Stoppin the thieves

[Kalaehina]

Without giving specifics, cuz I know the point is to have them hidden, how do you guys make sure your trucks stay where you put um? Specifically with some sort of fuel shut off solenoid switch. I need some kind of inexpensive insurance that my truck stays put, but is that what most of you did? Install a switch and hide it or did some of you get creative? Secret combination of switches? Purposely mislabeled switches hiding the real kill switch? At my first job all the tour buses needed to have a certain interior light on first before the starter switch would work. Just throw me some ideas, and for goodness sake don't tell me exactly where you put them or you'd have to kill me after . I feel I need to do this cuz there are alot of chronics out here that are begining to just steal cars and trucks because they need a ride somewhere, they just need to borrow your wheels to get home and they so thoughtfully leave your vehicle anywhere they please, where ever! Thanks for any info guys!

 

[TxDieselKid]

When I install my next fuel system, it will have a single pump mounted by the tank, and will have a switch on the wiring harness that will kill the power unless open.



Andrew

 

[illflem]

Andrew, do you think that will work? Seems like there's lots of 24 valves driving around with non-functioning lift pumps.

 

[LarryB]

My favirite idea is to connect the cig lighter in series with the clutch lock out switch. This way the cig lighter needs to be pushed in before the engine will start.

 

[Joe G.]

Kalaehina,



You are probably not going to stop a determined thief. However, if you make it time consuming to solve then most of them will give up. I have two switches. One in plain sight and the other hidden. The one in plain sight is on my switch panel and must be on for start. If all switches on the panel are off it will not start. This switch interrupts the big white wire to the fuel solenoid thru a relay. For long term parking (rare event for me) I just disconnect the relay under the hood. The other switch is hidden so that you have to know just exactly where to put your finger to turn it on. This switch disables the starter. So if a thief want's to steal my truck they have to get it to crank. If they solve that then they have to get the fuel to work. Too much work for them I think.

 

[Morphious]

TDK - that idea doesn't work..... I had just such a setup on my truck, thinking that they would kill the VP44 from lack of fuel... . such was not the case. I also had the parking brake set as usual, with my broken handle..... so they drive it off without the fuel pump working and the rear brakes burning up the liners.....



What am I doing to prevent this from happening again? Good question. First, I'm going to keep my fuel relay cutoff still, but am going to go one step further and add in a fuel shutoff valve that works in opposite of the fuel pump turnon... . basically when the pump is switched on the shutoff valve is opened.



Second, I installed an alarm with these features: Auto door locking upon arming, Starter cutoff when armed (using the clutch switch wiring and not the keyed wiring). Pressure switch, door switches, hood switch.



As for other deterants..... I've come up with some ideas, some radical and extreme... . other just small things to keep them busy.



Morph.

 

[kiwi bird]

Reed relay, hidden under a panel or seat covering and activated with a magnet, activating a latching relay that releases when you turn the key off.

 

[vssman]

Install a switch on the 'run' position to your fuel cut-off relay. It will start and run only when the key is on start and dies when key is at run position. The easy (lazy) way to do this is to remove the fuse in the fuse box and replace it with wire and an inline fused switch.

 

[JR2]

Air horn wired into factory alarm... its not the best system, but if it ever goes off it gets peoples attention...

 

[Philip]

Check with the MFG of the alarm system. See if it has a kill setup in it if the front end goes over 30 degrees from level. Most alarms do. They do this so if a wrecker hooks up it will shut off after it reaches this level.



If you alarm does have this feature. Return it or have them tell you how to turn it off.



Check from under the truck that you can not reach the battery ground wire. If it is cut no alarm system will work. Plus they have time then to disable the alarm system before they rehook the cable. So relocate the ground wire so it can not be reached from under the truck.





You had joy riders last time. The good thief's use wreckers and you truck probable wouldn't be found again.

 

[Morphious]

Actually forgot, my alarm also came with a battery backup. I also plan on installing airhorns when I install the onboard air system and they will then be wired into the alarm.





Morph.

 

[QRTRHRS]

Originally posted by LarryB's Super Starter Contacts

My favirite idea is to connect the cig lighter in series with the clutch lock out switch. This way the cig lighter needs to be pushed in before the engine will start.

I agree with Larry on this one for the manual transmission owners. The clutch switch is easy enough to get to for modifications yet out of the way for a thief in a hurry. Why tap into your fuel system? Keep it simple.

 

[drees1]

On the mechanical engines, '94 - 98. 4, I think an external hood lock is in order. Open the hood, jump or tie up the solenoid, jump the starter and its running. My friend uses those steering wheel clubs and they do look like a hassle to disarm. Just some more thoughts.

 

[Joe G.]

The steering wheel clubs take about fifteen seconds to remove. Use a sharp hacksaw on the steering wheel rim. When the wheel is cut next to the club just jank the club out. Throw in it the gutter to mark where the vehicle used to be parked. A San Diego cop told me about that one.

 

[illflem]

Originally posted by QRTRHRS

I agree with Larry on this one for the manual transmission owners. The clutch switch is easy enough to get to for modifications yet out of the way for a thief in a hurry. Why tap into your fuel system? Keep it simple.

The wiring for the clutch safety switch is there on the autos also, instead of a switch there is a jumper wire. It's actually an easier install than on a manual.



I watched a documentary were a professional car thief had a club off in 10 seconds. The thief said an ignition disable was the best deterrent, most thieves don't want to fool around looking for non-stock items. He also said if they really want your rig they'll just winch it up on a trailer.

 

[MWilleford]

for 24valvers... The clutch cutoff seems easy to bypass. . if done under the dash. Howbout installing the cutout to the ECM power, or injetion pump power. These line would be harder to trace, as there is no clutch swich to show which wires were tampered with. Just use high quality sealed switches to prevent any type of bad connection.

 

[merryman]

I use a hidden push button in the wire to the starter relay. If the button is not held down it wont crank. The wire is easily accessed- on the '01 it is near the rear of the driver side batt. , and even has a "plug" in it so that it is easy to insert wires to the button.



vaughn

 

[Kalaehina]

Cool, great input you guys. So clutch switch seems the way to go, can anyone lead me in the right direction? Near the pedal? Which wires? This is unchartered territory for me . Thanks guys, keep the suggestions coming!

 

[QRTRHRS]

The push rod from the pedal to the master cylinder goes right through the switch. Look up there with a light and you will see the two wires coming out of it and there is a connection close by. It's tight but you should have enough room to splice in.

 

[srenfro]

While its true that a professional car thief can defeat most attempts by the vehicle owner to render it useless via alarm, disconnect switch etc. The average joyrider that you speak of isn't all that intelligent.



You've already got two deterents on your truck that will cause Joe S#!t bum to pass on taking your ride. First its a 5 speed, most of these knuckleheads dont have the brain power to coordinate the movement of foot off gas, push in clutch, shift stick, release clutch and step on gas. Way to many things for them to do, it overloads their brain. Second, do like I do, put the 4x4 shifter in nuteral and if by some miracle they can manage a manuel shift transmission, chances are thay'll never figure out why once they get it started it won't go.



I've been a cop for 11 years and I can on one hand count the number of manuel shifted vehicles reported or recovered stolen.



Good luck