RX7Club.com - Mazda RX7 Forum

RX7Club.com - Mazda RX7 Forum (https://www.rx7club.com/)
-   3rd Generation Specific (1993-2002) (https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-generation-specific-1993-2002-16/)
-   -   What is the easiest reversible way to disable the car (https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-generation-specific-1993-2002-16/what-easiest-reversible-way-disable-car-1131215/)

Jabberwocky 10-31-18 12:49 PM

What is the easiest reversible way to disable the car
 
So for theft prevention reasons, I'd like to render my car undrivable. I've hear that car thieves can be quite skilled when it comes to finding kill switches or replacing missing starter fuses. So I'd like to do something more. What is something easily removed from an rx7 without a lot of effort that will disable it? The car is driven once a week or so, i was thinking perhaps i'd just remove the ECU (takes me less than 10 mins) but perhaps there is something easier.

alexdimen 10-31-18 12:52 PM

Wheels. You don't even have to pop the hood.

94VRotary 10-31-18 01:19 PM

Either Dale or Rich brought up a good point on PFC ecu that you could set the idle to 250 rpm, so car won't start at all.
All you have to do it take the commander with you and car won't start with that setting.

XanderCage 10-31-18 01:31 PM

I love that idea of setting the idle super low and just walking away with the commander!

I might think twice about removing and replacing the ECU if you're going to be doing it often. Maybe I'm paranoid, but I just think that the last place I want wear-and-tear is my ECU connection pins. If something goes wrong there it could be a pain to diagnose, and might harm the engine.
Just my two cents.

Natey 10-31-18 01:39 PM

Pull the battery and lock the car. Profit.

Easier than removing the ECU and much harder to break or bend something while plugging it back in.

94VRotary 10-31-18 01:55 PM


Originally Posted by Natey (Post 12310788)
Pull the battery and lock the car. Profit.

Easier than removing the ECU and much harder to break or bend something while plugging it back in.

good idea, yet I don't want to walk around with 20 lbs battery on my hand.
even smaller ones are heavy as well.

I'm thinking about putting an extra connector on the direct wires to the injectors to prevent the car from starting.
Of course the connector would stay under the dash or something.

H_M 10-31-18 01:59 PM

Unplug the water temp sensor on the back of the water filler neck or pull the plug for fuse B2 on the main positive battery relay. Both will make your car crank but never start (ask me how I know).

WANKfactor 10-31-18 02:17 PM

Ignition lead?

mikejokich 10-31-18 03:26 PM

I am in the process of putting hidden switch under my car seat that has to be pressed in order for the starter to work. I just bought the small switch on Amazon. I will splice into the wire going to the clutch switch. You will have to have the momentary button pushed at the same time as turning the key forward. I could hide it even better to not be seen as easily but I plan to have it more under the seat cushion, not even visible if looking under the stock seat, and rather hidden.
Mike

cr-rex 10-31-18 03:33 PM

The commander idea is good but the pins in the plug are extremely fragile and can be bent and break easily with repeated install and removal.

if you're looking for something quick you can do like if you were going somewhere then you can put an inline fuse in one of your ignition wires and put the holder somewhere discreet like under the knee panel since it's so quick and easy to take off. That way all you have to carry around is a small fuse. You can get a little pouch thing for your keychain to hold it as well. It's better than carrying a battery or the commander.

so even if they get in the car, they won't be able to turn it on. Also lock your steering wheel by turning it until it engages the internal lock thing. Those 2 things alone are more than enough to deter someone. It will take more time than it's worth to bypass either of them. Worst case they'll leave you with a big mess of broken this and that but you'll still have the car

Sgtblue 10-31-18 03:56 PM


Originally Posted by Jabberwocky (Post 12310778)
So for theft prevention reasons, I'd like to render my car undrivable....

Is the car left outside or in a garage? B/C rendering it "undrivable" is only half the equation if it's left outside. The car is still worth a lot in pieces.

ZE Power MX6 10-31-18 05:26 PM

Is it that easy to start a car without a key?

Most of us re-wired our fuel pump, you can put that inline fuse somewhere hidden in the trunk and take it with you when you leave. But as Sgtblue mentioned, I have heard parts being stolen from a parked car, rarely hear the whole car got stolen.

adam c 10-31-18 06:34 PM

I wired in an on/off switch for the fuel pump on my old FB. Hide the switch somewhere discrete, and flip it off when you leave the car. If someone breaks in, the car may start, but it will quickly die, and wont start again.

Natey 10-31-18 09:46 PM

One night back in my FC days I was at a car meet and a bunch of us with 2nd gens thought it would be funny to try our keys in each other's doors.
Funny it wasn't. I was able to get into about 1 out of 4 FCs with my key. and 1 out of 4 people were able to unlock my car.

I guess that's one reason my FC had a fuel pump kill switch stashed under the dash.

arghx 11-01-18 10:20 AM

The car comes with an anti theft system from the factory that disables the starter if anyone tries to break the glass and open the door or if they mess with the ignition switch. Does yours still work?



https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...ae42c61c8b.png
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...138108b5a6.png

arghx 11-01-18 10:27 AM

So the stock system has all these inputs to it. If you don't like or want to enhance the response mechanism (starter cut relay) perhaps you can retrofit the system so that the same signal that triggers the starter cut relay triggers a fuel pump cut? What I'm saying is, there is an existing system here that you could use to your advantage, whether it's being satisfied with the factory system or enhancing it in some way.


https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...7006d63f71.png


Banzai-Racing 11-01-18 10:55 AM

Just pull the EGI fuse or Main relay

dguy 11-01-18 11:35 AM

EGI, main relay, or if you think 10 minutes is fine just pull the plug wires off the block. Sure it's annoying to get them on but it shouldn't take you very long.

KompressorLOgic 11-01-18 03:32 PM

I used to pull the egi fuse, and unplug the map sensor and tuck the connector wire out of site,

GMO-RX7 11-01-18 04:33 PM

What are people's thoughts on a removable steering wheel for this purpose?

adam c 11-01-18 06:27 PM


Originally Posted by GMO-RX7 (Post 12311013)
What are people's thoughts on a removable steering wheel for this purpose?


Do you want to carry a steering wheel around with you while you are away from your car? Its too big to hide it in the car where it cant be found.

KansasCityREPU 11-01-18 07:18 PM

Use a latching relay on the fuel pump and use something silly like the cig lighter as the trigger.

ZE Power MX6 11-01-18 08:05 PM

Put a parking boot on your wheel.

Rotary Alkymist 11-01-18 08:18 PM

Toggle your fuel pump negative lead. Pulling a fuse is just as effective and almost as cool as a switch.

Testrun 11-01-18 09:29 PM

Egi fuse


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:13 AM.


© 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands