to get in gear. I've figured out the trick, but the fact that it is a 6 speed, combined with the Hurst t-handle shifter... Valets usually leave it where I left it for them because "We could not find reverse. " I usually park nose in.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

Someone broke into mine about 6 years ago. The mutt drove a punch through the edge of the door skin at the handle assembly and used the end of the punch to lift the lock rod by the shoulder on the plastic retainer clip. One fix is to make up a sheet metal baffle to sandwich between the door skin and the latch, covering the lock rod. If someone drives a punch in, the door skin is not going to flex much and the punch goes through. The baffle will just deform and jam the lock rod when the punch hits it.

 

[WDaniels]

Hey Mr. Donnelly,

Do you have drawings and instructions or pictures or something so that those who have not been inside our doors might follow?

Any and all help is appreciated.

WD

 

[Mundgyver]

I believe that you can lock down the engin from starting by have the ecm (dongle) I think they call it turned on. This feature works with the Road Relay 4 as explained to me. My understanding is that the ecm is locked down and the engine will not start at all because you are locking down the injection pump. I'm about to find out in the next week or two when I get a little more time and experience with it. I understand that a Cummins shop has to turn this feature on.



A well hidden kill switch for the lift pump and the injector pump along with a fuel shut off solenoid would work real well too.



Personally I think that if you catch someone trying to break into your rig, he has just given up his OSHA certification for the ability to be lead free in our current (Protect Nature) ideology.

 

[DieselPuter]

Painfully Easy

As a person who steals cars for a living I can tell you that a Dodge Ram even with a fancy alarm is really easy to take. I can get into the truck is 5 seconds or less, bypass the alarm and "slam" the ignition all under a minute. Most alarm installers cut into the ignition wire right under the dash, if you have an alarm just look and see if you can find where the alarm was "tied" into the ignition wire and you'll see what I mean. Dodge ingitions are cheap to replace and easy to bust, I even have a tool that fits right into a DC ignition and snaps the wafers.



Tips to prevent theft or break in:



1. Remove the virtical linkage rod that connect the lock bell housing to the door knob lock button ( the one that goes up and down so you can "see" if its locked or unlocked. The key will still open the door in the lock, just almost impossibile to grab with a slim jim. Just glue it in place after you remove the rod.



2. Dont waste your money on an alarm just get a blinking red light in a very noticable place on your dash. If you do waste your $$ on a alarm for gods sake don't put the brand name sticker on your window, it just tells the thief what he needs to know to work around it.



3. Kill Switch, Kill Switch, Kill Switch. Mine is hooked to my passenger air bag on/off. Don't put a little rocker switch under the panel, that is the first thing they look for!!!!



4. A club is always a deturrent, get one that uses the round or 4 sided key, I can pick a regular club in a few seconds.



5. Accecpt the fact that you will never stop a proffessional and make sure your full coverage is paid up.



An NO I am not a thief, I own a repossession company and do this several times a day!!!



Jon

 

[Pit Bull]

Re: Painfully Easy

Originally posted by rjrepo



And NO I am not a thief, I own a repossession company and do this several times a day!!!



Jon

Good advise. I would not say you were stealing, but you got my attention :-laf

 

[CFAR]

Okay, Okay, I'll make my payment.